CHRIS MCDONALD

My name is Christopher McDonald and this is my story...

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   I am a proud Hapa boy raised in Oahu Hawai'i and now currently reside in Huntington Beach California. From a very young age I was surrounded by my Ohana where I learned importation morals and values along with guidance on what pure determination and drive it takes to achieve ones life goals.

   I recall my father (whom is a reputable flight instructor in California) studying for hours on end in the basement of our old home, yet still finding the time to raise two boys and a girl. I saw the hardships he went through yet still continued to grind daily to achieve his goal of becoming a top notch instructor, and pilot. Along side him was and is still my beautiful mother. Strong in love and faith, she is the backbone of my Ohana and an all around amazing woman who cooks a mean holiday feast! 

My older brother is where I found out what is was like to become a elite level athlete as he was an Olympian in our very own 2008 Beijing Games. After he found success in amateur freestyle wrestling he pursued career in MMA, fighting in the organization Strikeforce before it was purchased by the UFC. I watched him daily, putting in more work than anyone I've ever seen before with his ups, downs, trials and tribulations. I stood and still stand beside him and admire the courage it took him to rise to the very top as such an amazing athlete. He now is a reputable coach in Northern California and is pursuing Olympic Track Cycling.

   I watched the determination and will to stop at nothing within my ohana and I decided it was time to combine everything I had learned through them and apply it to myself. I attempted to follow in my brothers footsteps and became a high level amateur freestyle wrestler, wrestled throughout high school and Jr College where I looked into furthering my career at Fresno State University. However a combination of things happened. The wrestling program at the time was taken away due to lack of funding and I realized I had absolutely zero passion for the sport, despite being taught by my Olympian brother and having the skill to be one of the best. I wanted to become my own man. I remember growing up in Hawai'i seeing these tone and tan guys playing beach volleyball. They were in amazing shape, hanging out with beautiful women, having fun living what looked like an envious lifestyle. I decided that's what I want to do professionally. I then started to put in the extra work in the gym, training for my sport on and off the court. Thought about volleyball everyday, reading books and studying my favorite players on YouTube. Learning how to play with a group of others in a Northern California Park, it was then I would travel with friends to Southern California and play tournaments, beating well known players with little skill but all heart and raw athletic ability. 

I've since then sacrificed a lot to play domestically on tour for my 4th year consecutive year as of 2018.  From moving to Huntington Beach with only $200 in my pockets a dog and a wild dream. To living out of a friends garage eating peanut butter and banana sandwiches for breakfast, lunch and dinner. As time moved on I was lucky enough to meet my now fiance who helped me get on my feet and also became my strength and conditioning coach. Working for "InBody" Corporation and with her business "CA Volley Performance" made me a must watch stand out player, earning my Nick Name "The Flyin Hawaiian" standing at 5 foot 11 feet with a 47inch vertical jump in the sand. Throwing my body in the sand and doing anything to compete is apart of me as a player. I leave absolutely everything out on the court, heart and soul. I am sometimes loud and abrasive in my demeanor is just a part of my passion which show greatly on the court. I put butts in the seats by simply being me. A long haired, Polynesian tattooed marked man doing whatever it takes to score on the volleyball court. 

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