There was the Canadian Grand Prix, there will be the National Bank Open and there is the Smash Festival, host of the Elite 16 tournament of the Beach Pro Tour. The Biosphere will shine like a gigantic volleyball, as the eyes of the world will be riveted on this tournament featuring the international elite of a sport gradually converting countless faithful.
Almost all of them will be there. Both in men and in women. Olympic medalists, world champions and overall leaders will arrive at Parc Jean-Drapeau. From Wednesday, all will fight to try to take the top honors of the sixth Elite 16 tournament of the season, the most prestigious tournament category after the Worlds.
Preparations are well underway, and Île Sainte-Hélène will be transformed into a place of worship for fans of sunglasses and winning smashes.
This tournament represents a golden opportunity to highlight a sport that is already popular in Canada, but lacks recognition, believes Marie-Andrée Lessard, ambassador for the event.
“On a developmental scale, this is an unprecedented week for young people who will be able to watch this and see the best international level play in our court”, explains the former player and Olympian at the London Games in 2012 during a meeting. Zoom.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY MARIE-ANDRÉE LESSARD
Marie-Andrée Lessard, ambassador for the Beach Pro Tour beach volleyball tournament in Montreal
For her, the objective behind holding such an event is to “give visibility to this sport”, because “then it will certainly be small”.
After all, it’s probably the best possible business card to promote a popular sport, especially in Europe, where the majority of major tournaments are played.
Not far from the second stop on the yellow line, there will be the leaders in the general classification, Duda Santos Lisboa and Ana Patricia Ramos for the women, Anders Mol and Christian Sorum for the men.
“There are Olympic medalists in qualifying. From day one, it will be a super high caliber. There is no better level in the world. It’s an Olympic qualification, so the athletes are going to want to get points to rank,” continued Lessard.
In other words, the players present in Montreal will also be in Paris, at the Olympic Games, next summer.
It is essential for Lessard, in her role as ambassador, to make clear to amateurs and neophytes alike how much the arrival of the Beach Pro Tour in Quebec represents an immense privilege. Especially since “it’s been a long time since we had one at home”.
Moreover, Lessard, now a member of the Canadian Olympic Committee as senior director of the Games for Team Canada, did not have an arm twisted to act as a representative of the tournament in the media.
Beach volleyball is the most beautiful sport! It’s my life. This is what I ate for 23 years. This is my passion.
Marie-Andrée Lessard, ambassador of the Beach Pro Tour in Montreal
Canadian hopefuls
Although sand, unlike snow, doesn’t necessarily run through Canadians’ veins, Canadian players have proudly represented the maple leaf over the past few years across the four corners of the volleyball planet.
They will be three duos at the Smash Festival to be able to play under the Canadian banner.
The best hopes for success, however, lie in the play of the duo of Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson.
Already two-time medalists this season, the Canadians were brought together only at the start of the season with the aim of reaching the podium at the Paris Olympics in a year.
Despite this, they are already establishing themselves as one of the most threatening pairs.
“It’s an opportunity for people to discover beach volleyball, but especially Melissa and Brandie,” Lessard points out.
When we knew they were going to play together, we knew it was going to work magic on the pitch, thanks to their connection and the respect they have for each other.
Marie-Andrée Lessard, ambassador of the Beach Pro Tour in Montreal
According to her, the expectations for them are enormous: “We can hope for nothing less than a podium, if not victory. […] And it’s not even an additional pressure for them, because they know it. »
Beyond giving hope to all young players that it is possible to reach this caliber and this quality of play, Lessard prefers to talk about their ability to offer a good example of healthy success.
“Both are exceptional athletes. But in addition, what I find really beautiful is that we always say in sport that you have to be aggressive, that it hurts, that you have to be mean and aggressive, but they show us that it’s possible to have fun, to have a good relationship. »
Sarah Pavan and Molly McBain for the women and Sam Schachter and Daniel Dearing for the men will be the other Canadian teams.
Amidst the temporary stands and the smell of sunscreen dissipated in the ambient air, there will be beauty in Parc Jean-Drapeau.
A certainty on which it is easy to rely, because bringing together the crème de la crème ends up most of the time in a successful recipe.