Director

Christopher St. John “Sinjin” Smith is regarded as one of the Greatest Player in Beach Volleyball History and noted for being the original “King of the Beach.” His accomplishments in the sport are unparalleled and his contributions to the development of beach volleyball have helped to put the sport on the map.

Together with longtime partner, Randy Stoklos, Sinjin became the first player to reach 100 career open victories, and still remains atop the leader board to this day with 146 recorded victories, not to mention countless numbers of other wins at tournaments throughout the world. In 1977, Sinjin played in his first career event with Ron Von Hagen and won his first event that same year with Mike Norman. Since that first event, Sinjin has claimed 11 International and World Championships in his 23-year career, more than any other player. He has twice won “King of the Beach” Invitationals, the Tournament of Champions and is a multiple winner of the coveted Manhattan Beach Open.

 

Sinjin and Randy were named the FIVB’s Greatest Team in Beach Volleyball History at a ceremony in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2001. There, they were honored for their record breaking accomplishments in the sport of beach volleyball, and their dedication and commitment to developing the game for future players. In 1996, Sinjin and then partner, Carl Henkel, became the first American team to qualify for the debut of beach volleyball as a full medal sport at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Sinjin was responsible for some of the most memorable plays in that inaugural Olympic beach volleyball competition.

 

He made several cameo appearances in television series, commercials and motion pictures, including Magnum P.I. and the Tri-Star release of “Side Out” the movie, and has adorned the pages of countless magazines, including Sports Illustrated, Esquire and other international publications.

 

Now retired from active competition, Sinjin has been called on many time to provide commentary for NBC Sports, Turner Sports, Fox Sports Net, ESPN2 among others, and is often called upon for broadcasting duties on the FIVB World Tour. He was inducted to the UCLA Sports Hall of Fame in 1991 as the first volleyball player to receive the prestigious honor. While at UCLA he earned All-American honors en route to a 4-year stint with the U.S. National Team (indoor).

 

He is a USVBA All-American and member of the Board of Directors of USA Volleyball as an athlete representative. He has served in the past as President of the Association of Volleyball Professionals, and currently serves as the President of the FIVB’s Beach Volleyball World Council presiding over the sport in over 219 member countries. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Big Brothers, Big Sisters organization and the United States Youth Volleyball League (USYVL). A native of Pacific Palisades, Calif., Sinjin learned the game at legendary Sorrento Beach with the pioneers of the sport like, Ron Von Hagen, Gene Selznick. Sinjin is a longtime resident of Pacific Palisades where he lives with his wife, Patty, and the couple’s three children, Hagen, Stanton and Sinjin, Jr.