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Wow my first blog! Not quite sure how I feel about it. This takes me back to my writing 110 at the University of Utah where I never got above a B on any one of my 15 papers turned in that semester. Should be fun. I’m gonna try and keep this blog as real as possible. Details, as Jane tells me, are not my strong point but I’m going to try.

I got an interesting call the end of Nov asking if I wanted to go to a private island called Nygard Cay in the Bahammas. All I heard was that it was supposed to be an insane place and that a bunch of my friends were going (Ty Loomis, Rosie, John Braunstein, Hans Stolfus and Jeff Carlucci). And that we were all paid for by this super wealty designer named Peter Nygard. Ok I’d heard enough I was in. Well it turned out that a few of the guys couldn’t go for different reasons, but Jane, Talita, Ty, Rosie n I were all in so let’s do it.

Nygard Cay (pronounced key) was unbelievable. It’s hard to describe this place to someone that hasn’t been there, but I’ll try. Peter Nygard owns the end finger of the Bahamas. Looks like his own little island but it is connected. When you arrive to his actual home, past the security, it looks like a theme roller coaster ride or log flume ride at Disney Land. No roller coaster obviously but it looks like there should be. Picture the Swiss Family house on steroids and you’ve got a start. Girls greeting you at arrival are dressed in booty shorts with dumps hanging out. Perfect start. Peter has 40 people on staff that are waiting on you hand and foot. Whatever you need, whether it be the 80 smoothies I ordered or the non stop coctails Rosie and Ty had, they brought it to you on a silver platter (literally).

The beach around Nygard Cay has been picked of all shells by his workers so as to create better volleyball sand. He has 3 perfect nets set up side by side. Bahemian ball shaggers are quick to get your ball or else they hear it from staff for being slow. We played a lot of beach volleyball. A little too much, but it was good to get out and play again, since the last time I touched a ball was Brazil in Oct. Co-ed tourney the first day with Jane was great and we got through it without tears so that’s a plus. A couple of Bahemian national team members came and played in the tournaments which was cool. Both had arms like Canyon Ceman but without the control so sitting back on defense with no block during co-ed tourney my wife almost died. Next day was King of the Beach and I lost with my partner Tony Epy in the final to Mike Dipierro and Dave (ex FIVB Canadian star). Tony sided out like a stud but we lost 17-15 in the third. Next was a pro-am where Rosie and I both played with Nygard individually as the #1 and #2 seeds of the tournament. That’s right Nygard played on both teams in a 16 team bracket tourney. He is 59 years young playing twice the volleyball I played, I was exhausted and he just kept wanting more. He must have averaged about 8 matches a day and could’ve played more. He has a love for the game of beach volleyball that is unrivaled. Then the final day Rosie and I played a normal tournament and beat a cramping Mike Morrison and Mike Dipierro in the final.

During the trip we also went jet skiing, snorkeling and horse back riding. Nygard also took us to Nobu and some club at Atlantis where we made the most grandiose entrance into a club I’ve ever been a part of. 3 cameras (DIG, Travel Channel, and Nygard Pub) on the whole entourage as we entered the club to our VIP booth. Nygaard enters first with his 6 dead hot girlfriends and the rest of us in tail. The whole thing was a little much, but it was worth it just to watch Ty Loomis. Let’s just say he excels in this arena. Ty you’re a superstar.

All in all it a was a trip unlike any other I’ve been on. Unbelievable food. Great friends. Beautiful beach. Thank you Peter Nygard!

Jake