Raglan surfer Ben Poulter on Friday 23rd was named in a 22 surfer squad in preparation for the April 2012 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in Panama. Poulter is one of eight in the boys’ under-18 team. The 22 will be reduced to 12 by the middle of February, when the travelling team is named.
The squad includes surfers from eight regions throughout New Zealand with Gisborne and Auckland providing seven and five surfers respectively as the most powerful regions. Surfers in the squad also come from Northland, Waikato, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki and Christchurch.
National Selector Lee Ryan was impressed with the talent in the squad and looks forward to working with the team alongside management in the new year.
“We have a number of surfers that are new to this level of surfing and the squad has a young energetic feel about it which I am sure will bode well as they get together and strive for a place in the travelling team come April” Ryan said.
The 22 surfers will be reduced to twelve by the middle of February when the travelling team is named. Prior to that, the squad will be put through their paces at national events and training camps over the next eight weeks.
The extensive national events programme will be complemented by two training camps in January and February where the selected squad of surfers will be able to further push their cause for national representation.
A three-prong management team has also been announced for the 2012 tour to Pamana. Tony Baker will manage the team and will be assisted by Jason Ruddell as Coach and Warren Asplin as Assistant Coach/Manager.
Key dates:
15th January – Squad meet and greet with team management (Piha)
22nd January – Squad training day (Piha)
6th – 7th February – Squad training camp (Mount Maunganui)
14th February – New Zealand Junior Surfing Team announced
Team Training Camp, Venue and dates to be confirmed
14th – 22nd April – 2012 ISA World Surfing Championship, Playa Venao, Panama
The New Zealand Junior Surfing Squad is as follows:
Under 18 Boys
Adam Grimson (Gis)
Ben Poulter (Rag)
Jules Craft (Gis)
Mackenzie Christie (Mnt)
Paul Moretti (Mimiwhangata)
Sean Kettle (Tara)
Tane Wallis (Piha)
Waretini Wano (Piha)
Under 18 Girls
Alethea Lock (Chch)
Bianca Sansom (Auck)
Dayna Story (Gis)
Ella Williams (WGM)
Gabriela Sansom (Auck)
Jasmine Smith (Gis)
Jayda Martin-Fitzharris (Gis)
Sarah Mason (Gis)
Under 16 Boys
Dune Kennings (WGM)
Elliot Paerata – Reid (Piha)
Harrison Whiteside (Chch)
Kehu Butler (Mnt)
Korbin Hutchings (Gis)
Te Rapai – Barbarich – Love (Tara)
Team Manager: Tony Baker (Mangawhai)
Team Coach: Jason Ruddell (Whangarei)
Team Assistant Manager/Coach: Warren Asplin (Hamilton)
The World Junior Surfing Championships is an annual event having been held since 2003. New Zealand has competed at the event since its inception as well as competing at the World Grommet Titles as it was formerly known since 1989. New Zealand has been one of the top nations at each event with Jay Quinn (Gis) securing New Zealand’s first World Championship in the Under 18 Men’s division in 2001. In 2011 the New Zealand team placed tenth at the event when it was held in Peru.
Prior to the main event the team will meet South Africa to contest the annually run ‘SANZ’ Trophy held between the two teams. South Africa currently holds the trophy after winning it in 2011. The two teams will fine tune their competitive strategies only days out from the main event. The unique trophy that is up for grabs is made out of a solid pounamu base with paua inlay and a surfboard made out of South African hardwood.