Rain, Mud, Travel Mar Last Stretch

The sport’s name implies it: sunny skies and crashing waves providing a backdrop for volleyballs bouncing on the sand.

But as the final week approached to select beach volleyball squads for the Sydney Olympics, the United States’ best teams were grinding it out on muddy courts in the rain at Klagenfurt, Austria.

Last weekend at the Austria Open, Kevin Wong and Rob Heidger clinched one of the two men’s U.S. Olympic beach volleyball bids for Sydney.

And with only one Olympic qualifying event remaining this weekend, former Laguna Beach High standout Dain Blanton and Eric Fonoimoana will try to overtake San Clemente’s Karch Kiraly--sidelined by injury--and Adam Johnson for the final U.S. Olympic berth in Ostende, Belgium.

The U.S. women also have a tight race for the final Olympic berth--Annett Davis and Jenny Johnson Jordan have clinched the first bid--and that event will be held in Dalian, China.

There are good reasons why the top American players are determining their Olympic fate overseas. But that doesn’t mean everyone is happy about it.

“Ideally, a series of five to six tournaments in the U.S. would be nice and the top two teams from that series could represent the U.S. [at the Olympics],” said Holly McPeak, who with partner Misty May will try to lock up the second U.S. bid this weekend, with Liz Masakayan and Elaine Youngs close behind.

“It is difficult to have to travel around the world competing while trying to qualify for our own U.S. team, but for now we need to deal with it.”

What they have endured is a two-season-long process in which teams take their eight best finishes in FIVB events between Jan. 1, 1999 and Aug. 15, 2000. Teams accumulated increasing point values for higher finishes, although some tournaments were worth more points because of the strength of the field, and . . .

The fans aren’t the only ones scratching their heads.

“I think it is very confusing,” Wong said. “Even though I got an 800 [out of 800] on my math SAT test, it still took me half an hour to figure out what [our Austria Open] results meant.

“I think that there may be a better process, but I am not sure what it is.”

John Kessel, USA Volleyball’s Director of Beach Volleyball, said the solution could be a hybrid of the current system and ideas borrowed from the selection processes for other sports.

Olympic basketball or figure skating teams, for instance, offer additional avenues through performance in zone qualifying or a world championships tournament.

“I don’t think we’ll ever have a one-tournament Olympic trials,” Kessel said. “There’s a better chance now to change things for the 2004 Olympics qualification. The biggest hurdle was trying to establish the sport worldwide first.”

The FIVB has helped the development of the game worldwide, and the organization has many proponents, including Sinjin Smith, the second-winningest player in U.S. beach volleyball history.

Smith conceded there are shortcomings, but he supports the FIVB’s ideals and philosophy behind the lengthy and complex Olympic qualification system.

“It sure gives you the best shot,” Smith said, “especially if in a single qualifier you are sick or injured or have a bad day.

“The FIVB feels it is the best way to ensure a system that is fair and will qualify the best teams.”

SURF SHORTS

The Assn. of Surfing Professionals World Qualifying Series is in Anglet, France, this weekend for the O’Neill Surf Challenge, and the World Championship Tour’s next event begins next week in Lacanau, France, for the TC Lacanau Pro.

The WCT returns to Orange County Sept. 24-29 for the men’s Billabong Pro at Lower Trestles near San Clemente.

Hawaii’s Sunny Garcia is still the No. 1 men’s surfer in the WCT rankings and is the leading money winner at $47,400. Garcia won the U.S. Open at Huntington Beach, a WQS event, two weeks ago.

San Clemente’s Cory Lopez is No. 3 in the WCT rankings and his brother Shea is ranked 18th. San Clemente’s Shane Beschen is ranked 20th and Laguna Niguel’s Pat O’Connell is ranked 39th.

Australia’s Layne Beachley is the No. 1 women’s surfer in the WCT rankings and Hawaii’s Megan Abubo is No. 2. The next WCT women’s event is Aug. 22 in Hossegor, France.

If you have an item or idea for On the Beach, you can fax us at (714) 966-5663 or e-mail us at:

martin.beck @latimes.com or mike.itagaki@latimes.com

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Beach Volleyball

Men’s Olympic Qualification Rankings

Based on finishes in FIVB events from Jan. 1, 1999 to Aug. 15, 2000. Top two teams from each country go to Olympics

*--*

Rank Players Pts. 9 Heidger/Wong* 1,898 12 Johnson/Kiraly 1,722 15 Blanton/Fonoimoana 1,636

*--*

* --clinched U.S. berth for Sydney.

Blanton/Fonoimoana clinch berth if they finish fourth or higher this weekend in Ostende, Belgium.

Johnson/Kiraly withdrew from the tournament in Belgium after Kiraly suffered a shoulder injury.

Women’s Olympic Qualification Rankings

Based on finishes in FIVB events from Jan. 1, 1999 to Aug. 15, 2000. Top two teams from each country go to Olympics.

*--*

Rank Players Pts. 2 Davis/Jordan* 2,676 3 May/McPeak 2,504 5 Masakayan/Youngs 2,420

*--*

*--clinched U.S. berth for Sydney.

May/McPeak clinch berth with a top-three finish this weekend in Dalian, China.

Maskayan/Youngs clinch berth if they finish second or higher and May/McPeak finish fifth or lower.