Alexis, 18, and Zara, 13, Owen have both qualified for Surfing New Zealand’s 12-person team that will be heading to El Salvador in September for the 2026 International Surfing Association (ISA) World Junior Surfing Championship.
Alexis is no stranger to El Salvador — he joined the New Zealand team there for the 2024 championship where he placed fourth in the under-16 boys category.
For his sister Zara, it would be a whole new experience.
The 13-year-old realised she would be making the trip after winning a national competition in Gisborne.
‘‘I was super-stoked,’’ she said.
‘‘We had done all the maths and so we knew that, if I won, I was going to make it.’’
She was a little nervous, but mostly excited about the big trip.
The farthest she had ever travelled for a surfing competition until now was Australia.
‘‘I’m obviously a lot younger than everyone else, because I’m only 13 and I’m going for under-16s.
‘‘I’ll just go in and see how it goes.’’
The siblings had both been surfing since they were each about 7; their parents had even got into it as adults.
Alexis said the waves in El Salvador were a lot bigger and the water was ‘‘a heck of a lot warmer’’ than at St Clair Beach.
He was feeling confident after his 2024 result.
Pretty much every competitive junior surfer was trying to make the New Zealand team — only three per age group got in.
‘‘It’s a big deal to make it.’’
The championship takes place from September 4-13.
