Meet Lucas Sa Lotufo Cury

We recently connected with Lucas Sa Lotufo Cury and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Lucas, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

My passion for sports began as a kid growing up in a small Brazilian town. Like most Brazilians, I was practically born with a soccer ball at my feet, dreaming of going pro. I loved the thrill of competition and the lessons sports taught me about pushing my limits.
About a year before moving to the U.S., I started planning my future, dreaming of building a soccer academy if the pro route didn’t work out. But life took a different turn. After graduating, I found myself feeling disillusioned with soccer and began to focus on my backup plan. Then I discovered beach tennis, and it completely stole my heart. Soon, I was spending all my time on the court, and soccer faded into the background.
As I learned, I began coaching others, not only to share my new passion but to improve my own skills. Seeing my players fall in love with the sport energized me even more. My first six students are still with me today, helping CaliClub grow and spread the love for beach tennis.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

We started as a one-person business and have since grown into a team. Currently, we have 3 coaches teaching in two different locations + 3 people working on the business side, marketing, operations and much more working on tournament and event organization. This is the CaliClub family! Beach tennis has become so much more than a sport; it’s a lifestyle that brings people together, blending competition with a relaxed, welcoming community. One of the most rewarding parts of coaching is watching our students level up and realize how much easier and more enjoyable the game becomes as they apply what they’ve learned. Seeing their progress literally gives us goosebumps. It’s that incredible feeling of achieving something together.
From a student’s perspective, there’s nothing like nailing a new shot for the first time. From a coach’s perspective, it’s just as thrilling to guide them along the way to reach that goal.
We’re based in Manhattan Beach and just expanded to Hermosa Beach, where beach tennis has deep roots in LA. We’re excited to offer classes there on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 9am and 11am.
Our community truly makes it all possible. Our students and everyone around us bring such positive energy. They’re warm, supportive, and always up for a good time, rain or shine. Every day we spend on the beach with them feels special, and we couldn’t be more grateful.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Instead of listing three qualities, I’d rather share a few words that inspire me daily and guide what we’re building for the future: values, belief, and consistency.
Passion isn’t something you can simply claim, it’s something that takes root almost before you realize it. When you stay true to your values, believe in what you’re doing, and bring consistent effort, that passion builds unstoppable momentum. Over time, you’ll find others drawn to the mission, eager to contribute and be part of it. So, be yourself. When you’re doing something you genuinely believe in and love, it stops feeling like work. You’re simply sharing your true self and helping others improve along the way.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?

I believe the biggest area of growth has been the number of people joining the community to play beach tennis. When we started, we were just eight people. Now, we have over 250 people involved in this amazing sport, and we’re amazed by how much people love the game and want to play more and more. Our tournaments used to have 40 participants, and that felt like a lot. Now, we regularly have around 150 players, including both amateurs and pros. So, there’s no doubt that passion is driving this growth, and the sense of community here is truly incredible!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.btcaliclub.com/
• Instagram: Beach Tennis Cali Club

Image Credits

I do have rights for the photos provided.