KEY POINTS:
A thick fog loomed over Mt Maunganui yesterday as international beach volleyball players battled it out on the sand.
The fog obscured Mauao mountain for most of the day and blanketed the sea and islands off the coast in a haze of white.
The crowd of several hundred watching the fourth round of the Pro Tour Beach Volleyball series sweated in the humidity, but kept cheering for the New Zealand teams that made the men's and women's finals.
Taking advantage of free water and iceblocks handed out by sponsors, they yelled "Go Kiwi" as Silver Fern Anna Scarlett and the country's top women beach volleyballer, Susan Blundell, took on Philippine pair Diane Pascua and Heidi Ilustre.
The girls in bikinis were followed by boys in boardshorts - New Zealand's number one men's team, Kirk Pitman and Jason Lochhead, competing against Estonia's Kristan Kais and Rivo Vesik, who are ranked among the top-10 in the world. Pitman and Lochhead are ranked in the world's top 40.
Mt Maunganui environmental educator Karen Burningham said she enjoyed the sport for its "excitement and skill".
Hawkes Bay police officer Jaryd Warren said the men were "a bit more powerful". Josh Van Slyke, 16, piped up: "But the women are more graceful."
Both the local men's and women's teams were defeated, but pro beach volleyball tour promoter Dave Mee said New Zealanders had played well throughout all rounds of the competition, particularly the men.
Pitman and Lochhead came ninth in a Russian competition last year and were considered contenders for the Beijing Olympics next year.
Mr Mee said beach volleyball had grown around the world, since becoming an Olympic sport in 1996.
The Pro Tour series began on January 2 and was played in Matarangi on the Coromandel, Wellington and Ohope in the Bay of Plenty before Mt Maunganui.
The New Zealand Open Beach Volleyball begins on Friday at Stanley St in Auckland.
Blue skies, nothing but blue skies
Aucklanders can expect more sun this week after their taste yesterday of what a real summer can be like.
Mostly blue skies and sunshine are forecast for the North Island.
MetService lead forecaster Paul Bruce says the fine break is not entirely unexpected.
"We tend to get less unsettled weather in January."
He had good news for Aucklanders, especially those still on holiday.
"Most of the time it will be sunny. There is a chance of a few isolated showers mostly in the afternoon.
"The wind will be light, and it will be a little bit less humid."
Top temperatures were expected to be about 25C, but could drop one or two degrees late in the week.
"It's a good week to be out at the beach - not too hot, just pleasant," Mr Bruce said.
- Maggie McNaughton
