A 12-strong New Zealand team, including six new faces, was
named today for the world junior surfing championships at
Piha next January.
The team is led by Gisborne's Johnny Hicks, competing at the
event for the fifth year on end and the ultra-talented goofy
foot surfer will want to go out on a high note as he moves on
to the next level of his career.
Joining him in the under-18 boys division are Alex Dive of
Mount Maunganui and Australian-based surfer Damien Norman,
with former South African JC Susan the newcomer to the team.
Two new faces emerge in the girls team with 14-year-old Sarah
Mason and Grace Spiers getting their first international
caps. Spiers, sidelined for the past two years with a back
injury, has also turned heads as a youngster and was the
youngest surfer to ever win a national open women's event at
the age of 14. The two newcomers join Alexis Poulter
(Raglan), a three-time New Zealand representative and Jayda
Martin-Fitzharris (Gisborne).
Seasoned under-16 boys division campaigners Tane Wallis
(Piha) and Ben Poulter (Raglan) are joined by another two
youngsters in Gisborne's Adam Grimson and Elliot Paerata-Reid
of Piha. The national squad attended a selection camp in
September and a further training camp on November 28.
