Beach volleyball: The beach comes to the city

The New Zealand Beach Volleyball Open, which begins this morning in Auckland, at a glance.-

* The Open has 12 teams each in the men's and women's sections. The women include four overseas teams, and the men five.

* Kirk Pitman and Jason Lochhead, the only New Zealanders on the world circuit, will aim to become the first Kiwis to win the national title since its introduction in 2001. They have won the previous four tournaments on this year's tour. Their major opponents are expected to be the Germans Kjell Schneider and David Klemperer, well rated but a new pairing. Teams from Switzerland, Canada, America and Australia are also in the competition.

* Germans Sara Goller and Laura Ludwig should be too strong in the women's event. They have won all four tournaments so far, dropping one set. Their toughest opponents will be the Americans Tracey Lindquist and Courtney Guerra. Lindquist is defending her title. The other international teams are from Sweden and Australia.

* The New Zealand women's effort will be led by Susan Blundell and Rebecca Reidy, runners up at the first tournament in Matarangi.

* The centre court at Stanley St will be turned into a volleyball surface by 120 cubic metres of sand. Constructed courts are often better than those on the beach because of sand quality and wind shelter.