'Salgado' is already a recognized name in the world of Beach Volleyball and here in Xylokastro it appears twice on the players' lists. Pedro and Carolina Salgado are the children of former Beach star Maria 'Isabel' Barroso Salgado, who was among world's best Beach players in the 90's. Carolina is only 15 and brother Pedro 16 years old, but both of them seem to be on track to continue the family's success. Wantuil, who used to train mother Isabel now coaches both the Salgado offspring. 
Carolina and Pedro started to play Volleyball at the age of ten and are currently with prominent indoor teams in Rio de Janeiro. "We grew up with Volleyball, watching our mum playing and inhaling the atmosphere every weekend," said Pedro. It's hardly surprising that they wanted to go for the same experience. Pedro began to play Beach about four years ago and is currently training with the under-21 squad. The youngster are thinking about turning totally to Beach in the near future although Carolina also wants to continue her indoor career.
When asked how they can take the pressure, which is certainly on them, being the offspring of a former Beach Star, Carolina quickly answers, "I simply don't care. Of course it exists, but I am here to play and to have fun." Both teenagers have to combine school with training, which often is not easy and Carolina had to take extra classes to catch up after missing four months school through training with the Brazilian Indoor Volleyball team.
Playing in the same tournament certainly brings brother and sister closer together. "We used to fight a lot, but when we are in the same tournament, we support each other," says Pedro. 
They also share favourite Beach Players - Brazilian superstars Loila and Shelda, but above all, of course, their mum and sister Maria Clara, who won the Bronze Medal at the Under-21 World Championships this year. When it comes to Volleyball, the Salgado family have the world in their hands. 

Luis Torres

Entertainment plays a vital role in Beach Volleyball, all events are accompanied by announcers, who not only play music for the crowds, but above all give background information and explain the game. "I am not an entertainer, I see myself as a real announcer," says Luis Torres.
Luis Torres is a rare species on the Beach Volleyball circuit. The man from Spanish La Mancha speaks eight languages and has already moderated eleven international FIVB events. Only 26 years old, Luis has an impressive career, working for different radio stations in Spain, doing Public Relations work in Tenerife and now fully concentrating on the Beach sport, to which he lost his heart. "My biggest dream is to work at the Athens Olympics," says Luis with a twinkle in his eye. In an effort to reach the Olympics, Luis is even considering moving to Greece to improve his language skills. "I am really crazy for the sport and I want to try everything possible to be part of the Athens Olympics," says Luis. 
Luis is a former indoor Volleyball player before he stumbled across an announcing job for the Spanish Beach Volleyball Championships in 1998. His first FIVB event to followed one year later in Tenerife, Spain. After that Luis liked the job so much that he started to make contact with the different event organizers. His language abilities coupled with his outgoing personality convinces many promoters to work with "the man from La Mancha'. 
The always-smiling Spanish 'matador' is also very popular among the players. "I am not an arrogant kind of guy," says Luis, adding "I always try to help". He is quick to share some kind words about athletes after a defeat, and even helps out with practical matters, like organizing some accommodation or helping out with a translation. In return, he has gathered some wonderful memories, like when, in Spain, Brazilian Ricardo went to embrace him immediately after his match ball in Cadiz, Spain. 
Asked how he managed to collect so many languages, (Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, German, Swedish, English and Greek) Luis answers, "It always starts on the breakfast table - reading the cornflakes ingredients on the package." He never says he is able to speak a language perfectly, but in fact, he does. (This interview for example was held in German). 

Sanne Keizer and Arjanne Stevens

They have only been playing Beach Volleyball since June this year and have already scored some terrific results, ranking fourth at the European Junior Cup in the Ukraine two weeks ago and now on their way to a medal here in Xylokastro: young Dutch pair Sanne Keizer and Arjanne Stevens

Both girls are first division indoor Volleyball players - the highest junior level - in Holland. It was this year that the Dutch Volleyball Association asked them to join a national selection process for Beach Volleyball and then they formed a team. “As we are both all-round players Beach is perfect for us,” says Sanne. Sanne and Arjanne are going to continue their indoor career in winter, but a possible switch to the beach might be an option for the future.

Their sporting career actually started in different fields – Sanne was a swimmer, but her parents didn’t like the water so they encouraged her to play Volleyball. Arjanne wanted to play soccer until her parents intervened, convincing her to hit the ball over the net. At their first international tournament in the Ukraine the pair learnt that a medal at the Junior World Championships was within reach. “We already had a very good start here and now we are crossing fingers for the next rounds,” says Sanne. Their powerful style of play is similar to top Dutch players Marrit Leenstra and Rebekka Kadij on the FIVB World Tour. “Unfortunately we never got a chance on our national tournaments to play against them, but we really would like to,” said Arjanne.

Both athletes have already finished school, Arjanne is studying to become a school teacher and Sanne is currently taking a sabbatical from her studies to concentrate on the sport. If the two have any time after their five-hour trainings session each day, the girls like to spend it with friends and family. Asked if they regret their choice to live the tough life of athletes, Sanne is quick to answer, “It’s my life. We chose it and we like it the way it is”.

Pavel Kolar

He is the ruling Under-20 European Beach Volleyball Champion and regarded as one of the most promising junior Beach Voleyballers – 17-year old Pavel Kolar of the Czech Republic. “

Together with partner Rotrekl he captured the European Champions title in Basel last week in a nerve-racking match against Germans Huth-Tacke. For the World Championships here in Xylokastro the ‘superstar’ remains very calm, saying “I don’t think about a medal, I just want to play good Beach.” For the Greece event, Pavel has teamed up with Jan Vaclavik. The two have already played together indoors, but the surface does not seem to matter, as the two look very comfortable on the sand.

Pavel started to play Beach Volleyball three years ago. “For me Beach Volleyball is still a holiday sport,” says Pavel, who plays indoor Volleyball in winter. But the “holdiday sport” has earned him some remarkable results in his career and coaches and team-mates speak highly of him. “I hope to concentrate completely on Beach one day,” says Pavel, who flirts with the idea of a medal at the 2008 Olympics. “But that’s far, far away,” says the youngster.
 

Kerri Olding and Amy Weemes

The Under-18 World Championships here in Xylokastro not only feature teams from ‘Beach nations’ like USA, Brazil and Australia, but also from more ‘exotic’ countries like England. Kerri Olding and Amy Weemes are currently the only British team participating in international Beach Volleyball events. And it’s not only a premiere for the nation, but also for the twosome, as it is their first Beach Volleyball tournament as a team, and only after only one week of joint training.

Denise Austin is the team coach. She already played on the FIVB World Tour in 1999 and 2000 and will rejoin the circuit next week in Mallorca, Spain. “Denise was the reason that we are playing together,” explains Kerri. Both athletes had the first contact with Beach Volleyball about three years ago, first only for fun and in addition to their indoor training. “In England it’s pretty cold throughout the year, so Beach Volleyball is very attractive for us,” Amy said. The youngsters want to intensify their Beach activities over the next years and dream of the Olympics 2008 in Beijing, China. “That would be really, really great, if would make that,” the team agrees.

Currently Kerri and Amy are concentrating on their education and off the beach their motto is ‘party, party, party’. But they had little time for fun recently with three training units a day, mainly with gym session. Asked what they need to improve, Kerri says, “I think individually it’s nothing specific. What we really need is to get much more match experience so that we get used to each other and synchronize our play.”

As Volleyball and especially Beach Volleyball are no major sports on the British Island, the team doesn’t get any financial support and have to pay for their own expenses. “To be here in Greece is a great learning experience. We can’t expect anything from the tournament, but we certainly enjoy to be here,” says Amy.
 

Beach Star of the future: Andreas Gortsianouk

Andreas Gortsianouk stands out in the crowd – for his spectacular dyed blonde hair, but also because of his remarkable Beach Volleyball results in his still young career. Even at just 17, this young Greek player already has two and a half years experience of Beach Volleyball and is also an experienced indoor volleyball player, having played with the Greek national team up till June this year (QUESTION WAS IT THE JUNIOR NATIONAL TEAM?). Now he’s been won over by the magic of Beach Volleyball. “To be honest, its much more fun to play outside in the sun and on the beach,” the young, relaxed player admits. Now he plans to just concentrate on Beach Volleyball over the winter and “see what happens.”

Andreas is, in fact, one of the most experienced players here in Xylokastro, as this tournament is already his second World Championship event this year. In July he ranked fourth at the Under-21 FIVB World Championships in Catania, Italy with partner Georgios Knapek. Asked if it is difficult to now play with new partner, Theodoris Papadimitriou, he says, “I have to take care of him and help him to get adapted to Beach.“ In reality Andreas seems quite comfortable in role of the “big brother”.

The head coach of the Greek Beach team, Brazilian Marcáo, ranks Andreas among the “high potentials” of the Greek squads. “He is a very good blocker, and for his age very experienced,” says Marcáo. Andreas admits that he has to learn to be more patient if he wants to realize his dream “to become a really big international Beach player”.

Although very young, Andreas is never nervous before a match, “I have already played so many times and know how it feels to win or lose,” he says. But he does admit that there is a lot of pressure on him and his partner, playing at home here in Xylokastro. That Andreas has decided to concentrate his efforts on top-level sport has come as no surprise to his parents. Both are very interested in sports and there is no doubt that they will support their son on his way to a possible first medal at this important international event.
 

Marrit Leenstra and Rebekka Kadijk

Linguistically speaking, Dutch players Marrit Leenstra and Rebekka Kadijk are rather exotic on the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour, where the common languages are English and Portuguese. But as one of the up-and-coming young teams on the Tour, they have been attracting increased attention as the season progresses. Even though they only started to play together last season, they are now in the world’s top ten teams.

Rebekka started playing in 1997 with her sister Deborah but Deborah had some injuries and she was ready to quit after the Sydney 2000 Olympics. The break did not last long. “After five months I wanted to go on the beach again,” she said, so she decided to contact Marrit Leenstra, who was playing professional indoor Volleyball in Italy. She wrote her an email and got a quick and affirmative answer the following day.

The team started to train with their coach Caspar Groenhuijzen in May 2001 and although they have been very successful this season, Groenhuijzen, a former indoor Volleyball player, is yet to make it to one of their semifinals. His absence doesn’t bother the women and Marrit is quietly confident. “There will be a lot more to come,” she said.

Rebekka is not really sure just how she got into Beach Volleyball, saying her sister suggested they try it out when she was 16. Without realising, she was laying the foundation stone for her career. Marrit put in five years of indoor Volleyball before making the switch to Beach.

Rebekka´s boyfriend, Richard de Kogel, is also a Dutch Beach Player. “I think we first met at a party,” she said, admitting that professional athletes do tend to hang out together. But to her it is an advantage to have this common bond with Richard. “It makes things easier. We both know what we are talking about and we understand how it is to be an athlete,” she said.

Beach Volleyball is little known in The Netherlands and the women have had to struggle for recognition and support from their National Federation. Their current run of success will make that easier, as will the sponsorship of one of the biggest Dutch telecommunications companies. “Getting financial support is absolutely necessary on the way up to the top,” Marrit admits.

As most professional athletes, the women have a tough daily schedule and little time for other interests, but their harmonious relationship makes being together so much no problem. “When we are at home we usually call each other at least twice a day,” says Marrit, with Rebekka, adding: “We always have something to tell each other.”

first pic: Rebekka
second one: Marrit

Miguel Maia and Joao Brenha

When Joao Brenha looks out of the window of his house, he can almost see the centre court of the World Tour event in Espinho. When Miguel Maia would like to have lunch during the Portugal Open, he is only a few steps away from the restaurant he owns at the Atlantic Coast. Maia-Brenha, the best Portuguese beach volleyball team, are really playing on home ground in Espinho. The two times Olympic semifinalists enjoy the event in Portugal. For them it is the perfect opportunity to show their fans how well they can play.
Maia and Brenha sleep at home every night instead of staying in the official hotel. When they walk on the street, they are treated like heroes. “Everyone is asking us when we are playing,” Maia said. “The pressure is high for us, but we try to set our best result in Espinho this year. We never reached the semifinals, so I hope we will be better that the fifth position we took last year.”
Maia (31) and Brenha (32) are already veterans on the World Tour. In 1996 they reached the fourth position during the Atlanta Olympics. In 1998 they booked their first World Tour victory by winning the Belgian Open in Ostend. One year later, the second win came in the event in Moscow, Russia. In 2000, they reach the forth position at the Olympic Games again.
“Our goal for the future is to participate at the third Olympic Games in a row”, Brenha said. “But the game of beach volleyball is getting much more difficult. There are many good teams and for me as a tall player it is a disadvantage that the court is smaller now.”
Whatever the result of Maia-Brenha is, the Portuguese fans are supporting them from the first till the last match. On Friday afternoon, their match was broadcasted live on national television in Portugal, while about 4,000 spectators watched them playing on the centre court. “We hope to get our third tournament victory here in Espinho,” Maia said. “If we continue to win, the stadium will be full every match.”

John Hyden and Christian McCaw

For many years, John Hyden and Christian McCaw were two of the stars of the national indoor volleyball team of the USA. Although they finished their career in this kind of volleyball, they took the perfect opportunity to try their luck in beach volleyball. And the US players are successful. Step by step they climb the top of the beach volleyball world and there is no doubt that a new US top team is born.
McCaw said farewell to the national indoor team of his country after the 2000 Sydney Olympics, while it took one more year for Hyden to quit with the indoor volleyball. He finished his indoor career in the Italian A1-league playing for Palermo, the club that he still gets a part of his salary from.
“The national team broke down,” Hyden said. “There is not enough money anymore, while in our opinion the program is not good enough.” McCaw agreed. “We were not treated like professionals. After six years of indoors it was time for a change. We are both in the late 20’s and playing on the beach is much better for our body”
This year is a learning year for Hyden-McCaw. They never played beach volleyball when they were national team members, simply because there was no time and after the moving of the national training centre from US best beach city San Diego to Colorado Springs in the Rocky Mountains there was also no beach in their neighbourhood. But they both have a small beach volleyball background, because Hyden was raised in San Diego. McCaw is originally from the Mid-Western city of Tulsa Oklahoma where his mother coached the only junior volleyball in the state. But he was graduated at Pepperdine University in Malibu California, the beautiful beach community north of Los Angeles.
“We try to play as much as we can this year,” Hyden said. “Beach Volleyball is a completely different game.” McCaw: “It is very tough to beat teams that are already together for more than ten years. But we are getting closer and closer.” One advantage is that McCaw, former setter, and former outside hitter Hyden played together in the US national team for many years. “Christian knows exactly how he has to set a ball for me,” Hyden analysed.
With the entrance of ‘rookies’ Hyden and McCaw, the concurrence to get a ticket to the 2004 Olympic Games is getting higher and higher in the USA. “Our ultimate goal is to play at the Olympics,” Hyden said. “But it will be tough to get there with so many great US teams in this sport.”

Petia and Lina Yanchulova

Petia and Lina Yanchulova are a rare `combination` on the International Beach Circuit, they are not only teammates on the sand, but also sisters. “Actually there are much more positives than negatives,” says Lina when asked if it is difficult being sisters and teammates at the same time. “Where other teams would talk about splitting this is never an option for us, so we overcome every problem.” The sisters of course sometimes have conflicts, but would never fight about anything. “We had to work through the big-sister-little-sister issue. On the court we are equal and this simply doesn’t exist”, says Petia, the younger one.

The sisters name a possible Olympic medal as their short-term goal, but in the long run Petia and Lina want to become one of the best teams in the world and also to make more people enjoy the sport of Beach Volleyball.

For two years now the young twosome have been coached by Karolyn Kirby, a well-known face on the international Beach Circuit and one of the top American players in the mid 90s. “She is so much of a value for us,” says Lina. Karolyn does not only support the sisters with her own experience of how to become a top player, but is valuable by adding different perspectives to the team’s play. “Now that she has finished her career, she knows things even better than during her active time,” says Lina.

The team had a sensational season in 2000 when they managed to qualify for the Olympics, starting in the unlikely 54th World Ranking position at the beginning of the year and finished among the top 24. “We still wonder how we did that,” remembers Petia. One of the decisive matches was during the Osaka Open in Japan, where the sisters had the impression that the time suddenly stopped and somebody watched over them, finally guarding the sisters to victory. “We represented the only Bulgarian team in a team sport in Sydney,” says Lina still very proud.

The sisters never regretted a single moment of their choice to become top athletes. Although having to give a lot of sacrifices they cannot imagine anything better. Lina was the first one of the family going to the United States to study and it was in San Diego that she got in first contact with Beach Volleyball. “Petia actually had no other choice then to become my partner,” says Lina. “Lina just grabbed me before I could even finish college,” completes Petia and this was four years ago now. Today the whole Yanchulova family including mum and dad are living in California.

Lina is a studied Biologist and quit her job before starting her Beach career. Petia has studied International Relations. “I had this feeling that I can succeed in Beach Volleyball,” explains Lina, when asked for her reason to take the risk of becoming a professional Beach player.

The parents of Petia and Lina also have been very sportive as their father had participated in the Olympic Games in rowing and their mum was a good skier. One family story the sisters still remember with a laugh: At one of their legendary skiing weekends in Bulgaria, both of them broke a leg at the same day within five minutes apart. “After that, our dad didn’t want us to go skiing again, especially not after we both started to play indoor volleyball,” remembers Lina. Today the sisters still love to go skiing in their spare time and would support a possible Beach Volleyball tournament in the snow.

One of the biggest motivations for the Yanchulova sisters is to break through to the top three in the world. “I don’t see us that far away from the top,” says Lina. Good Luck on the way up to the top of `sand mountain`!

More on the net:
www.lina-petia.com

Alexandre “Tande” Samuel Ramos

Brazilian Alexandre “Tande” Samuel Ramos is the partner of veteran Emanuel and considered one of the top Brazilian players on the international circuit. The year 2001 was a dream season for the `fresh` Brazilian team, winning five consecutive tournaments and finishing on top of the World Ranking. “Emanuel is a great partner. Whenever we have a difficult moment during a match he calms me down and motivates me to keep going,” says Tande. Tande is definitely the emotional part of the team, who sometimes loses control and then runs into series of unforced errors. Tande describes Emanuel as a fantastic player, who is also a very good friend off the court.

Out of the season the team trains for six hours a day with their coach “Lion” Leao and their physical coach Ricardo. During the season there is only one training session a week, on each Tuesday after the tournaments.

Tande has 20 years of indoor Volleyball experience also playing for the Brazilian national team, winning three Olympic Medals. “The one for Beach Volleyball is still missing,” says Tande. That’s something his older sister, Adriana Samuel has ahead of her brother. She has won two Olympic Medals in her Beach Volleyball career, Silver in Atlanta with partner Monica and Bronze at the Sydney Olympics with partner Sandra Pires.

Like all Brazilians Tande is a family-guy, who spends his spare time with wife and three year old daughter Yasmin. His family also comes to watch him playing whenever possible. In addition to spending time with family, Tande loves to play the Saxophone and is a gourmet when it comes to Italian food.

Stefanie Pohl

“I started to play Beach Volleyball just for a fun. I heard about it from a friend and so we went and tried it,” Stephanie “Steffi” Pohl recalls. The 24-year old German is one part of Germany’s current number one Beach Volleyball-team. Steffi was born in former East Germany and talent spotters were quick to recognize the now 186cm-tall girl as a possible talent for Volleyball. In 1999 she earned her first international berth together with compatriot Ines Pianka, replacing Pianka`s injured teammate Jana Vollmer. After Pianka and Pohl split up, Steffi had the choice to go back to study law or to continue on the Beach. “That was the time when I met Okka and so my plans changed towards Beach,” says Steffi.

Steffi and partner Okka Rau are coached by Olaf Kortmann, a former German indoor Beach Volleyballer, who not only helps the team to improve their technical skills, but also supports them with mental coaching. “He really knows how to motivate us,” says Steffi. And motivation is a vital part in a sportsmen’s life. “Especially if you have to get back on your feet after a lost game,” says Steffi.

The Germans not only train in indoor facilities in their home country during the winter months, but also go abroad, like last winter when they went to Brazil to work with Adriana Behar and Shelda Bruno Bede. Now Steffi and Okka have collected a valuable souvenir from the Brazilian top team – their Bronze Tops, awarded for third ranking in the season’s standings. “That’s just until we get our own ones,” says a grinning Steffi.

Meanwhile, Dutch pair Marrit Leenstra and Rebekka Kadijk are also sparring partners for the team “It’s easy, because they don’t live far away from us and training with different partners is necessary in the off season,” says Steffi.

Steffi and Okka really love to travel with the Beach Circuit. “Of course it is hard sometimes, but we have experienced that using the breaks between tournaments to go home is even more stressful.” The two young Germans are very close friends and always seem to enjoy each other’s company. “We are very honest to each other and talk about things before a conflict can arise,” says Steffi. They describe themselves as very competitive, while never forgetting to enjoy their sport. “If we do not succeed we search for a way to do it better the next time,” explains Steffi. That is the essence of their philosophy. Although they already have a lot of friends among the players, they also recognize that it is necessary to find contentment as well as sporting satisfaction on the courts.
 

Tian Jia and Wang Fei

Tian Jia and Wang Fei (pictured left) are one of the youngest teams on the FIVB World Tour -both are only 21 years old. They might be young, but certainly not inexperienced as Jia and Fei are currently ranked among the top ten teams in the world. They started to play together in 2001, with both of them having some years of indoor Volleyball experience as background. The Chinese girls mystify their decision why they switched to Beach. "Beach Volleyball is a sport full of magic and charm," says Jia. Both also enjoy that Beach Volleyball is a much more skilful game than indoor. "And we both think that we have more talent for Beach Volleyball," says Jia.
Jia and Fei are both members of the People Liberation Army of China and see themselves also a little bit as soldiers for their sport. "As Indoor Volleyball is a much more popular sport in China than Beach, we try to push our sport up the popularity scale in China," says Fei.
The training bases of the two "soldiers" are in the capitol of China, Beijing, or for the cooler winter months in the South of China where the twosome train up to six hours a day in the off season. Jia and Fei admit that their training schedule is very strict, but at the same time they know that it takes a lot of effort to become the best. They are also very thankful to have the possibility to represent their country abroad.
The young athletes are very serious, when it comes to matters of tactics and preparation for their games. "Our coach is very important for us. He helps us to find the weak points of our opponents, so that we can set up the right tactics," explains Jia. They also agree that Beach Volleyball is a very tactical game, where a lot depends "on the brain".
Asked about their career plans, both are very timid, if not reserved. "We are not thinking about the future. We just want to give our best," says Fei. Digging a little bit deeper the team admits that a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing might be something they could get familiar with, but first of all they will concentrate on the upcoming Asian Games this autumn, where teams from Thailand, Japan, Indonesia and China will compete in different sports.
Off the court Jia and Fei have normal youngster interests like music, TV and most of all shopping. " After the tournaments we have the Sunday evening off to go shopping," says Fei with a smile on her face.

Ryoko"Ryo" Tokuno and Chiaki Kusuhara

For Japanese women "Ryo" Tokuno and Chiaki Kushuhara, Osaka and Maioming are the cities closest to their home country on the FIVB World Tour. The current number one team of Japan is on one hand very happy about being near to their families, on the other hand they admit that the pressure is also much higher and makes it even more difficult for them.

Ryo and Chiaki both played indoor Volleyball at university before they decided to take the step on the Beach after their graduation. "It's much more fun to play Beach Volleyball and you have to have more skills than playing indoor," says Chiaki. As Indoor Volleyball is the dominant sport in Japan, the twosome have their own sponsor and only their coach is supported from the National Federation.

Both girls have the Olympic dream in mind and it seems to be in reach, as the team is continuously improving play and having a great season so far with better results from competition to competition. "The first match in a tournament is always the most important one for us," says Ryo. For play in a semifinal the team still needs to get more practice, admits Chiaki. "It's hard if you fight your way up to the semifinals and then you face experienced teams like Adriana Behar-Shelda, who play the final almost every weekend," says Chiaki remembering their match at the Grand Slam in Klagenfurt. But the Japanese girls never lose their typical smiles, even if they lose they try to take it easy.

Chiaki and Ryo know each other for more than ten years now and are also very good friends off the court. They share their passion for relaxing in spa's and agree that Gstaad in Switzerland is their favorite stop on the Tour. Both like Europe, its culture and scenery very much. When it comes to the question of missing home, Chiaki is the one fond of the intense traveling with the Beach Circuit, while Ryo misses the time with her family and friends.

Tom 'The Voice' Blaeumauer - Austria's inimitable Man Behind the Mike

If a "voice" makes the difference, then Tom Blaeumauer, official announcer at the Beach Volleyball World Tour stop at Klagenfurt gets a lot of credit. He is one, if not THE reason that this event here on the edge of Lake Wörther in Southern Austria is voted the hottest summer hit. For five years now Tom has been entertaining Austrian Beach aficionados from his announcer tower with songs like "That's the way, ahaa, ahaa I like it" and in directing the unique "Slow Austrian Wave" - performed to the Strauss classic Blue Danube Waltz. In doing so he has developed nothing short of a cult following.
Now with years of experience as official announcer here in Klagenfurt, plus his own Volleyball experience, Tom knows just about everything there is to know about the sport and the players. A former national indoor volleyball player, he decided to switch sides and started to organize his first Beach tournament in 1992 in his hometown Waidhofen/Ybbs in Lower Austria. "I lost a bet and had to put up a court in the middle of the town. Although it had more a Town Festival character, it was a great success with 12,000 spectators." That convinced Tom that people loved the sport, even though many did not understand the game. "I simply couldn't sit still and let that happen," said Tom. "So I started to explain the rules and give people background information". The rest is history and each day at the event, the thousands of spectators thank Tom by leaving him in no doubt that "That's the way THEY like it!"
It was in 1996 he started to work for the Klagenfurt event, beginning on one of the side courts, but realizing his potential - and his 'voice' - and what a positive effect it had on creating Austria's biggest Beach Party, organizers quickly moved him to Center Court.
So what is the secret to Tom's amazing success? The answer is simple. "Finding the right mix between music and talking - and often less is more," explains Tom. He has also become an expert 'choreographer', able to get the spectators to respond exactly as he wants them to do. He says it's simple. "First you have to win their confidence by demonstrating your knowledge and then to find the right music to create atmosphere!" 
Tom has a real box of tricks, including the "fan test', where he asks the crowd which team they support, or by snapping out the first bars of "We will rock you….." into the microphone and the fans automatically start clapping and stamping their feet. 
But this is no job for amateurs and Tom works hard on his success, preparing himself well for what his star performance of the year. He listens carefully to music and tries to locale new themes and new sounds to create the right atmosphere at the Center Court stadium. "I've got ambitious with the years. The goal is to make every year somehow special and create something new," he says.
Tom the "Voice" is now recognized in the street and he has many fans, but his most serious critic is close to home - his son Ralf carefully listens to what his dad has to say from high up in his announcer's tower. But in the end it is the satisfaction in a job well done that brings him back each year. "Of course I am proud, that somebody like me has the 'power' to direct 8,000 spectators," Tom admits. That's the way ….

Clemens Doppler

'If you really want, everything is possible!' that's the motto of Austrian Clemens Doppler, Beach Volleyball World Tour 2002 rookie and new partner of Austrian ace Nik Berger. Clearly a lot is possible, and as it is turning out, a lot more than the newly- formed team expected for their first season. In six tournaments the team earned three ninth- and one fifth-place and is well on their way to securing a fixed place in the Main Draw. "That's our goal for the season and I am pretty sure that we can do that," says Clemens.
"It was a very strange feeling when I started this season to be face to face with stars like Loiola," Clemens recalls. Meanwhile the 21-year-old up and coming star is already very well known among his Beach colleagues. Clemens tried out a number of other sports, like soccer and basketball, before switching to Volleyball. 
"I was on my way to score a goal when one of my socks slipped and I stopped to put it up again!" joked Clemens of his flirtation with soccer. That was the point that he decided that he would instead try his hand at Volleyball. His dad, Guenther Doppler, a former international Beach Volleyball referee, also gave him a lot of encouragement and help with training in the early stages of his playing career. 
Up until last year Clemens concentrated his attention on the indoor courts in Austria, while using Beach Volleyball as a stopgap during the summer. Already, however, he had started to attract attention with his sensational and that was when Nik Berger and coach Marco Solustri approached the young star to work with them. 
Clemens is a very calm, even introverted guy, but considering he is still only 21, is still very focused and hard working. "Our coach Marco Solustri helps me a lot, not only to improve my play, but also to stay concentrated. He motivates me a lot," says Clemens.
Off the court he loves to listen to music and displays a very human side when he also admits to enjoying sleeping late in the mornings. 

Nik Berger, Austria's No. 1

When he was 13 years old, he was already a lofty 1.89 meters tall and a frenetic Volleyball and Basketball player. It was a difficult choice between the sports but Volleyball won out after Nik's mother intervened. "A talent scout wanted to take me to the USA to play for a High School Basketball team, but my mother didn't want me to go away from home," he recalled. That was the only time that his parents intervened in his sporting career and in doing so laid the foundations for his Volleyball, and ultimately his Beach Volleyball career.
Today the adult Nik Berger is 1,96 meters tall and the best Austrian Beach Volleyballer on the international circuit. He played with Oliver Stamm for three years and has teamed up with youngster Clemens Doppler this season. 
Nik started to play BVB in the mid 90's when he studied at the University of Hawaii. "We went to Waikiki every weekend and played Volleyball on the beach," says Nik. Back in Austria he played professional indoor Volleyball before deciding to make the hobby to his profession. "One of the reason for my decision was that I simply hate the winter. With Beach Volleyball I can spend most of the year on beautiful beaches in the sun," says Nik, who, having grown up near Salzburg in Austria, is one of the rare born and bred mountain boys who does not go skiing or hiking
His biggest success together with partner Oliver Stamm was ninth place at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and another ninth at the World Championships in Klagenfurt in 2001. The two cite personal problems as the reason for their split, evidence perhaps of the difficulty if constantly working, traveling and competing together. "We are both professionals and have had our success together, but we are completely different characters. Like that, it was only possible to use 80 % of our potential," says Nik. Now, together with his new partner Clemens Doppler, his number one goal is the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
Two years ago, Nik married his wife Katja and he says that him being away during the Beach Volleyball season does not create real problems in their relationship. "We use the time we have together more intensively," he says. 
Asked about his personality he admits, that he often sees things too negative. "When we win, I take the success as granted. If we lose, the disappointment stays with me for hours and I keep churning it over and over." 
Nik considers himself lucky that he was able to turn his hobby into his profession. "Not only I am addicted to the game itself, but standing on the Center Court with yelling crowds and loud music in the background. That's just amazing feeling!" says Austria's Number One. Given that, he flatly refuses the sometimes heard criticism that Beach Volleyball is just a 'big party'. "It is hard work for every single player. And after a hard day of training you really don't think about going to a party."

Referee Jeff Brehaut

Britain is well know for many sports – soccer, cricket and rugby for starters, but Beach Volleyball is less well-known, which is why it is surprising to find Briton Jeff Brehaut present on the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour. Even though his country is presently not represented among the many teams now competing on the tour, Jeff is one of the most experienced referees in the business of Beach.
Jeff started his refereeing career in 1981 in international indoor Volleyball, but when Beach Volleyball really got underway in 1993, Jeff was one of the first referees in Britain to quickly get comfortable with the new sport’s rules and regulations. He also took part in the first FIVB Beach volleyball referee course in 1996.
“I was looking for a new challenge,” he said. “After 14 years of indoor Volleyball you get exhausted and need something new.”
After so many years in ‘Beach Volleyball-Land’ Jeff has developed good relationships with the players. “You often have a laugh with them and that’s what’s makes it such a great job,” says Jeff, remembering an episode with Brazilian Loiola in Stavanger this year. Loiola strolled over to the referee stand after a correct out call and told Jeff to “take it easy!”
Asked for his best memories in his career, he names two matches – the first ever Olympic men’s final in Atlanta 1996, and another Olympic match between Beach legends Sinjin Smith and Carl Henkel and their archrivals Karch Kiraly and Kent Steffens. “This match was more than Beach Volleyball. There was a lot to focus on,” he recalls.
For Jeff, refereeing is much more than knowing the rules of the game; it’s about cooperation and communication with the players. “There is a whole range of things you have to be able to manage,” he said. He also agrees that referees are also only humans and sometimes make mistakes. What he does believe in is maintaining high standards and that includes being as fair as possible when making the call, and if necessary, even reversing a call. “The players appreciate that very much,” he said.
On average Jeff participates in eight international tournaments a year, not only as a referee, but also as a Referee Delegate. Meanwhile, when he is not perched up on the referee stand, Jeff runs his own driving school back home in Britain. He also loves hitting a golf ball. 

Natalie Cook and Kerri Pottharst Gold and Silver seem to be the colours of Australians Natalie Cook and Kerri Pottharst. The team is currently wearing the Speedo Silver tops, for being ranked second in the World Ranking, but the Gold Medal from Sydney 2000 still accompanies their way. "An Olympic Gold Medal is something you have forever and this makes you something special," says Kerri. The 'Golden Girls' play together for eight years now and are among the most successful players on the tour, although they only won two FIVB World Tour Opens (Macau 2001 and Osaka 1996). "Our goal for 2002 is to get on top of the World Ranking and therefore we have to win more tournaments," says Kerri. "We have to be more consistent in our performance to reach this goal," adds Natalie. The team so far has earned three Bronzes and one Silver Medal out of five tournaments. A question which often comes up to 37-year-old Kerri is how long she will continue to play Beach Volleyball, and she has an easy answer "The tour is so exciting and we love competing and playing. That's why I will continue to play as long as I am enjoying it and as long as my body is OK." Natalie Cook, aged 27, also praises her partner "When she retires, Beach Volleyball will lose its best ambassador." The two Aussies seem to have found the right chemistry to secure their success. Only once in their career, after the Olympics 1996 in Atlanta, the team took a short break from each other. "We both expected to continue to be good after our Bronze Medal, which did not happen. When we started fighting and blaming each other we decided to separate," says Kerri. But the separation didn't last long and the reunited team reached their peak with winning the Gold Medal in Sydney in 2000. Natalie and Kerri are both known for their strong personalities and describe themselves as perfectionist and strong characters. Kerri is the leading player on the court, who is always aware of everything due to her experience. "For me she is the greatest player," says Nat. Believing and working hard towards a goal is typical for the twosome. "It all happens in your head. If you believe you can do it, you will do it. This is what earned us the Gold Medal," says Natalie. The team familiarized themselves with the look and feel of gold, by living in an apartment where everything from the bathroom to the sleeping room had gold somewhere. "There is only one winner and to get there, you have to work hard," says Natalie. She has also written a book about their way to the Olympic games. Being a sportswoman it is often hard to keep personal conflicts out of the game and to fully concentrate on the play, the two Australians have their own tactic for staying focused on the court. "The court is like a box. So it really helps if you step out of the lines and then back in again," explains Natalie.

Leila Barros

To Brazilian Volleyball fans Leila Barros is already a household name for her fabulous exploits on the court, the reason, perhaps, that hearts almost stopped when she announced her plans to switch allegiance this year join Olympic Champion Sandra Pires on the Beach Volleyball World Tour. “Her decision broke the hearts of thousands of fans, who simply adore her,” says Pires. Leila Leila, a long time stalwart of the Brazilian National Volleyball team, has two bronze medals (Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000) to her name while Sandra won Beach Volleyball gold at Atlanta and bronze at Sydney.
Leila Barros is the kind of player that people are instinctively inclined to adore. Whether it is her style of play, her uniqueness as a “lefty”, her good looks or simply the great off-court personality of the 30- year-old Brazilian.
After five tournaments and some 11 months of training and tournaments on the sand, Leila is beginning to emerge as a more confident Beach Volleyball player.
“At the beginning I had to learn how to move on the sand. Now I have to get more practice to start getting better results,” says the Brazilian.
Leila is also proof that height isn’t everything in Beach Volleyball. She has an amazing ability to jump; she is agile in the sand and reacts with lightning speed with her left arm. “We have some new possibilities on the court because she is left-handed, ” said partner Pires.
Asked about her best moment in her short Beach career, she says, “My ‘magic moment’ is still to come.” The ultimate goal for her and Pires is a medal at the Olympic Games in Athens 2004.
Leila says it was Pires and compatriots Shelda and Jackie Silva who were the ones responsible for turning her into a “Beach girl”, but the reality is she also admits to being addicted to the adrenalin rush she gets out of competing against others. “To win and to have success, that’s what drives me,” she said. “I have got so accustomed to it that now winning is always my goal,” says Leila.
Displays of emotion are also normal for Leila and her partner Sandra. Both women are very outgoing and emotional on the court. But Leila is also very friendly towards her fans and never reluctant to sign an autograph. Off the court Leila loves to spend time with husband and family and is a movie- and rock music fan.
Picture of Leila playing indoor volleyball by kind permission of photographer Elvado Reis. More on the net: www.leila8.com.br
 

Referee Andrea Haas

Andrea Haas is a referee with passion. The 37-year-old Austrian is one of the most experienced referees on the international Beach Volleyball circuit, having refereed more than 300 international matches, including the men's and women's finals in Sydney 2000. "You cannot image how nervous I was before the matches," she said.
The referees are given their assignments on the same day, so she didn't know the night before that she was chosen to referee both finals. "Of course its an honour and a dream for every referee. Not that the matches are somehow different from normal ones, it's the situation being exposed to not only the players, but to millions of people on TV and 10,000 spectators in the stadium," Andrea said with a trace of glimmer of excitement in her eyes. Andrea is a former indoor Volleyball player but had to retire from active sport after numerous knee injuries. At the beginning she was only refereeing indoor Volleyball matches on national level, but then was offered the chance to step up onto the coveted international chair for Beach volleyball. To earn her berth as a recognized international referee was a hard job, according the Andrea, especially for women. "I often referee up to 30 matches a day, which can be very stressful. But a good ref has to concentrate on every single match," she says. Asked if referees ever make mistakes she answers, "Good ones hardly make any mistakes, but if you do, then you have to know how to sell your decision. That's what makes a good referee."
Being a referee is a tough job with very little recognition. "We are not only referring a game, we have to take care that everything runs smoothly on the courts, from the ball kids, to the sand levellers and the scorers," says Andrea. Beach Volleyball is also one of the sports that has been adapted to the needs of TV. If matches are broadcast live, the main referee wears an earpiece or receives a hand signal to delay the match slightly to allow for the action replays and slow motion shots that enhance the game for viewers. "This can sometimes be really hard. Because the noise in the stadium is often so loud, that you can't hear the signals properly," says Andrea.
Andrea studies sports management at the University of Vienna and fully concentrates on her job as referee. "This wouldn't be possible without the support of my boyfriend and my family." During the summer month she is constantly travelling, while in winter she continues to referee indoor Volleyball matches on the Austrian National Circuit.

Adriana Behar

Brazilian Adriana Behar steps on the court with a face like a mask - hard, absolutely concentrated, hardly showing emotion and with just the occasional glimpse of frustration or even, at times, anger. She steps off the court and transforms herself into a happy and relaxed young women who always seems to be smiling.
Behar is one half of one of the most enduring teams in world-class Women's Beach Volleyball, having shared seven years of fantastic successes, as well as occasional disappointments with her teammate Shelda "The Cat" Bruno Bede.
"For me Shelda is the greatest player on earth. She taught me how to play and changed my character on the court. I love her!" says Adriana. The Brazilian World Championship team are rarely out of the limelight - or off the podium. They may have striking differences in their personalities - with Shelda's aggressive and powerful style matched against Adriana's cool, focussed approach, but they meet on court to produce Beach Volleyball poetry.
Family is very important for the 33-year-old Adriana, who is a studied Physical education, but until now has never worked in her profession. "Although I am on the Beach Volleyball Circuit for such a long time, I always miss my family. For us it is especially hard, as Brazil is far away and we usually can't go home in between tournaments," she said. Her family has always supported her sports career and watch every match broadcast on television.
Asked about how long she and Shelda planned to continue playing, she answered quickly: "We will talk about it after the Olympics 2004." Both players have family plans, but "there is still some time left to win more tournaments," Adriana added. Adriana presently doesn't have a boyfriend but admits that it is very hard to have any private life while on the World Tour. "We concentrate fully on our play, so there is hardly any time left for other things," she said. Nevertheless, the Brazilian, who frequently has a twinkle in her eye, is quick to describe her "prince". He should be tall, in good shape with blue eyes and blond hair, she said. "But most of all, he has to take good care of me!"

Shelda Bruno Bede

Diminutive Brazilian Shelda Bruno Bede of Brazil may be small, but her impact on the FIVB Beach Volleyball Circuit is larger than life. The 29-year-old and her partner Adriana Behar are superb athletes who have been making a double imprint on the sport since the mid-1990's and all indications are that they have no intention of dropping out of circulation.
Now 29 and just 165cm tall, Shelda hails from Fortaleza in the North of Brazil and started playing Beach Volleyball when she turned 20, after a number of years playing indoors. Small as she is, this bundle of energy and muscle is a big star on Court and watching her play, it is easy to see why. Often called "Shelda the Cat" because of her agility, she covers the court with feline grace and crouches catlike before elevating herself into the air in one of her now trademark jumps. She is swift and a fearless and relentlessly goes after her opponents, making her a perfect match for the athletic skills of partner Adriana Behar. Indeed the two have spent seven successful years together, raking up 27 gold medals in 62 tournaments. Even Sandra Pires, compatriot star in her own right, refers to the duo as the best team ever on the Beach.
Shelda is also one of the most outgoing women players on the Tour, famous for her joyful celebrations during matches, especially when playing to a Center Court crowd. "It's very important to have fun and whenever we play well and the crowds are cheering, I am having fun," the Brazilian star said. Also typical for the powerful Brazilian, is the brown glove she wears on her right hand. "I had a car accident about 10 years ago and since then, I wear it as protection," she explained. The fact that she still does not have full mobility of her fingers following damage to some nerves and muscles in the accident is a tribute to her professionalism as a sportswoman and her exceptional athleticism.
Back home in Brazil she is a popular figure and one of the most recognized Beach players, often asked for autographs and pictures. "But I am not as famous as Ronaldo," she admitted. Off the court, Shelda likes to spend time with her boyfriend Marcio, who is a physical education trainer and sometimes comes to watch her at tournaments. "But I don't want him to work with me, because we always fight," she said with a wry smile. The Brazilian, who names her grandmother and Michael Jordan as her biggest heroes, plans to continue her career until the Olympics 2004 in Athens. After that she has other goals in mind - family life, and if possible, two babies

Coach Leticia Pessoa

The face behind one of the best women's teams in the world is well-known on the Beach Volleyball circuit: Leticia Pessoa has been training the top Brazilian team for seven years and she, with her mop of her curly blond hair is always seen flying around the courts, particularly if her girls do not perform well. 

"We had a tough start this season, but Adriana and Shelda are still like sisters." says Leticia. The trio always sticks together during the World Tour and there is no sign that the partnership is tiring. "A lot has changed in Beach Volleyball and Adriana and Shelda are still struggling a little bit with the new pool play system," explains Leticia. The Beach expert also underlines that the level in Beach Volleyball has increased significantly in the last years and that it is increasingly tough for even the top teams.