I want to be as self-reliant as possible and do it all from within. Karch Kiraly More Quotes by Karch Kiraly More Quotes From Karch Kiraly We play at the world's most beautiful beaches but in the world's most challenging conditions. It is not like you play one match and you go back to air conditioning. We do it all day long. Karch Kiraly volleyball beautiful beach When I was on the U.S. men's indoor team, I was on the road 200 days of the year and sometimes in the worst conditions. We didn't have the food or luxuries we wanted. We didn't have a laundry service. So every night after the match, I soaped up my uniform in the shower. I learned to rely on outside things as little as possible, whether it was music or massage. I just got out of the habit of relying on outside things. Karch Kiraly team men night I couldn't be messing around and acting like an 11-year-old if we expected to compete well. I wanted to compete well, because it was great to see the looks in the eyes of menlike, "Wow, I am having a hard time beating this kid." Karch Kiraly eye men kids I was fortunate to start the sport at a young age. I was 6 years old when my dad started teaching me. We started playing tournaments together when I was 11, in the lower ranking of beach volleyball in California. We weren't playing against kids; we played against grown men, so immediately, I had to raise my game to compete. Karch Kiraly volleyball sports beach I still get excited just attending a final four, because the process is so long, so arduous, so challenging, that when it finally arrives, the adrenaline can't help but take over. I love the sense of accomplishment and camaraderie that the indoor game can engender. Karch Kiraly volleyball games long It's the best. And the job site isn't too bad, either. Karch Kiraly site volleyball jobs I don't have to get myself pumped up or calm myself down. As we get into the later rounds of a tournament and there is more at stake, I have even more adrenaline. If we make the finals, it's just an extra opportunity to win a tournament at my age. That doesn't come along that often. Karch Kiraly age winning opportunity I had a bunch of different colored hats I wore. When I started wearing a pink one, we won five or six tournaments in a row, so I stuck with it. It started as superstition and now it's traditionmy hideous trademark that I always wear. Karch Kiraly hats superstitions six When I warm up now thoughespecially on center courtthere is usually music playing, so I don't really mess with music. Karch Kiraly warm mess court In high school, some of the guys were really into music. When I first joined the team as a sophomore, I was blown away when we came out for our first home matchI'm getting goose bumps just thinking about it. The seniors would bring their whole stereo system. We started by yelling and stuff inside this little room just off the gym; then the coaches said, "Ready. Go!" We threw open the door and came running out. Even when I hear the songs now I get all jacked up. Karch Kiraly senior running song The first thing I do when I get therelike all of the players on touris apply sunscreen. One of the few hazards of the job is the wear-and-tear our skin takes from the sun. Karch Kiraly tears player jobs I thank my dad for my mental longevity and for the fact we played against better competition. Karch Kiraly competition dad facts The exercises helped get the flexibility back in my ankle and also increased my overall flexibility. As I was getting into my 30s, I wanted to do everything I could to improve my longevity. Karch Kiraly longevity ankles exercise It was really an exciting time trying to find my way from being a boy to becoming a manbeing toe to toe and eye to eye with grown men, even though I was only 11 or 12. Karch Kiraly eye men boys A lot of guys are out there with their iPods. I'm not one of them. I just never really got into it. Karch Kiraly ipods guy I have adrenaline going and then focus on what I have to do and do it well. I know we'll have a good chance to win the match that way. I don't concern myself with the other team. Karch Kiraly focus team winning One of the best ways to [improve my longevity] that is to minimize injury or avoid it by being more flexibleespecially when we are meeting at the net. There is a hitter and blocker, which means a lot foot contact, where you can twist your ankle easily. Karch Kiraly ankles feet mean I just think about what I am doing on my side of the net, which requires focus. Even after all the years I've been playing, I still get butterflies before each match. Karch Kiraly butterfly years thinking How much we have to hydrate out here in this kind of heat and humidity. I think the most I have ever taken down in one day of fluids is five gallons - a gallon per match. If we didn't replace our fluids, we would probably keel over and die. Karch Kiraly heat-and-humidity taken thinking
