High-flying beach handball action
If you visit Scarborough this weekend you can expect to see some fast-paced, high-flying action.
Athletes are jumping and twisting their way through the Australian Beach Handball Championships, held in WA for the first time.
"When people see us spinning through the air they think we are showing off, but it is part of the game," WA women's beach handball player Denise Westhaeusler said.
"We have a '360' where you jump and spin around and if you shoot a goal you get two points, and a 'kampa' or alley-oop where you pass the ball while in the air and someone catches it and throws it into the goal."
Handball West president, Ms Westhaeusler helped introduce the sport to Australia when she moved from Germany seven years ago.
"Beach handball has only been in Australia for five years, so it is only starting to develop," she said.
"I think Australia has a really good chance of picking up the sport and doing well."
She said Scarborough auditorium was the perfect venue to showcase the sport.
Picture: The West Australian/Nic Ellis
The championships started on Thursday and finish with finals on Sunday.
Exhibition matches with the nation's best beach male and female handball players are scheduled this weekend.
Ms Westhaeusler said these games were not only great to watch, but also educated the crowd about the sport.
"We have people explaining the games as they happen, so it's great for people new to the sport," she said.
Spectators can catch all the action of the tournament for free.
Picture: The West Australian/Nic Ellis
