By Lewis Krauskopf

VIRGINIA BEACH - Alexsander Blindheim and his fellow Bergen Beach Boys were on foreign turf. Not only did the Norwegian soccer team arrive at 1 a.m., after an overnite flight, but, belying their team name, the 14-year-olds are used to playing on gravel - not sand."It's very weird to play on sand," the blond scandanavian said. "Very bumpy".

But for their first time in Virginia Beach - and for some - their first time in America - winning the North American Sand Soccer Championships isn't everything. "We would like to win", Alexsander said. "But it's not very important."

Fourteen blocks of beach became an international stage for sand soccer on Saturday. An estimated 3,000 soccer players making up 365 teams invaded the oceanfront for the tournament - billed by organizers as the world's largest sand soccer event of its kind. The tournament continues today.

It represents two of Kathryn Klein's favorite pastimes. "The soccer's fun, but it's the beach, so everything's combined into one," said Klein, a 17-year-old athlete about to graduate from Norfolk Collegiate.

The event, organized by the Hampton Roads Soccer Council, began in 1994 with 26 teams. It now ghas participants from siz states, and teams with players from Brazil, Ecuador, England, Mexico, Turkey, Portugal, Spain and Norway. Organizers expect to raise about $100,000 for the operation of the 19-field complex in Virginia Beach.

The event took on a little World Cup flavor as the defending champion Brazilian team Flamilia kicked off Saturday morning. A gold and green stripped flag hung from their room at the Ramada Inn as the team won its first game. The opening ceremonies featured an exhibition between the Brazilians and members of the U.S. Pro Beach Soccer Tour, althopugh it began with a blue-suited Elvis impewrsonator singing and handing Mayor Mayera E. Orberndorf a game ball. "We have some of them in Norway as well," Bergen coach Henrik Holm said, referring to the impersonator, not the mayor.

Men and women, elementary scholl children on up to baby boomers hit the sand Saturday, and most agreed it was a challenge. The sand made it tougher to move, the beach divots altered the course of the ball, and players said the sand, mixed with sweat, felt like sandpaper. Many players taped up their feet or wore socks for protection. "But that makes it all the more enjoyable", said Kenneth Bradley, a 16-year-old playing with the Atlantic Hurricanes team.

Ten-year-old Clifton Kipper, who plays year-round on grass for his Williamsburg squad, also liked the change of pace. "It's more fun when it's hard", said Clifton, wearing a green jersey and sucking on a blue snow cone.

In their opening match, the Bergen Beach Boys battled Beach FC United to a 2-2 tie. The team left behind rain in Norway, and Alexsander had one word for the playing conditions: "Hot," he said, pouring water on his head..