Ben Poulter placed 19th last time around and will want to go better again this year on home turf. Image Cory / NZ Surf Mag

With only four days until the start of the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship, over 20 teams from the five continents have confirmed their involvement in the biggest surfing event in the world for the 18 and under surfers. Held at the wildly scenic Piha Beach in New Zealand, the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship will take place from January 20 – 28, 2010.

All teams are traveling to New Zealand with their country's elite junior team. Defending champions and previous ISA medalists are going to be looking forward to a repeat performance while aiming to improve their previous feats.

Tyler Wright (AUS), gold medalist of the 2009 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championsihp in Ecuador will try to put her name next to Stephanie Gilmore, who won the event back to back in Tahiti 2004 and USA 2005.

Keanu Asing (HAW) and Tamaroa McComb (TAH), gold medalists in 2009 and 2008 respectively in the Under 16 division, are looking forward to writing their names in history books. Both Asing and McComb will be competing in the Under 18 division in New Zealand. If one of them wins, they will become the first surfers to win both boys divisions in the history of event.

Also joining the list of favorites is:
Ecuador 2009 - Boys Under 18 bronze medalist, Maxime Huscenot (FRA)
Ecuador 2009 - Boys Under 16 silver medalist, Gabriel Medina (BRA)
Ecuador 2009 – Boys Under 16 bronze medalist, David Brand (RSA)
Ecuador 2009 – Boys Under 16 copper medalist, Jessé Mendes (BRA)
Ecuador 2009 – Girls Under 18 silver medalist, Courtney Conlogue (USA)
Ecuador 2009 – Girls Under 18 bronze medalist, Alessa Quizon (HAW)
France 2008 – Boys Under 16 silver medalist, Peterson Crisanto (BRA)
France 2008 – Boys Under 16 copper medalist, Ian Fontaine (FRA)

In addition to top names, the 2010 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship will have a team presence from Indonesia, Fiji and Vanuatu, all countries competing for the first time ever.

The event will be officially open on January 20, after the Parade of Nations and Sands of the World Ceremony. The opening ceremony will take place at Mission Bay, Auckland at 1pm. Competition will start at 8:00am on the 21st at Piha Beach, Auckland.

Attention Media
Media Registration will start on January 19 at 11:00am at the SkyCity Grand Hotel in Auckland. A Press Conference will take place on January 19 at 12:00pm, also at the SkyCity Grand Hotel.

Editorial right free videos and images in hi res are available in the following ftp:
FTP
FTP Server: ftp.isasurf.org
FTP Username: isasurf_media
Password: download1

CONTACT US, we´re here to serve you

Pablo Zanocchi
Media Manager
International Surfing Association
pablo@isasurf.org 

Jake White
Media
Quiksilver Australia
Jake@surfingaustralia.com 

Ben Kennings
Media Manager
Surfing New Zealand
benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz 

About the ISA
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for Surfing and all Surfriding activities, including Short Board, Longboard, Bodyboard, Kneeboard, Skimboard, Tow In and Stand Up Paddle 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.

ISA membership includes the surfing National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of over 50 countries on six continents. Its headquarters are located in La Jolla, California. It is presided by Fernando Aguerre, first elected in 1994 in Rio, and re-elected six times since. The ISA's four Vice Presidents are Alan Atkins (Australia), Robin de Kock (South Africa), Mike Gerard (USA), and Karin Sierralta (Peru).

About Quiksilver (www.quiksilver.com)
Quiksilver is committed to providing tools for uncovering, expressing and expanding your personal style. Our aim is to foster the sense of individual expression and excitement - the stoke that is the essence of boardriding*. We're also here to spread the word because the only thing better than finding stoke is sharing it.

* Boardriding is about timing and style. It's youthful, active, casual, and free flowing. There is no wrong way to ride a board. The goal is simply to learn, progress, improve, and give it your own interpretation.