After a longer than expected wait, the 2026 Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour schedule has been released in full. Per usual, I'd expect there to be additions in the fall and maybe a few during the summer, a la Newport Beach in 2025.

It's a season that will feature, for now, 29 Futures, eight Elites, and seven Challenge events, along with the debut of the ambiguous new Beach World Series coming in November.

This podcast covers the full schedule of the Challenges and Elites, with a breakdown and commentary on how 2026 looks.

Here is the YouTube video

And here is our write-up on the schedule

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Get 20 PERCENT off all Wilson products with our code, SANDCAST-20. https://www.wilson.com/en-us/volleyball

Get 10 PERCENT OFF VBTV using our discount code, SANDCAST10

Want to get better at beach volleyball? Use our discount code, SANDCAST, and get 10 percent off all Better at Beach products!

If you want to receive our SANDCAST weekly newsletter, the Beach Volleyball Digest, which dishes all the biggest news in beach volleyball in one quick newsletter, head over to our website and subscribe! We'd love to have ya! https://www.sandcastvolleyball.com/

SHOOTS!

Welcome back to SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, where Bourne sits down with his personal life and mindset coach, Carl Massey, a strategist, coach, author, former Army Major and consultant to multiple Olympic Games

Chapters with Carl Massey

00:00 Introduction to the Journey

05:57 Transitioning from Military to Coaching

12:36 Personal Growth Through Adversity

19:56 The Reality of the Olympic Experience

26:10 Navigating Identity and Expectations

32:03 The Importance of Consciousness in Performance

39:02 Managing Expectations and Stress

46:12 The Role of Recovery in Athletic Performance

52:56 Mindfulness and Creativity in Sports

01:00:00 Conclusion and Future Directions

Bonus for SANDCAST listeners: Carl is offering all listeners a free audio copy of his latest book. To download it, visit: www.18waysbook.com/audio (http://www.18waysbook.com/audio)

Carl is also launching an Online Workshop: Overcome Self-Imposed Limitations starting February 6. The workshop follows a choose-your-own-price model (minimum $5), with a strong charitable component: 100% of ticket sales at $10 or under go to Bali Street Mums, and 25% of any amount over $10 is also donated. Learn more about the workshop here: https://www.balicocreation.com/overcome (https://www.balicocreation.com/overcome)

SHOOTS!

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WE'VE GOT MERCH! Check it out here!!

Get 20 PERCENT off all Wilson products with our code, SANDCAST-20. https://www.wilson.com/en-us/volleyball

Get 10 PERCENT OFF VBTV using our discount code, SANDCAST10

Want to get better at beach volleyball? Use our discount code, SANDCAST, and get 10 percent off all Better at Beach products!

If you want to receive our SANDCAST weekly newsletter, the Beach Volleyball Digest, which dishes all the biggest news in beach volleyball in one quick newsletter, head over to our website and subscribe! We'd love to have ya! https://www.sandcastvolleyball.com/

Welcome back to SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, where we have our first solo episode of the year, with Mewhirter taking fan questions from his Tallahassee studios. He's answering:

- How do beach volleyball players make it financially?

- How do you get points on the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour?

- If we could make our dream partnerships for USA Volleyball, what would they be?

- Will beach volleyball ever become as popular as the NFL?

And more!

SHOOTS!

***

WE'VE GOT MERCH! Check it out here!!

Get 20 PERCENT off all Wilson products with our code, SANDCAST-20. https://www.wilson.com/en-us/volleyball

Get 10 PERCENT OFF VBTV using our discount code, SANDCAST10

Want to get better at beach volleyball? Use our discount code, SANDCAST, and get 10 percent off all Better at Beach products!

If you want to receive our SANDCAST weekly newsletter, the Beach Volleyball Digest, which dishes all the biggest news in beach volleyball in one quick newsletter, head over to our website and subscribe! We'd love to have ya! https://www.sandcastvolleyball.com/

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter features Taylor Crabb and Trevor Crabb -- teammates again! And, of course, whiskey.

Chapters with Taylor Crabb and Trevor Crabb

00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene

02:59 Jet Lag and Offseason Reflections

06:04 Emerging Teams and Competition Dynamics

08:57 US Men's Volleyball Landscape and Future

12:01 Olympic Aspirations and Team Dynamics

14:59 Coaching and Transitioning Careers

19:52 Upcoming Events and Community Engagement

23:01 Personal Goals and Future Aspirations

26:59 Influencer Culture in Sports

29:59 Reflections on Enjoyment and Competition

32:58 Closing Thoughts and Future Plans

Takeaways with Trevor Crabb and Taylor Crabb

- The offseason is a time for reflection and relaxation.

- Emerging teams in volleyball can disrupt established dynamics.

- The US men's volleyball landscape is evolving with potential shakeups.

- Olympic aspirations are a significant focus for many players.

- Enjoying the game is crucial for long-term success.

- Coaching can be a fulfilling transition for retired players.

- Community engagement through events is important for the sport's growth.

- Influencer culture is impacting how athletes approach their careers.

- Personal goals evolve as players navigate their careers.

- The balance between competition and enjoyment is essential.

SHOOTS!

***

WE'VE GOT MERCH! Check it out here!!

Get 20 PERCENT off all Wilson products with our code, SANDCAST-20. https://www.wilson.com/en-us/volleyball

Get 10 PERCENT OFF VBTV using our discount code, SANDCAST10

Want to get better at beach volleyball? Use our discount code, SANDCAST, and get 10 percent off all Better at Beach products!

If you want to receive our SANDCAST weekly newsletter, the Beach Volleyball Digest, which dishes all the biggest news in beach volleyball in one quick newsletter, head over to our website and subscribe! We'd love to have ya! https://www.sandcastvolleyball.com/

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter features the Coaching Your Brains Out crew: John Mayer of LMU Beach Volleyball and Billy Allen of Stanford Beach Volleyball.

Chapters with the Coach Your Brains Out Crew

00:00 Coaching Reflections and Achievements

03:06 Building Team Culture and Relationships

05:57 Practice Dynamics and Coaching Strategies

09:01 Feedback and Player Engagement

12:01 Exploring New Techniques and Learning

15:06 The Importance of Trust and Psychological Safety

18:11 The Role of Technique in Performance

21:02 Cultural Dynamics in Coaching

23:55 The Concept of Mudita in Team Success

SHOOTS!

***

WE'VE GOT MERCH! Check it out here!!

Get 20 PERCENT off all Wilson products with our code, SANDCAST-20. https://www.wilson.com/en-us/volleyball

Get 10 PERCENT OFF VBTV using our discount code, SANDCAST10

Want to get better at beach volleyball? Use our discount code, SANDCAST, and get 10 percent off all Better at Beach products!

If you want to receive our SANDCAST weekly newsletter, the Beach Volleyball Digest, which dishes all the biggest news in beach volleyball in one quick newsletter, head over to our website and subscribe! We'd love to have ya! https://www.sandcastvolleyball.com/

Welcome to the 2025 Beach Pro Tour Player Awards Show! For the third straight year, SANDCAST has curated and hosted the player-voted awards, with Travis Mewhirter detailing which players won:

- Team of the Year

- MVP

- Best Offensive Player

- Best Defensive Player

- Best Server

- Best Blocker

- Rookie of the Year

- Most Improved

- The Sportsmanship Award

- Event of the Year

- People of the Year

SHOOTS!

***

WE'VE GOT MERCH! Check it out here!!

Get 20 PERCENT off all Wilson products with our code, SANDCAST-20. https://www.wilson.com/en-us/volleyball

Get 10 PERCENT OFF VBTV using our discount code, SANDCAST10

Want to get better at beach volleyball? Use our discount code, SANDCAST, and get 10 percent off all Better at Beach products!

We are FIRED UP to announce that we've signed on for another year with Athletic Greens! Get a FREE year's supply of Vitamin D by purchasing with that link.

If you want to receive our SANDCAST weekly newsletter, the Beach Volleyball Digest, which dishes all the biggest news in beach volleyball in one quick newsletter, head over to our website and subscribe! We'd love to have ya! https://www.sandcastvolleyball.com/

Merry Christmas!! Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter drop a Christmas Eve special 2025 year in review podcast, talking their biggest life lessons in a year in which they both had kids, Tri Bourne retired from professional beach volleyball, Travis Mewhirter dove into coaching full-time at Florida State while hitting his stride as a commentator for VBTV. They also take on a few fan questions, talking about the future of beach volleyball, whether it's a financially stable sport (or ever can be), the need for superstars, and, of course, a Christmas lightning round.

Chapters of SANDCAST with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter

00:00 Winging It: The Podcast Journey Begins

02:57 Christmas Traditions: Celebrating in Different Places

05:56 Parenting and Holiday Memories: The Joys of Family

09:01 Reflecting on the Year: Changes and Transitions

11:51 The Athlete's Transition: Finding New Purpose

14:57 Mindset Shifts: Embracing Parenthood

18:05 Balancing Work and Family: The Provider's Dilemma

21:13 The Future of Beach Volleyball: Challenges and Opportunities

24:06 Building a Legacy: The Importance of Superstars

26:57 Fan Engagement: The Role of Athletes in Growing the Sport

30:06 Funding the Dream: How Athletes Afford the Tour

32:57 The Business of Beach Volleyball: Finding the Right Model

35:59 Starting Sandcast: The Podcast's Origin Story

39:01 The Future of Juniors: Growing the Next Generation

42:12 Partnerships and Transparency: The Athlete's Perspective

44:51 The Importance of Media: Engaging Fans and Building Stars

SHOOTS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

***

WE'VE GOT MERCH! Check it out here!!

Get 20 PERCENT off all Wilson products with our code, SANDCAST-20. https://www.wilson.com/en-us/volleyball

Get 10 PERCENT OFF VBTV using our discount code, SANDCAST10

Want to get better at beach volleyball? Use our discount code, SANDCAST, and get 10 percent off all Better at Beach products!

We are FIRED UP to announce that we've signed on for another year with Athletic Greens! Get a FREE year's supply of Vitamin D by purchasing with that link.

If you want to receive our SANDCAST weekly newsletter, the Beach Volleyball Digest, which dishes all the biggest news in beach volleyball in one quick newsletter, head over to our website and subscribe! We'd love to have ya! https://www.sandcastvolleyball.com/

This episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter features Marco Krattiger, Switzerland's longtime veteran blocker who has been playing professional beach volleyball for more than a decade -- and is only just now beginning to peak, as he and Leo Dillier finished ninth at the 2025 Beach Volleyball World Championships. Their year included a top-10 at the Gstaad Elite, the home event to all Swiss Beach Volleyball players, victories over Ondrej Perusic and David Schweiner, Evandro and Arthur, Stefan Boermans and Yorick de Groot, and more.

Chapters with Marco Krattiger

00:00 Introduction and World Championships Tournament Context

03:46 Experiences at World Championships

06:12 Expectations vs. Reality in Major Events

10:55 The Roller Coaster of Performance

12:50 Learning from Low Points

15:41 Evolution of Beach Volleyball Tactics

18:47 The Impact of Rule Changes

24:24 Player Dynamics and Team Chemistry

28:15 Toughest Opponents in Beach Volleyball

33:36 The Rise of Swiss Beach Volleyball

47:49 Future of Swiss Women in Beach Volleyball

***

WE'VE GOT MERCH! Check it out here!!

Get 20 PERCENT off all Wilson products with our code, SANDCAST-20. https://www.wilson.com/en-us/volleyball

Get 10 PERCENT OFF VBTV using our discount code, SANDCAST10

Want to get better at beach volleyball? Use our discount code, SANDCAST, and get 10 percent off all Better at Beach products!

We are FIRED UP to announce that we've signed on for another year with Athletic Greens! Get a FREE year's supply of Vitamin D by purchasing with that link.

If you want to receive our SANDCAST weekly newsletter, the Beach Volleyball Digest, which dishes all the biggest news in beach volleyball in one quick newsletter, head over to our website and subscribe! We'd love to have ya! https://www.sandcastvolleyball.com/