SEX. That's not what the latest Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue is to Karrie Trieschman Poppinga. Poppinga’s pix are
all about athleticismIt's about strength and athleticism. It's about the opportunity to - pardon the pun - expose women's beach volleyball to those who might otherwise not give it a second glance.
The former University of Hawaii All-American middle blocker (1987-90) is a rising star on the women's pro beach tour. Her sponsorship appeal is certain to match that upswing as well, following her three photos in the article "beauty and the beach." (Pages 216-231 for those still trying to get past the spread on Vendela).
"I get tired of the sex appeal issue," said the 27-year-old Poppinga, who is married to former UH men's player, Brian. "I know that after the shoot, the WPVA was concerned about how the portrayal would be. But we're not wearing anything different than what we normally play in.
"The whole idea was to portray us as volleyball players. It was to show that what we do is sexy and strong and elegant, all at the same time."
Much like female sportswriters tire of the "How's the locker room" question, Poppinga is tired of the "selling sex appeal" issue. In the beginning, she was apprehensive about being involved with Sports Illustrated's most popular issue of the year (the second being next week's when the letters start pouring in).
"I was intimidated at first, thought that me with a G-string and flabby butt would be right next to Nikki Taylor in a wet T-shirt," said Poppinga. "I thought I might have to be wearing some sexy thing. But it really turned out cool. The editor, Elaine Farley, knew exactly what she wanted: beauty and strength.
"We saw the photos they didn't use at the party last month in New York. Some of those pictures were beautiful but they looked posed. Elaine wanted reality, nothing like us prancing through the waters off Rio."
IT was no day at the beach at Kauai's Polihale last fall. Poppinga had done one previous print ad for Puma but "modeling is no piece of cake," she said. "It was hot, there was a lot of waiting around. What was nice is the photographer kept us in our element. We weren't posing, we were doing actual drills. It was fun."
Husband Brian has been enjoying it, too.
"W-O-W. Wow," said Poppinga, a graduate student at UH. "It's unreal. I don't believe anything until I actually see it. I knew they took the shots but I wasn't expecting her to be in the magazine. And there's my honey.
"Now, everybody we see asks, 'Is Karrie signing autographs?' It's awesome."
Karrie Poppinga said her playing days as a Wahine prepared her for the fan attention on the pro tour and now the SI photos.
"I don't feel uncomfortable in front of the cameras," she said. "My agent (Bill Berger) said he was so happy I played at a school that prepared you for being in the public eye. The kids look up to you when you're playing for UH. It's carried over."
POPPINGA doesn't know where the swimsuit issue will lead. If it's a springboard to other opportunities, fine. But she's happy to concentrate on the pro tour - she and new partner Angela Rock finished fifth in Brazil last month - and "having a wonderful life with my husband.
"I have no idea why they chose me," she said. "There's a lot of good looking girls on the tour. I'm honored to be representing beach volleyball."
Poppinga, one of two WPVA players sponsored by Nike, is constantly asked about body image, especially about staying slim.
"I don't weigh myself," said Poppinga, who is 6-feet and 155 pounds. "Weight is irrelevant. I tell the teen-agers who ask to just look in the mirror and go on that. Get to where you're comfortable with the person who is in the
mirror."
In Poppinga's case, beauty and strength come from within.
Cindy Luis is a Star-Bulletin sportswriter.
Her column appears weekly.