Two Piha surfers will represent New Zealand at the ISA world junior surfing championships in Panama this April.

Tane Wallis and Elliot Paerata-Reid were selected alongside 10 other surfers from around New Zealand to make up the national squad. It’s the third and final time Wallis can compete in the junior worlds.

The Henderson High School student will surf in the under-18 boys category.

“It is always great to represent your country and to travel to places in central America. It will be sad to finish up but hopefully we do well,” he says.

The 17-year-old competed at Playa Venao Beach in Panama last year with the national open team and will be aiming to help New Zealand finish high in the standings.

“The beach there is actually a lot like home in Piha with its greenery but warmer. Overall I would like to see our team do better than last year when we finished only 10th.”

Paerata-Reid is competing in the under-16 boys division. It’s his third selection to the junior national squad.

He was the highest placed Kiwi surfer in 2011 placing 31st in the under-16 competition.

“I am going over there to win. Hopefully I can achieve that goal,” he says.

“My preparation so far is way better after carrying out fitness training in the gym and running. My surfing is a lot better than last year too.”