Sometimes there are more important things in life than beach volleyball

These two are looking forward to spending some much-needed time with their families. Photocredit: Mihai Stetcu.

After a long, hard and successful season on the sand, legendary beach volleyball hero Phil Dalhausser is looking forward to spending time with his family.

The 37-year-old and his teammate Nick Lucena have enjoyed a fine season with the smart Major Hamburg triumph one such highlight of a long campaign which has seen them net four gold medals.

With a further three silvers and a bronze in the bag, the American duo go into the off-season in good spirits but it’s the time away from home that is always hardest.

“Every time I go away the harder it gets,” Phil told us at the Swatch World Tour Finals in Canada after the quarterfinal exit to fellow Americans Hyden/Bourne. “I’ll spend a few months with the kids and catch up with them.

“But it’s tough to think the amount we’ve played and it’s bittersweet that the season’s over but I can relax and spend some time with the kids.

“It’s been a long one, I think since August last year we’ve played on 26 or 27 tournaments in 13 months, which is a lot – that’s almost a tournament a week, that’s a lot of volleyball.

“We’ll come back next year, stronger – if that’s possible at 37, and see what happens. But we have a good group, a good coach and good chemistry and it’s been a good run and we’ve done well.”

Nick added: “Oh my god it’ll be good to be with my wife and son who I’ve barely seen in the last 14 months. Being away from your family is for sure the hardest part of the job – but that’s what we’ve got to do and I’m thankful I am able to make a living out of this sport.”

Enjoy that well-earned break, boys and see you next season!