AS PROFESSIONAL BEACH VOLLEYBALL ROLLED INTO THE 1980s, ONLY A HANDFUL OF PARTNERSHIPS COULD SUSTAIN THE TOURING SCHEDULE THAT ATE UP SIX CONSECUTIVE MONTHS.

STARTING IN 1982 AND CONTINUING FOR OVER A DECADE, THE PARTNERSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ST. JOHN “SINJIN” SMITH AND RANDY STOKLOS PRODUCED A STILL UNBROKEN COMBINED NUMBER OF TOURNAMENT WINS.

NEEDLESS TO SAY, THEY WERE THE UNDISPUTED FACES OF THE SPORT, CAPITALIZING BOTH ON AND OFF THE SAND, A MATTER OF CONTENTION AMONG THE LESSER-KNOWNS WHO MADE IT A POINT TO TRY AND KNOCK THEM OFF THEIR THRONES.

OF THE MYRIAD OF OPPONENTS, PERHAPS THE GREATEST THREAT TO THEIR DOMINANCE WAS THE LETHAL COMBINATION OF TIM HOVLAND AND MIKE DODD. LIKE SINJIN AND RANDY, THEY WERE A COMBINATION OF FIRE AND ICE THAT PRODUCED AN OUTSTANDING WIN/LOSS RECORD. ADDING THIS RIVALRY WAS THE FACT THAT THEY WERE FROM THE SOUTH BAY, SO A BIT OF THE PERSONAL WAS THROWN IN FOR GOOD MEASURE.