KEY POINTS:
Deep down, Susan Blundell knew she was good enough for a second dig at life as a professional beach volleyballer.
But the question was, having last played on the world tour four years ago, had she left her run too late?
The 25-year-old Tauranga player spent two seasons on the world pro tour with partner Lucy Todd in '02 and '03, enjoying mixed success before Todd drifted back to Christchurch and a career in science.
Blundell continued to play but, having spent the past three seasons getting her psychology degree in Wellington, she wasn't convinced she'd make it back onto the beach fulltime.
But a month ago it was if someone switched on a light, with Blundell and playing partner, former Silver Ferns netballer Anna Scarlett, taking a leap of faith and committing to the 2008 world tour.
Scarlett, 24, and Blundell are aiming at the London Olympics in 2012, although to guarantee an Olympics berth they need to become one of the top 24 ranked sides on the ultra-competitive tour.
Blundell, a former Otumoetai College indoor star, and Scarlett warmed up for the McEntee Hire national pro tour, which starts in Coromandel's Matarangi Beach on Wednesday, by bagging the Mauao Open yesterday on the main beach, downing local duo Megan Lippi-Smith and Marnie Grant 21-15 16-21 15-11 in a thrilling women's final.
Blundell said Scarlett's axing from the Silver Ferns prior to the November's world championships sealed their decision.
"It's been a while in coming but it's been a matter of biding my time and watching Scarlett try and combine the two (netball and volleyball). Her finishing (with the Silver Ferns) has been a silver lining to what was a difficult time, but we're both ready now to commit and give it everything."
Blundell said the decision to play fulltime next year, when most of the world tour combinations were still chasing qualification for the Beijing Olympics, wasn't taken lightly.
"But we didn't want to wait to have four years to qualify, and five years (before the 2012 Olympics) means we're giving ourselves every opportunity to get to London. I believe we can do it."
Scarlett admits it was a battle to leave netball, still disappointed at being dropped before the world championships.
"It was tough last summer combining both sports. Not getting into the team for the worlds still hurts, although it's a definite weight off my shoulders now the decision to focus on beach is made. To be honest, my build is probably more suited to beach volleyball anyway."
At 1.87m and 1.85m, Scarlett and Blundell are literally 'twin towers' on the New Zealand beach and are hellbent on a winning New Zealand pro tour event this summer after making three finals last season.
They will get some idea of the challenges ahead when taking on Brazilian duo Camilla Saldanha and Lili Maestrini on the five-tournament New Zealand tour, which comes to Mount Maunganui next week.
Maestrini is the current world under-21 champion, with Saldanha winning that title in 2005.
"The Brazilians girls are looking particularly strong but we don't know a whole lot about the other teams," Blundell conceded.
"We're itching to turn the three finals we made last summer into wins.
"We're a better combination than we were a year ago, although if you'd seen us on Saturday (with Scarlett battling a stomach ailment) you wouldn't have picked us as winners today!"
While prize money is lucrative on the world tour _ US$4.3m is up for grabs starting in Adelaide in March _ rookie combinations usually struggle, having to battle through pre-tournament qualifying for a shot at the main draw.
"We're realistic about where we're at,' Blundell said, "and I think we both know we'll need to be patient, especially in our first year. Having been there before I know every game you play counts for something. Hopefully by year two we'll have enough (ranking points) to enter qualifying a bit higher up, and then look at making some main draws."
The pair have secured year-by-year sponsorship from New Zealand company Enza, with backing also from Massey University and Buy NZ Made.
- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES
