The next generation of young Kiwi surfers head to tropical El Salvador at the end of the month to take on over 50 countries at the ISA World Junior Surfing Championships being held from the 4th – 13th September.
The New Zealand Junior Surfing Team comprises a mix of experience and newcomers with seven fresh faces in the team adding an exciting dimension to the mix.
The experience will come from Dunedin’s Alexis Owen, Pauanui surfer Lola Groube and recent WSL New Zealand Pro wildcard Alani Morse (Rag), all three surfers having been part of the team for the past three years.
Both girls, Lola and Alani, 15 and 16 years old respectively will compete in the Under 16 Division with eyes on podium finishes at the event leveraging their exposure to international competition since 2023.
Groube surfed up a division in 2025 and finished seventh overall in the Under 18 Girls Division but returns to the Under 16s this time around.
“It’s pretty cool to be in the New Zealand Team for the fourth year and I’m really stoked to be able to represent New Zealand again,” commented Groube.
“For El Salvador, I just want to surf my best, enjoy it and hopefully get some good results for the team,” added the young Pauanui surfer.
Morse will look to use her recent World Tour experience to secure her best result at the prestigious junior this year. The Raglan surfer also finished with a career-best seventh at the WSL South Korea QS6000 event in July this year, competing against top talent from Australasia and Asia in the Open Women’s Division.
For Alexis Owen, it will be his final age group campaign before he joins the open ranks and surfs toward Olympic qualification for LA 2028. Owen is joined by his younger sister Zara this year, the youngest surfer in the team at 13 years of age.
“I’m excited for El Salvador again as it is easily my favourite venue I have been to for Worlds,” said Owen. “Obviously I want to do as good as I did in 2024 with a podium finish but no pressure as I am just going to take it heat by heat,” he added.
On representing Aotearoa alongside his sister, “having the chance to represent New Zealand alongside Zara is amazing, I’m so proud of her and what she has already achieved and I can’t wait to see how she goes on the international stage.”
New to the team this year are the likes of in-form Van Camenzind (Rag) and the powerful Sev Tolhurst (Piha) who will compete in the Under 18 Boys Division. An experience like no other awaits these two surfers along with first-timers Kyra Wallis (Piha) and National Champion Poppy Entwisle (Tara) who are also in the Under 18 Division.
Wallis follows on from two of her older brothers who have both represented New Zealand on several occasions.
“It’s pretty sick to be in the NZ team for the first time and I’m really stoked to get the opportunity to represent New Zealand in El Salvador. My goals for the event are to surf my best, and get a good result for myself and the team” said first time member Camenzind.
The team will be coached by a strong group of surfers who themselves have represented New Zealand at this event, senior events and in the case of Billy Stairmand, two Olympic campaigns. James Fowell returns to the fold having previously worked with the Junior Surfing Team, as has Daniel Kereopa who has spent a lot of time in recent years working with our top talent domestically.
The team recently gathered at Raglan for a training camp in the lead up to the event through the support of the Olympic Solidarity Fund and the New Zealand Olympic Committee.
El Salvador is no stranger to the event having hosted the World Junior Championships on several occasions before it skipped down to Peru for the 2025 edition at which the team placed tenth overall. El Salvador will also be the venue for the first major Olympic qualification opportunity for our top surfers in May next year.
The 2026 New Zealand Junior Surfing Team is as follows:
Under 18 Men
Alexis Owen (Dun)
Sev Tolhurst (Piha)
Van Vamenzind (Rag)
Non-travelling Reserve: Taimana Marupo (Mnt)
Under 18 Women
Kyra Wallis (Piha)
Poppy Arkle (Piha)
Poppy Entwisle (Tara)
Non-travelling Reserve: Sage Fritchley (Mnt)
Under 16 Boys
Jesse Fazerhurst (Auck)
Sol Fritchley (Mnt)
Zeke Pragert (Piha)
Non-travelling Reserve: Jaxon Pardoe (Gis)
U16 Girls
Alani Morse (Rag)
Lola Groube (Pau)
Zara Owen (Dun)
Non-travelling Reserve: Jade Nias Phillips (Ahipara)
Team Management
Manager – James Fowell (Gis)
Coach – Daniel Kereopa (Rag)
Coach – Billy Stairmand (Rag)
About International Surfing Association (ISA)
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for surfing, bodyboarding, SUP and surfing. It was originally founded as the International Surfing Federation in 1964 and has been running world championships since 1964, and the Junior World Championships since 1980.
Further Information
For further information on the New Zealand Junior Surfing Team please contact Surfing New Zealand’s Ben Kennings on 021 2278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz.
Imagery
High resolution action images of team members will be available to media free of charge upon request.
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