Later this year, four young local surfers will be heading to South America to represent New Zealand in three different international competitions.
Siblings Alexis and Zara Owen will be heading to El Salvador in September for the 2026 International Surfing Association (ISA) World Junior Surfing Championship.
Alexis said he had been twice before, but it was ‘‘good to have some company’’ this time.
‘‘It’s nice having Zara as well now — I’m kind of like the parent on the trip since I’ve been quite a few times now.’’
Lewis Murphy will be off to Peru to compete in the ISA World Surfing Games in November as part of the New Zealand open team, and Otago Polytechnic student Jack Tyro will be off to El Salvador in October for the ISA World Longboard Championship.
Surfing NZ chairman Jimi Higgins said it meant a lot to the South Coast Boardriders Club to see so many young Dunedin surfers having such success on the international stage.
‘‘We’ve always struggled nationally ... we haven’t had as many juniors as the older players, but now these guys are competing with the best in the country — and actually topping those leader boards.’’
Dunedin was sending just as many young surfers into overseas competitions as Auckland was this year.
To have this result in the same year as the club’s 60th anniversary was particularly special, Mr Higgins said.
