ABOUT US
O'Saxman — Where Beach Is Life
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THE O'SAXMAN ORIGIN STORY
Creating the Training Environment We Wish We Had
The O’Saxman Beach Volleyball Club originated from the partnership of Grant O’Gorman and Ben Saxton (2016 Olympian). Their partnership marked the first-ever O’Saxman team, which is reflected now in our club’s name:
O’GORMAN + SAXTON = O’SAXMAN
From 2017 to 2021, they competed together on the international Beach Volleyball World Tour, representing Team Canada across dozens of FIVB and AVP events. Along the way, they competed at World Championships and came within one match of qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Games.
Throughout their careers, Ben and Grant trained and competed in some of the world’s most respected beach volleyball environments — alongside elite athletes, under world-class coaches, and within systems built to develop performance at the highest level.
For beach volleyball athletes in Western Canada, the reality had long been the same: if you wanted to train seriously, you had to leave home.
Until now.
The Directors Of The O'Saxman Beach Volleyball Club
Together with international beach volleyball athletes Camille Saxton and Isabela Lima O’Gorman, Ben and Grant founded the O’Saxman Beach Volleyball Club.
What they quickly discovered was an incredible depth of talent right here in Alberta — athletes who were committed, capable, and eager to train, but lacked access to consistent, high-level development environments. O’Saxman Beach Club was built to meet that need.
Today, the club offers programming that supports athletes at every stage of their journey, from first experiences on the sand to high-performance training and professional competition. Our training environments are intentional, supportive, and demanding — designed to help athletes grow without rushing their development.
O’Saxman continues to evolve, creating new opportunities to meet the growing demand for beach volleyball training in Western Canada — supporting athletes just starting out, those chasing national and international success, and everyone in between.
That is the O’Sax way — building better opportunities, right here at home.
Dedication. Passion. Growth.
Our mission is to create a training environment where athletes want to go, not where they feel like they have to go.
Ben Saxton
O'Saxman Director
Get To Know The Leadership Team
O’Saxman is led by a team of international and Olympic-level beach players-turned-coaches who have dedicated their lives to the development of beach volleyball in Canada.
Their mission is to design training environments that prioritize strong fundamentals, athlete well-being, and long-term development.
Director
Grant O'Gorman
International Beach Volleyball Athlete
Elite-Performance Coach
Grant represented Team Canada on the beach for over a decade, competing in more than 100 international events. He brings extensive experience developing athletes across youth, collegiate, and high-performance environments, with a strong track record of competitive success.
As a coach, Grant has led teams to provincial championships in 2022 and 2023, earned a second-place finish at Beach Nationals, and guided SAIT to a CCAA beach volleyball provincial title. As Head Coach at SAIT, he introduced beach volleyball into the collegiate program, expanding post-secondary pathways for athletes.
Currently completing his performance coaching certification, Grant is known for building structured, competitive training environments that emphasize accountability, preparation, and consistent improvement.
Director
Camille Saxton
International Beach Volleyball Athlete
Youth Athlete Development Specialist
Elite-Performance Coach
Camille is deeply invested in youth athlete development and building strong foundations early in the beach volleyball pathway. A high-level athlete herself, she competed on the world tour for three years, placing first in multiple FIVB events and competing at the 2017 World Championships.
She founded Dome Defenders, an indoor volleyball club serving up to 300 athletes per season, and is now focused on creating similar opportunities within beach volleyball. Camille has led multiple teams to provincial banners and top-five finishes at Nationals, including gold for 16U Boys, silver for 18U Boys, and a fourth-place finish for 17U Girls.
In 2025, she accompanied two athletes to the U18 Beach World Championships in Doha, Qatar as their head coach. Her coaching blends high standards with a supportive approach that builds confidence, resilience, and competitive readiness.
Director
Isabela Lima O'Gorman
International Beach Volleyball Athlete
Elite-Performance Coach
Child Development Specialist
Isabela brings firsthand experience as an elite athlete, having trained and competed at a high level across Canada, Brazil, and internationally. Raised in Brazil in a volleyball-centered family, she pairs deep technical knowledge with a strong foundation in athlete development and education.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, is a Certified Physical Literacy Coach, and is completing her Master’s in Sport Psychology and Mental Performance. As a coach, Isabela led Team Alberta U16 Girls to a National Championship in 2023, with additional podium and top-four finishes in subsequent seasons.
Her coaching approach is grounded in a commitment to excellence and long-term athlete development, integrating mental performance and physical literacy to build confident, resilient competitors while supporting their growth as people beyond sport.
Director
Ben Saxton
2016 Beach Volleyball Olympian
Elite-Performance Coach
Certified Personal Trainer
Ben brings an athlete-centred, performance-driven approach to coaching shaped by over 15 years competing at the highest levels of beach volleyball. His career includes representing Canada at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, three World Championships, and extensive experience on the international tour.
As a coach, Ben focuses on individualized athlete development, combining technical training with customized strength and conditioning programs to support long-term performance. He has coached international teams, founded the BVB Pro League in Dubai, and launched the National Beach Volleyball League (NBVL) to expand competitive opportunities in Canada.
His work reflects a commitment to building structured, high-performance environments where athletes train with clarity, purpose, and intent.
The Training Environment
O’Saxman training takes place at The Sax Centre, Calgary’s year-round beach volleyball facility, with 4 indoor beach volleyball courts and 16 outdoor courts used throughout the beach season.
Training environments are designed to be:
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Organized and purposeful
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Age-appropriate and athlete-centred
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Supportive, while still challenging
Athletes train in age-based groups that are adjusted by skill-level, athleticism, and commitment. This allows athletes to develop at an appropriate pace while being consistently challenged as they grow.
Our focus is not on rushing development — but on building it the right way.