August 26, 2005 - Drag Volleyball

LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth

It's That Time Again!

What began as a pick-up volleyball game more than fifteen years ago has turned into a bona fide Rehoboth beach tradition.

If you've never been to the infamous Drag Volleyball Game at Poodle Beach on the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend, or even if you have, you might wonder exactly what it's all about.

With its audience growing each year, Drag Volleyball is part entertainment and part athletic contest. Not only are the players serious about their drag routines, but they are fantastic, even nationally ranked volleyball players as well. It's a combination that's difficult to explain but not difficult at all to appreciate.

Brent Minor, a founding member of the team considered the Originals, recalls that the game started in 1988 with eight players playing a pick-up game against nine lesbians.

"It was completely spontaneous," says Brent, about the morning in 1988 when he and seven of his friends wandered down to the beach for some sand volleyball.

One member of the group, Forrest Park thought it would be fun to drag it up a bit and give everybody a woman's bathing suit and a funny wig to wear.

"We were just going to play some volleyball amongst ourselves. We were surprised when nine lesbians showed up and challenged us to a game."

The following year a competing team of drag volleyball players was organized and the rest is Rehoboth history.

Ever since, two teams of guys (and occasionally a woman) in full drag show up to do skits, sing songs and play a kick-ass game of volleyball.

So be there your self this year, Sunday, Sept. 4, at 1 p.m. to share the laughs and cheers. It's amazing what happens when these athletes trade their spike heels for volleyball spikes and hit the sand serving.

LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 15, No. 12 August 26, 2005