Bridlngton 2026: local lads ready to welcome world stars

The two Yorkshire teenagers have grown up playing on the Belvedere Beach – home of host club Skyball – which will welcome teams from Canada, Japan and across Europe during a two-week period in late June and early July. 

Supported by East Riding of Yorkshire Council, the trio of events make up a spectacular festival of beach volleyball action which can be watched live and in person for free. 

Matches will also be streamed live for those unable to make it to the East Yorkshire coast. 

For Maks and Josh, playing in high-profile events such as the Beach Pro Tour is something they have longed for since they started playing together, being long term partners on the beach, as well as being part of the same national championship-winning Leeds Gorse indoor junior team. 

“It means so much to me,” said Maks. “Bridlington Beach has been like a second home to us for years. We have spent countless days there training and simply enjoying the game.  

“There have been plenty of tough sessions in the rain, wind, and even snow, but those experiences made us stronger. 

“Now, we have the incredible opportunity to compete on the Beach Pro Tour at the first-ever event in England, at a place that holds so many memories for me and my family. It’s incredibly exciting and something I'm very proud of.” 

Josh is equally eager to test himself against some elite-level opposition and added: “As a true Yorkshireman, this is something I take a huge amount of pride in. 

“I’ve represented England both indoors and on the beach for a few years now, but playing at home always feels extra special. 

“There’s something different about competing in front of a home crowd, in a place that means so much to you personally. 

“It’s a real honour to represent Yorkshire and England on home sand, especially with The Gorse Academies having supported our journey over the last five years. I’m really looking forward to making the most of the opportunity.” 

Knowing the beach and conditions so well, the pair – who have played in NEVZA events at the same venue in the last two years – hope to use that to their advantage. 

Being exposed to the North Sea coast, it can get very windy at times, but that is something the duo feel would benefit their play were it to get particularly blowy. 

Maks said: “We hope the wind picks up because that’s something we’re used to and can use to our advantage. 

We also know the unique, jumpy sand in Bridlington, having played on it regularly over the years. Playing at home is always a huge advantage it makes us feel more relaxed, comfortable, and confident. 

“Being familiar with the conditions and having the support of the home crowd gives us an extra boost. 

"We can also now access The Gorse Academies beach volleyball courts at The Farnley Academy in Leeds, allowing us to train on the beach regularly without having to travel too far. 

“That access to consistent training has been a key part of our development and is a big factor in our ambition to progress in the sport and push towards the next level.” 

With relative youth on their side yet already playing to a high standard and being one of the most promising beach pairs in the country, Maks and Josh have three bites at the cherry in Bridlington. 

First, they will play in NEVZA Beach England (the senior event) from 21st to 23rd June before the Beach Pro Tour event follows from 25th to 28th June and the NEVZA Youth Championships wraps things up from 30th June to 2nd July. 

Each one presents a different challenge and they have contrasting expectations for each, but the number of days of competition in itself will provide an added obstacle to success. 

For the Beach Pro Tour Futures, our goal is to win more than one match and make the most of the opportunity to compete against such high-level teams,” said Josh. 

“At the NEVZA Senior event, we'd love to go further than we did last year, so reaching the quarter-finals would be a great achievement. 

“For the NEVZA Youth competition, our aim is to take another step forward from last year and challenge for a medal. Across all three events, our biggest goal is to keep improving, enjoy the experience, and show the progress we've made as a team. 

“Competing in all three events over two weeks will definitely be a physical challenge, so recovery will be absolutely key. We'll be focusing on good nutrition, staying well hydrated, and looking after our bodies between matches. 

“Playing on the beach also means dealing with all kinds of conditions, so protecting ourselves from the wind, sun, and even rain is really important. 

“Mentally, it's about staying together as a team, supporting each other, and finding the right balance between competing, recovering, and training between events. 

“If we manage all of that well, we'll give ourselves the best chance to perform at our highest level throughout the tournament.” 

As good friends as well as teammates, Maks and Josh have grown up playing the game together for almost five years, progressing from Junior Grand Prix through to the DYNAMIK Men’s Super League and international beach competitions. 

They feel that gives them another trump card to play whenever the going gets tough in the heat of battle. 

“Josh and I know each other so well that sometimes we can run plays without even speaking, we just know what the other is thinking,” said Maks. 

“We understand each other's strengths and how to put each other in the best positions to score and defend. We've built great chemistry over the years, and that helps us bring out the best in each other while staying positive and calm, even in difficult moments. 

“Having our coach, Pete (Makowski, Maks’ dad), with us is also a huge advantage. He helps us reset quickly during matches and gives us valuable insights that allow us to be more creative and effective on the court.” 

Maks and Josh have just got back from representing England in the Beach Nations Cup in Alanya, Turkey. 

It was their first experience of playing on such a stage and has left them eager for more. 

They also hope their experiences will be ideal preparation for coming home to play in Bridlington. 

Josh said: “The Nations Cup was a really tough competition and a great learning experience for us. We played against players who compete on the FIVB Elite Tour, and they were incredibly physical and consistent. 

“It meant we had to fight for every single point and constantly find new ways to score and adapt our game. The experience gave us confidence, but it also showed us that there's always more to learn and improve, which motivates us to keep training and exploring different aspects of the game. 

“Already, beach volleyball has taken us to incredible places, introduced us to great people, and given us memories that will last a lifetime. 

“Every tournament brings a new experience and a new challenge, and that's what motivates us to keep improving. Those experiences are the fuel that drives us to see how far we can go in the sport and to make the most of every opportunity. 

“Going into Bridlington, we believe that experience will help us stay composed under pressure and perform well against teams at different levels.” 

Having been fortunate enough to have experienced Bridlington before, Maks and Josh hope those visiting for the first time will enjoy the arena and sand just as much. 

And they will certainly doing their bit to help that happen – even it means getting sand in their socks! 

"Bridlington has always hosted international events really well,” said Josh. “Volleyball England, East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Skyball all do a fantastic job working together to make the events happen, and a huge amount of work goes in behind the scenes that people don’t always see. 

“We feel incredibly fortunate to have an event of this level in our region. As a small way of showing our gratitude, Maks and I will head down beforehand to help with the setup and support the organisers where we can, because we really appreciate all the effort that goes into making it possible.” 

To find out more about the international beach events at Bridlington, please click here.

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