Alistair Bond (22), a surveying graduate from the University of Otago, is one of five Otago rowers named for New Zealand trials at Lake Karapiro next week.
The other triallists from Otago are Hamish Bond and Lucy Strack (North End), Fiona Bourke and Fergus Fauvel (Otago University).
Alistair Bond, who started rowing at Christchurch Boys' High School eight years ago, is one of 12 lightweight rowers named for the trials.
His best chance of selection is in the lightweight four that will contest the Olympic qualifying regatta at Lucerne, from May 25-27.
"I have three steps to achieve," Bond said. "I must get in the top four to be selected for the crew and we must row a time that will get us selected for Lucerne."
The last step is to finish in the top two at Lucerne, to qualify for the Olympics.
Bond, a member of the Otago University club, has been offered a trial for the last two two years but wanted to complete his surveying degree first.
He has worked hard at rowing since completing his university studies and has trained at Twizel and Lake Karapiro overthe summer months.
Bond was named for the trials after winning a silver medal in the lightweight pair and a bronze medal in the eight at the New Zealand championships at Lake Karapiro last week.
He has been influenced by the success of his brother Hamish, who has already won four world championship gold medals and will start as favourite to win a gold medal in the pair with Eric Murray at London.
"I have been able to watch Hamish at close hand to learn what the life of a full-time rower is all about," Bond said.
He did not excel at rowing when he was a pupil at Christchurch Boys' High School.
"I first had my Olympic dream when I started at Otago University," he said. "Rowing was not on my radar until then.
London did not become a firm target until the last two years." Hamish Bond and Bourke are certain be selected for the Olympics but Strack , Fauvel and Alistair Bond will need to have the elements on their side to be selected.
Strack is in four-way contest with Alyce Pulford (Hauraki Plains), Julia Edward (Rotorua) and Louise Ayling (Waihopai) to be selected in the lightweight double sculls.
Strack and Ayling qualified the boat when they won the B final at the world championships at Bled last year.
Strack and Edward reached the final at the world championships at Lake Karapiro in 2010. Ayling won a silver medal in the single sculls at that regatta.
Edward and Pulford won a silver medal at the world under-23 championships last year.
Fauvel is a strong contender for a place in the New Zealand eight that will contest the qualifying regatta at Lucerne if the boat meets the selectors' speed requirements.
Another interesting contest will be in the lightweight pair where former world singles champion Duncan Grant (Wairau) will be challenging the incumbent pair of Peter Taylor (Auckland) and Storm Uru (Waihopai), who won the silver medal at Bled last year.
