Sand is flying as men and women compete to see who has what it takes to win the New Zealand Beach Volleyball Open.

Tour director Tm Cleaver says the weather is perfect for beach volleyball.

Paora Morunga from Whakatane serving. Photos: Tracy Hardy.

'We had the Vanuatu Women's team, who finished 9th in the world championships, win a game this morning. They will be some tough competition for our top women teams.”

Tim says the top players in the men's division are all local.

'We have Sam O'Dea and Mike Watson, who are the number one seeds, and the number two seeds are Ben O'Dea playing with Tom Hartles from North Harbour.”

Women's pair of Miller Elwin and Henriette Iatika, who finished 9th at last year's World Championships, a Women's team from Spain and a Men's team made up a player from Spain and France.

'Our top teams will earn the right to represent NZ on the Asian Beach Volleyball Tour and some teams have higher aspiration of continuing on to compete on the Beach Volleyball World Tour as they continue their efforts to qualify for Rio 2016,” says Tim.

'There is also an intriguing battle further down the rankings as some of NZ's elite Under 19 players battle for a spot representing New Zealand at the Youth Olympic Games which is to be held in China later this year.”

The semi-finals will be played tomorrow from 10.30am with the finals about 2.30pm and 3.30pm.