They have been a key part of the the duo’s attire on the sand, as they have braved Dunedin’s winter to prepare for the beach volleyball World University Championships.
Certainly the cold and rain — particularly this week — have not made for ideal conditions.
But it is something the University of Otago duo have dealt with well.
It had been a case of making it work.
When motivation waned, the thought of playing in the warmth and sun in Maceio, Brazil, kept them going.
"It’s been fine," Stratton, a 21-year-old law and commerce student, said.
"We’ve been here long enough, the cold’s not an issue. Woollen socks out on the sand is a regular for us.
"We make it work — sometimes we have to travel up north to get some matches in up there.
"But yeah, find a break in the weather, come out and train and get out on the sand when we can. Just make the most of it.
"We’re both lucky we love it a lot and we’re committed to getting better and doing the best we can at this event.
"There’s definitely some days you might not be that motivated to get out and train. But with that end picture in mind, it’ll be nice to get out on the sand and in the sun in Brazil."
The pair, who are both originally from Tauranga, grew up playing indoor volleyball and gravitated towards the beach game later.
It was a game they said was more tactical than the indoor version and players had to be more well-rounded, rather than filling specific roles.
They had met when White, who recently completed a master’s in sports science, was working at the hall of residence where Stratton was living.
The now-24-year-old recognised Stratton as a volleyball player and got him to join the local club.
Over the past two summers, they have played together on the domestic beach volleyball tour and were one of three New Zealand pairs chosen to attend the world championships.
They leave on August 17 and will spend two weeks playing in Los Angeles, before heading to Brazil for a week’s preparation.
The championships — which are likely to attract professional players and a very high level of competition — begin on September 6 and run for five days.
