San Pedro Tournament
LAPC's Annual Special Event
Once a year LAPC hosts a very special event at a very special location. Next to the dock where cruise ships berth are some bocce courts... with crushed brick surface surrounding them. This is the site of a gathering of teams from Fresno, Oakhurst, Los Angeles, Palm Desert and San Diego to play in a fun but exhausting Select Triplettes tournament.
In 2008 the temperatures for this April event soared into the 90s! Shade was at a premium, and sunscreen a necessity.
The bocce court pistes. They could be fast or soft... depending on the donnee and line. You found out after you threw...
Mark your bouchon position! That helicopter landed every few minutes, and though its breeze was welcome, it kicked up dust and could blow the bouchon out of position!
The crushed brick surface, played more free-form. Cement picnic tables, fire plugs, bocce rims and light post obstacles are out of bounds! Recognize any US team World Championship players in this picture? there are at least two!
The 2008 San Pedro Open winners! Team Nguyen! Father, son and grandson! and support staff!
What other sport could three generations compete at the top level together on the same team?
The man in pink... me, at San Pedro. Back of my knees got sunburned... The other fellow is Tim Channell, one of the founders of the Fresno Petanque Club - always tough competitors (my team won this time though).
San Pedro Terrain: The terrain at San Pedro is of two consistencies; the dust and crushed white rock of the bocce courts, and the crushed red brick around them. It is important to get some practice time on both surfaces before the tournament begins! They are quite different.
The crushed red brick areas have light posts and other obstacles that are out of bounds if struck, and some very challenging slopes in some of the areas. Look for the most sloping areas and get some practice in on them! I can guarantee you that at least one team will be practicing on those slopes and drag you over there to play if they win the toss. Be ready for this! It is miserable - as my team found out - to have to figure out a steep slope during a game (we were down 2-9 before we figured it out and managed to squeek out a 13-12 win).
The bocce courts start out groomed with longitudinal lines and end up a war zone by the end of the day. As the final rounds are played on the bocce courts, be sure to take time between games to have your team practice on them. They can be tricky to point on.
Both surfaces are pretty fine and rock free.