The sands of Budapest recently bore witness to an exhilarating display of talent, grit, and unexpected triumphs at the 2025 Beach Pro Tour Futures event. This tournament, designed as a proving ground for ascending stars, certainly delivered, with two pairs—one from Norway and another from Czechia—etching their names onto the gold medal podium for the first time on the demanding international circuit. The event proved to be a vibrant showcase, highlighting not just current prowess but also offering a tantalizing glimpse into the future of beach volleyball.
19-year-old Even Stray Aas of Norway during the Budapest Futures final.
Men`s Tournament: Norwegian Dominance and Dutch Resilience
In the men`s division, the spotlight shone brightly on Norway`s Nils Gunnar Ringoen and his remarkably talented 19-year-old partner, Even Stray Aas. Seeded eighth, the Norwegian duo embarked on an undefeated crusade through the tournament, a perfect 5-0 record culminating in their inaugural Beach Pro Tour gold medal. Their path to glory was anything but straightforward, featuring a commanding 2-0 semifinal victory over local favorites Artur Hajos & Bence Attila Streli of Hungary (26-24, 21-15), followed by a truly nail-biting final.
The championship match pitted them against the Netherlands` fifth-seeded pair, Tom Sonneville & Quinten Groenewold. In a dramatic three-setter that pushed both teams to their limits, Ringoen & Aas ultimately prevailed with a scoreline of 2-1 (21-18, 19-21, 16-14). For the Dutch pair, particularly the 17-year-old Groenewold, this silver medal marked their first taste of a Beach Pro Tour podium, a significant milestone that hints at a promising career ahead. Their journey to the final was, admittedly, assisted by a fortuitous withdrawal, with top-seeded compatriots Yannick Verberne & Leon Luini forfeiting their semifinal match. Sometimes, destiny, or perhaps a scheduling conflict, simply paves the way.
The home crowd, though denied a spot in the final, still had reason to cheer. Hungary`s Artur Hajos & Bence Attila Streli secured the bronze medal after Verberne & Luini also withdrew from the third-place playoff. This marked their third Beach Pro Tour podium finish as a duo, and remarkably, their second consecutive medal after clinching silver at the Bujumbura Futures just last month. Consistency, it appears, is a habit these Hungarians are keen on cultivating.
The 2025 Budapest Futures men’s podium.
Women`s Tournament: Czechia`s Breakthrough and Lithuanian Consistency
The women`s competition was equally compelling, with Czechia`s Veronika Kleiblova, also 19, and her partner Andrea Lorenzova orchestrating a stunning run to capture their first-ever Beach Pro Tour gold medal. The ninth-seeded Czech duo demonstrated exceptional form, dropping only a single set across their five matches in Budapest. Their semi-final performance was a clean 2-0 sweep (21-18, 21-12) against Greece`s Elisavet Triantafillidi & Dimitra Manavi, setting the stage for a dominant final against the second-seeded Lithuanians.
In the championship match, Kleiblova & Lorenzova continued their impressive streak, outplaying Lithuania`s formidable duo of Ieva Dumbauskaite & Gerda Grudzinskaite with a convincing 2-0 victory (21-14, 21-17). While silver might feel like `almost there,` for Dumbauskaite & Grudzinskaite, this was their third silver and fourth Tour medal this year alone, adding to an impressive collection of five overall. Their consistent presence on the podium is a testament to their enduring quality in the sport.
Rounding out the podium were Spain`s Ana Vergara & Nazaret Florian, who, despite playing together for the very first time on the Tour, secured a bronze medal. After a semifinal loss to the Lithuanians (2-0, 21-19, 21-16), the Spanish pair regrouped magnificently to deliver a decisive 2-0 (21-15, 21-12) win in the third-place match against the Greeks. What an introduction to the international stage!
The 2025 Budapest Futures women’s podium.
The “Futures” Are Bright: A Glimpse into Tomorrow`s Legends
The Budapest Futures lived up to its name, serving as a critical platform for the next wave of beach volleyball talent. With 25 men`s and 28 women`s duos representing 24 different federations, the competition was fierce and the pool of talent deep. The performances of teenagers like Norway`s Even Stray Aas (19), the Netherlands` Quinten Groenewold (17), and Czechia`s Veronika Kleiblova (19) underscore the youthful energy and skill rapidly rising through the ranks. These events are not merely about current victories; they are investments in the sport`s future, showcasing the dedication and potential of players who may one day grace the biggest stages.
“The energy from these young athletes is palpable. They play with a freedom and a hunger that is simply infectious. Budapest wasn`t just a tournament; it was a promise of what`s to come for beach volleyball.”
As the dust settles in Budapest, the Beach Pro Tour caravan moves on, with the women`s division next heading to Warsaw, Poland, for another Futures event from September 11 to 14. One can only anticipate more thrilling rallies, unexpected turns, and the continued emergence of stars in the making. The future of beach volleyball, it seems, is in very capable—and increasingly younger—hands.
