There was Norwegian success as the Snow Volleyball European Championships began ©FIVB

Norway's Janne Kongshavn and Kristine Wiig were among the day one winners at the inaugural Snow Volleyball European Championships in Austria.

A total of 48 teams - equally split between men and women and from 18 countries - have travelled to the birthplace of the sport to contest the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV) pilot event in Wagrain-Kleinarl and Flachau, which runs until Sunday (March 25) and will be broadcast live on Eurosportand ORF.

Kongshavn and Wiig teamed up specifically for this tournament after 10 years ago they played beach volleyball together - with Wiig ‘mentoring’ Kongshavn as Janne was making her international debut at the time. 

The duo stunner Slovakia's fourth seeds Silvia Poszmikova and Romana Jurenkova 12-10, 11-5.

This belied their lowly 21st seeding and allowed them to move into tomorrow's last 16 knockout stage.

Reigning "Queens of the Snow" Anna Dostalova and Michaela Knoblochová of the Czech Republic will also be among the medal contenders.

Action also began in the men's competition today
Action also began in the men's competition today

They won both their matches in Pool A to progress through qualifying.

The duo were pushed hard, though, in a 8-11, 13-11, 13-11 success over 24th seeded Latvians Alise Lece and Ilze Liepinlauska.

In the men's competition, top seeded Russians Ruslan Daianov and Taras Myskiv began well in Pool A.

They started with a 11-8, 9-11, 11-7 win against Norway’s Henrik Skogen and Vegard Løkken before a 11-7, 11-9 shutout of home hopes Florian Schnetzer and Daniel Müllner.

Action will continue tomorrow with the final group of men's pool matches before knockout action begins.