Mount Maunganui beach is hosting the country's best young surf lifesaving stars today as the Oceans 12 New Zealand Under-14 Championships start.

The four-day carnival beginning today attracts more than 700 athletes from 41 clubs.

Action from last year's Oceans 11 New Zealand under-14 championships in Mount Maunganui. Photo: Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Journalism.

This year, the juniors also get the chance to watch New Zealand's top ironmen and women compete in the final of the Sonic Race Series this Saturday.

Bay of Plenty athletes feature prominently in the 10-strong fields for both races, with Mount Maunganui's Andrew Newton qualifying in seventh place in the Ironman, and Papamoa's Natalie Peat second in the Ironwoman.

The 17-year-old is set for a notable return to the Oceans arena, where she was unbeaten over five years in the diamond lady race in four age groups.

She is joined by Mount Maunganui's resident French star Emmanuelle Bescheron, along with Cara Ryan, Jess Miller, Katie Wilson and Johanna O'Connor, also from the Mount Maunganui club.

The top qualifiers after the five rounds of competition in the new series are Red Beach ironman AJ Maney and Mairangi Bay ironwoman Madison Boon.

Other top contenders include Midway 17-year-old Cory Taylor, his experienced clubmate Matt Sutton and veteran New Plymouth Old Boy's ironman Glenn Anderson,

While Mairangi Bay triathlete Danielle McKenzie qualified third in the women's series, behind Boon and Peat.

Papamoa, meanwhile, will be looking to reclaim sole possession of the overall Ocean's club title after sharing the spoils with Red Beach last year.

Papamoa trailed Red Beach by four points heading into the final two events but picked up a second in the under-12 Cameron relay and a fighting third in the under-14 Cameron relay to draw level.

Last year's carnival had everything, from huge early surf and white-hot beach action, to ideal half-metre swells on the final day.

Papamoa are sending a 43-strong team to the carnival, while Omanu will have 44 and Mount Maunganui - third last year - have 47 athletes competing.