Illness kept Tri Bourne off the sand for two years – but he marked his comeback to the World Tour with a gold medal in China.

With new perspective and a more sound body, Bourne returns to the court Friday at the Manhattan Beach Open. It’s his first tournament since he and then-partner John Hyden won bronze in the FIVB World Tour Finals in September 2016. He’s expecting about a dozen family members to come out in a kind of homecoming for the Redondo Beach resident and USC alum, who will partner with childhood friend Trevor Crabb.

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“It doesn’t seem real yet,” Bourne said. “I think it’s going to hit me all at once. I think at some point it will be emotional ... the main thing is I want to enjoy the court.”

Phil Dalhausser stands, hands on his hips, shaking his head, incredulous.

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“That,” he says, “looks so boring.”

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He’s watching a young man play volleyball by himself, tossing a ball, hitting it line, tossing another, hitting a cut, tossing another, hitting a high angle. Over and over and over, nearly two hours on end.

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Many of the passerby on the Manhattan Beach Pier that day could have reasonably concluded one of a few things: The guy was either bored, as Dalhausser suggested, had no friends to play with, or was just borderline crazy.

There was, however, a fourth option.

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Tri Bourne, the subject this week on his own podcast, SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, was having the time of his life.

It has been one year, 10 months and 24 days since Tri Bourne has stepped on a volleyball court in a competitive fashion.

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Next week, at the Manhattan Beach Open, that’s set to change.

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Bourne, after battling — a battle that will likely continue for the remainder of his career – an enigmatic autoimmune disease, has alas become healthy enough to compete in a tournament. And what a tournament it is to make his return: The granddaddy, the Wimbledon of beach volleyball, the Manhattan Beach Open, alongside one of his childhood friends, Trevor Crabb.

American star tells us he’s got the all clear to make a comeback.

But before of all that, Bourne will be here in Fort Lauderdale as the face of BeachStream! The American will be interviewing the players as well as giving his unique insight into the sport.

In this episode of SANDCAST: Beach Volleyball with Tri Bourne and Travis Mewhirter, we discuss SANDCAST host Tri Bourne’s current health situation as he continues to wait patiently for the doctors to clear him to play again.

Tri opens up about 2017 illness, the road to recovery and beyond...

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 13, 2017 - When the FIVB World Tour resumes next week in this Brazilian coastal city, many will be asking about Tri Bourne from the United States.

A regular on the international Beach Volleyball circuit since 2014 with 40 World Tour starts leading to five podium placements and a gold medal with John Hyden in only his sixth FIVB event Bourne has been sideline due to a "freak illness".

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - There are worse careers than being a professional beach volleyball player.  Your office is the sand and you get to travel the world.  That's not to say it's not taxing on the body and mind. That is why Hawaii will always be home to former Maryknoll and USC star Tri Bourne, who is back in the islands winding down from an eventful 2016 season. While back in Hawaii for the holidays, Bourne will put on his second annual kids clinic "Bourne on the Beach."

Toronto, Canada, September 18, 2016 - Tri Bourne and John Hyden of the United States rebounded from a disappointing semi-final setback here Saturday morning to capture the bronze medal match at the US$500,000 SWATCH FIVB World Tour Finals in the afternoon.

U.S. men John Hyden and Tri Bourne won silver at the FIVB Xiamen Open, earning them qualification points that will give them a shot at Rio.

With only two months left to qualify for Rio, U.S. beach volleyball teams are traveling the world to earn Olympic qualification spots. The top two teams per country will qualify for the Olympic Games based on the FIVB ranking on June 13.

USA Volleyball - Meet Tri Bourne, USA Beach Volleyball Athlete and 2016 Rio Olympic hopeful.

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) -Tri Bourne grew up in Honolulu, attending Academy of the Pacific and winning a state championship on the Maryknoll boys volleyball team.  He went on to play collegiately at USC and now is one of the top players on the AVP Tour, winning the last two events of the 2015 season.

USA beach volleyball player Tri Bourne reflects on his successful 2015 season and looks ahead to the biggest multi-sport event in the world, the Olympic Games.

Hawaii’s own volleyball stand out and Olympic hopeful, Tri Bourne, will be back in Honolulu for an international exhibition beach volley ball tournament on December 9th and 10th in Waikiki (Queen’s beach).  Two weeks later, he will be hosting his 1st annual Keiki/Teen Beach Volley clinic (boys & girls ages 10-18 yrs).  This free youth clinic will be held on Dec. 26th & 27th at Hunakai Park in the Kahala neighborhood.  This clinic welcomes all skill levels.

John Hyden and Tri Bourne finally broke through at this weekend's Kingston AVP Championships in Huntington Beach.  Runners-up at Huntington in 2013 and 2014, Hyden and Bourne won it all Sunday in an occasionally contentious 21-17, 23-25, 15-13 victory against John Mayer and Ryan Doherty.

Tri Bourne and John Hyden have plenty of reasons to feel optimistic as they head into the 2015 AVP Championships at Huntington Beach.

For starters, they won the most recent AVP Tour event, the Cincinnati Open, defeating top-seeded Jake Gibb and Casey Patterson in the quarterfinals and championship match.

Former USC men’s volleyball player Tri Bourne and 42-year-old partner John Hyden teamed to win the AVP Kingston Cincinnati Open in Mason, Ohio, on Sunday (Sept. 6).

Long Beach, Calif., USA, August 20, 2015 - Ageless John Hyden and up-and-coming Tri Bourne continued their winning ways against reigning FIVB world champions Alison Cerutti and Bruno Oscar Schmidt as the Americans posted a three-set win over the Brazilians here Thursday at the US$800,000 ASICS World Series of Beach Volleyball.In posting a 2-1 (13-21, 21-15, 15-9) win in 52 minutes, the 18th-seeded Bourne and Hyden clinched the top spot in Pool B to secure a “bye” for the first-round of elimination play Friday.
 

Norcross, Ga. (March 5, 2015) – Mizuno, a global leader in performance volleyball footwear, apparel and equipment, announced a multi-year partnership as the official apparel sponsor of Tri Bourne, professional beach volleyball player. He has captured a number of awards in only two seasons of play including, 2013 AVP Rookie of the Year, 2014 FIVB Rookie of the Year, and 2014 AVP Best Offensive Player. Bourne and partner finished 2014 ranked No. 5 on the FIVB World Tour, second among U.S. teams.

Berlin, Germany, June 22, 2014 - Tri Bourne and John Hyden won their first World Tour gold medal at the FIVB Beach Volleyball Berlin smart Grand Slam on Sunday. They beat their fellow Americans Ryan Doherty and Nick Lucena 2-0 (21-17, 21-11) in the final in the German capital.

Both teams came all the way from qualification, Bourne and Hyden even without losing a match. It was the first time in FIVB history two qualifying teams made it to the gold medal match of a Grand Slam.
 

Surrounded by a sea of veteran U.S. players on the FIVB tour, Tri Bourne is trying to keep up and not just on the beach volleyball court.

The 25-year-old admits there’s a generation gap, and none bigger than the one between him and 41-year-old partner John Hyden.