FIRST SNOW TENNIS TOURNAMENT EVER IN USA

Buffalo, NY - With over 150 players trying out Snow Tennis for the
first time during the Flurrious Winter Festival at Delaware Park in
Buffalo, New York and seventeen teams competing in the inaugural
tournament it was a very successful weekend. Play started on January
15th in very snowy and windy conditions, it didn’t stop people from
trying out a very new game. Snow Tennis is based on the sport of
Beach Tennis popularized across Europe and South America. Snow
Tennis is an all volley game, ball doesn’t bounce the court is 26’ x 52’
and the nets is 5’7” high, scored like tennis and played in the snow.

The tournament on Sunday, the first ever of its kind produced many fine matches. Highlighted
by the Men’s Open Round Robin where Brian Johnson and Stephen Sayoc faced Bryan
Matthews and Sam Korach. Johnson / Sayoc were down 8 – 7 and 2 match points before pulling
even and eventually winning in the tiebreaker 7 –2 and taking title as well. After a cold day the
Juniors played a one set final with Willie Ruch and Finn Robb defeating Peter Ruch and Alex
Kubinee by a score of 6-5. The last match of the day was the Mixed Open Finals, April Kawka
and Brian Johnson split sets against Heidi Rusinek and Dan Johnson 6-4, 2-6 before winning 10-
4 in a Super Tiebreaker.

The tournament was held in conjunction with Buffalo Beach Tennis,

Buffalo Olmsted Park’s Conservancy and Beach Tennis USA. “We
couldn’t be happier with the outcome, snow tennis is fun and easy to
play, looking forward to building on it success,” said Dan Johnson
director of the tournament.

Next event for Snow Tennis will be the Buffalo Powder Keg Festival on February 12th and 13th
in downtown Buffalo.

RESULTS
Men’s Open
1st Place: Brian Johnson / Stephen Sayoc 27 games
2nd Place: Bryan Matthews / Sam Korach 26 games

Men’s Amateur Final

Seamus Gallivan / Doug Riffel d. David Schmitt / Kyle Schmitt 9 – 1

Women’s Final
Sarah Bishop / Rachel Wilson d. On Rattanapkasouk / Allison Riffel 6 – 4

Mixed Open Final

April Kawka / Brian Johnson d. Heidi Rusinek / Dan Johnson 6-4, 2-6, (4)

Junior Final
Willie Ruch / Finn Robb d. Peter Ruch / Alex Kubinee 6-5

For more information on Snow Tennis please contact Dan Johnson at 716-725-8803 or
dan@snowbeachtennis.com
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 PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE FLURRIOUS SNOW TENNIS TOURNAMENT

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Picture 1 & 2 Flurrious Snow Tennis January 16, 2011 – Picture 3 – Sawyer Dina hitting the ball with Zach
Gabriel – Picture 4 – Men’s Open Finalists, Left to Right, Sam Korach (2nd Place), Bryan Matthews (2nd Place),
Stephen Sayoc (1st Place) & Brian Johnson (1st Place) – Picture 5 – Women’s Finalists, Left to Right, Rachel
Wilson (1st Place), On Rattanapkasouk (2nd Place), Allison Riffel (2nd Place) & Sarah Bishop (1st Place) – Picture 6
– Mixed Open Finalists Left to Right, Brian Johnson (1st Place), April Kawka (1st Place), Heidi Rusinek (2nd Place)
& Dan Johnson (2nd Place) – Picture 7 – Junior Finalists, Left to Right Willie Ruch (1st Place), Finn Robb (1st
Place), Peter Ruch (2nd Place) & Alex Kubinee (2nd Place) – Picture 8 – Men’s Amateur Finalists, Left to Right,
David Schmitt (2nd Place), Kyle Schmitt (2nd Place), Seamus Gallivan (1st Place) & Doug Riffel (1st Place).