How to Turn Sports Weekends into Virginia Beach Vacations

Spending a weekend at the beach for a special event is a common pastime. Virginia Beach, Virginia hosts many sporting events that celebrate the sun and the outdoors. For those who are participating in competitions, this is a popular venue for family and friends to tag along and support their loved ones. Some Virginia Beach group rates are available for teams and large families to make it more affordable. Sporting events include marathons, soccer and sand soccer tournaments, sand castle building competitions, surfing and skimboarding. Visitors stay in Virginia Beach waterfront hotels and spend their free time on the sand or shopping. Sand Castle Building For those who might argue that building sand castles is not a sport, they have probably never tried it in a competition. Like many sports, it requires strategy, skill and endurance under a deadline. The annual North American Sand Sculpting Championship takes place at the Virginia Beach oceanfront during the Neptune Festival in September. Teams come from all over the East Coast and beyond to participate. Competitors build ornate sand castles and sculptures of scenes, people and animals, hoping to win in one of many categories. Surfing and Skimboarding The Annual East Coast Surfing Championship (ECSC) in August features a number of water sports competitions. Professional and amateur surfers and skimboarders from all over the country -- and world -- compete in several different divisions. They display their skills for spectators and sponsors alike. While the waves and surf are not a dramatic as those found on the West Coast or on islands, it is a big draw for those hoping to gain experience. It began in 1963 and is the second-oldest surfing competition in the world. When a hurricane or strong storm is brewing out in the Atlantic Ocean, waves are considerably bigger and make the competitions even more exciting. The Shamrock Marathon is one of many running events held around St. Patrick's Day in March. The main event is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon and attracts local, national and international marathon runners. Shorter event courses are featured throughout the weekend for children and half-marathon competitors. As a family-friendly event, many people come to cheer on loved ones or to support international stars, such as those from Kenya, Romania and Australia. Soccer The City of Virginia Beach's soccer complex hosts several soccer tournaments throughout the year for local and travelling select soccer teams. Children, teens and adults spend time in the resort city at practice and tournament games, as well as enjoy the beach, festivals and other events. Sand soccer competitions are held at the North American Sand Soccer Championships at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront in June.