Mount Maunganui surfer Todd Doyle is on his way to Peru to compete for New Zealand in the 2011 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships.

He leaves the country today in the 12-strong Rip Curl New Zealand Junior Surfing Team as the only surfer from the Bay of Plenty.

Todd Doyle Photo: photocpl.

Three weeks ago the team met for two days of training at Mahia where they stayed on a marae and got to know each other as well as train hard on the water. Alexis Poulter and Joe Moretti captain the team of youthful surfers, this being Poulter's fifth foray to the international arena.
'It will be good leading the team as captain,” says Alexis.

'I have had a lot of experience at the event and there are a few new members going this year so I plan to provide them as much support as possible.”
Alexis placed 15th at the event in 2010 – a personal best that she hopes to improve on again this year as she attempts to bust into the top 10 surfers in the under-18 girls' division.
Early swell forecasts have a massive swell hitting the Peruvian coastline on the first two days of the event, a scenario that Alexis feels will help her team's cause.
'I have been watching forecasts, it looks big when we get there, then it drops off before picking up again at the end of the event.

'Hopefully it is big the whole time – it will suit us if it is.”
Fellow team captain, Joe Moretti, is attending the event for the second time.

Highly regarded for his fitness levels and dedicated approach to his surfing, Joe will bring professionalism to the team and lead by example contesting the under-18 boys' division.
'These events are long, we are away for over two weeks and spend eight straight days at the beach so it is important that our support structure is good,” says Joe.

'We must get in behind each other with good support for the best chance of winning – we still have to focus on our own performance too.”

Dune Kennings, the youngest team member, is one of three first timers in the Rip Curl New Zealand Junior Surfing Team and he thinks that all three of them will bring a sense of excitement to the team.
'We have never been in the team before so I am sure we will be psyched up and amped on everything that happens, hopefully that washes off on everyone,” says Dune.
The youngest of the Moretti brothers Paul, echoed Dune's thoughts thinking that the ‘newbies' will bring motivation and a winning attitude to the team, getting up early and taking it all in every day.

'I think we will enjoy it, it will certainly be my biggest overseas experience, and the biggest event I have ever been in,” says Paul.
Likewise, Ella Williams is looking forward to making the most of the journey to Peru.

'I am looking forward to meeting new people, surfing a new break and being in such a competitive environment with so many other good surfers my age,” says Ella.

'It is so exciting, it will be cool to meet the local people too and see how they live, I am very, very excited.”
The team is led by manager Lee Ryan who says a long build-up to the event has the team in a good position.
'The team morale is high, all the training and preparations are complete.

'We have just got to get out there, stay focused and give it 100 per cent,” says Lee.
The World Junior Championship is the world's pinnacle event for surfers under the age of 18 with over 30 countries comprising 250 surfers ready to stake a claim for world titles.
The Rip Curl New Zealand Junior Surfing Team includes surfers from six regions throughout New Zealand with the small surf town of Whangamata providing three surfers, Northland, Auckland, Raglan, Gisborne all providing two surfers a piece with one representative from Mount Maunganui.
The 2011 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship starts proper overnight Sunday (New Zealand time).

Rip Curl New Zealand Junior Surfing Team

Under 18 Boys'
Ben Poulter (Rag)
Joe Moretti (Mimiwhangata)
Tane Wallis (Piha)
Todd Doyle (Mnt)

Under 18 Girls'
Alexis Poulter (Rag)
Ella Williams (WGM)
Grace Spiers (WGM)
Jayda Martin - Fitzharris (Gis)

Under 16 Boys'
Adam Grimson (Gis)
Dune Kennings (WGM)
Elliot Paerata - Reid (Piha)
Paul Moretti (Mimiwhangata)

Team Manager/Coach: Lee Ryan (Mnt)
Team Assistant Manager/Coach: Anna Jolly (Auck)