Kirk Pitman (left) and Jason Lochhead in action at Matarangi. Photo / Sarah Ivey
When Kirk Pitman checks in at Customs he's used to getting funny looks when officials see his occupation listed as beach volleyballer.
It's something that will happen more often this year as he and teammate Jason Lochhead start their quest to qualify for the Beijing Olympics.
The pair
are ranked 28th in the world and only the top 24 qualify for the Olympics. In a bid to climb the rankings they're about to start a 13-tournament tour that will take in far-flung countries in Europe and the United Arab Emirates.
Yesterday, they were on Matarangi Beach for the New Zealand Beach Volleyball tour as a warm-up for their Olympic campaign.
"We're really competitive so we want to do well, but we don't want to build up too soon," Pitman said.
He told the Herald they peaked too soon last year and were hoping to gradually build towards the European tournaments later in the year.
"Last year we found it hard to pick up and build and it affected our confidence so we've been a bit more careful with our build-up."
But he says only a few years ago he could not imagine he'd be travelling the world playing the sport he loves.
"I watched Craig Seuseu play and ended up playing with him a couple of years later and it just blossomed from there."
Seuseu is New Zealand's most accomplished beach volleyballer and now coaches Pitman and Lochhead.
"It's awesome to have him because he's been there. He is teaching us stuff that he's learned along the way," he said.
He hoped beach volleyball would continue to grow here after seeing the fanatical fans of the sport in South America.
"It's just like what rugby is to us over there. When you're young you pick up a volleyball, just like we do with rugby balls.
"It's something that appeals to a lot of people - everyone likes hanging out at the beach."
But the long distance from New Zealand to the leading volleyball nations and major tournaments means Pitman and Lochhead are away from home for up to seven months a year.
The extensive travel means they have played in some of the most unlikely places - from the Eiffel Tower to the Swiss Alps.
" I haven't had a winter in six years," Pitman said.
