meet the team
Combining a decade of high-level volleyball with years of experience in the hospitality and entertainment industry, Ryder is driven to make Kelowna Showdown unforgettable for everyone involved. Upscaling the tournament with a full-service beer garden, live entertainment, and high-energy artists, Ryder's goal is to give the community an event it's been yearning for.
Ryder is a former Youth National Team libero, and member of the UBC Okanagan Heat Men’s Volleyball team. He is the owner of Transcend Entertainment, bringing live entertainment to you, and also the co-owner of Sip 'n Celebrate, the premier bar catering company.
Tournament Director
Téo Ardanaz is a graduate student at UBC Okanagan. As a member of the varsity volleyball team, Téo was named Graduating Athlete of the Year. He is also a 6-time Academic All-Canadian, a holder of a UBC Presidential Scholars Award, and the recipient of the UBC Okanagan Student Leadership and Involvement Award.
Téo grew up playing a variety of sports: soccer, basketball, baseball, hockey, and finally, volleyball. This collection of experiences exposed him to a variety of tournaments, events, and competitions. On top of loving sports, Téo is passionate about teaching. He is the owner of Fusion Tutoring, and has ran multiple youth events for francophones in BC.
Téo's extensive experience as both a participant and organizer of youth and adult sports tournaments will be put to good use for the Kelowna Showdown! He hopes to combine his passion for volleyball, with his love for event planning and community building.
A Message from the Tournament Director
Hello everyone! Thank you for checking out the Kelowna showdown!
I come from a family of many athletes (parents, aunts/uncles, cousins, siblings). I knew from a young age that I may have caught a bit of a competitive bug as well. Ok, maybe a lot!
Ryder and I started the Kelowna Showdown because we wanted to build the event that we always wished we had participated in as athletes. We have combined a great opportunity to compete with friends, with music and entertainment, and lots of prizes. Plus, we get to do it in beautiful Kelowna, BC.
With the Showdown, we are hoping to bring the local (and not so local) volleyball communities together for an incredible weekend. we are very excited, and we hope that you are too!
thank you, and good luck,
Téo