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.
