World Tour Gstaad: beach volleyball against the backdrop of the Bernese mountains
16/06/2017
written by Nicole Vandenbrouck
Homely and yet spectacular: when balls are hit between rustic wooden chalets in the middle of the village center of Gstaad BE, the sand dusts and the bass booms, the international beach volleyball circus makes a stop in the Bernese Oberland. And with the world's best teams. After all, the tournament in Gstaad is one of only three events of the highest category, alongside Fort Lauderdale (USA) and Porec (Croatia).
Philippe Saxer (44), Director of Beach Volleyball at Swiss Volley, warns: "The task of the FIVB must be to bring additional tournaments into the World Tour calendar." It's a shame there aren't more tournaments like Gstaad and therefore more opportunities for athletes to earn more money.
Gstaad is a big hit with beach volleyball fans - literally!
But the Swiss stop of this Major Series is not only an attractive event because of the prize money. The special location is unforgettable for the world's best players. "All the teams love this tournament with its cool backdrop," says Anouk Vergé-Dépré (25), the defensive player in the top Swiss duo with Joana Heidrich (25). "The contrast is what makes it so special. Beach volleyball in the middle of the mountains. Most people who come to Gstaad for the first time have never experienced this before," says Vergé-Dépré.
The return to the Swiss mountains is particularly emotional for beach volleyball legend Kerri Walsh Jennings (38). On the one hand, the American loves the cowbells won by the winning teams. On the other hand, she loves the healthy mountain air, as the three-time Olympic champion regularly emphasizes. Kerri Walsh once made no secret of the fact that she and her husband, former beach volleyball player Casey Jennings (41), conceived their third child in Gstaad in 2012.
And the three-time world champion revealed at the time that she even briefly considered naming her daughter after the Swiss mountain village. The daughter, who is expected to come to Gstaad with her mother this summer, was christened Scout Margery (4). "It's always a great pleasure for me to play in Gstaad," says Kerri Walsh, who has a new partner at her side in Nicole Branagh (38).
Young duos, great opportunities
In addition to Walsh, the Olympic bronze medal winner from Rio 2016, the German Olympic champions from Rio, Kira Walkenhorst (26) and Laura Ludwig (31), will also enrich the field of participants.
However, the Swiss teams naturally have the most special starting position in Gstaad. "Being able to play on the center court in front of a home crowd as a Swiss team is incomparable and gives the athletes an incredible amount back for their hard training," says Beach Director Saxer.
Among the women, Heidrich/Vergé-Dépré and Tanja Hüberli and Nina Betschart have the potential to make an exploit. The young duos Nicole Eiholzer/Dunja Gerson and Laura Caluori/Elena Steinemann should gain experience and enjoy the atmosphere. The same applies to the young men's B squad teams Nico Beeler/Marco Krattiger, Mirco Gerson/Michiel Zandbergen and Adrian Heidrich/Gabriel Kissling.
Joana Heidrich & Anouk Vergé-Dépré: A duo has found each other
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Since this season, they have been the new dream duo in Swiss beach volleyball: Joana Heidrich (25, left) and Anouk Vergé-Dépré (25). This is primarily thanks to Nadine Zumkehr and Isabelle Forrer, whose retirements left Heidrich and Vergé-Dépré without a partner after the Olympic Games in Rio. The logical step: the two team up. There is one problem: both Heidrich and Vergé-Dépré are block players and fend off their opponents' attacks at the net. As a result, Vergé-Dépré moves to the back as a defensive player. The reason is simple: Heidrich (1.91 m) is six centimetres taller.
