Grom needs funds for trip to Ecuador

STOKED: Sandy Bay surfer Manu Scott-Arrieta is fundraising to get to the Vissla ISA World Junior Surfing Championships in April. PHOTO/RON BURGIN

A young Northland surfer is fundraising to pay his way to the world championships in Ecuador.

Sandy Bay grom Manu Scott-Arrieta has been named as part of the New Zealand under-16 boys' team to compete at this year's Vissla ISA World Junior Surfing Championships from April 5-13.

"I'm kind of nervous, but pretty stoked at the same time. It's a whole new level of surfing," the 16-year-old Whangarei Boys' High School student said.

It's Scott-Arrieta's first major trip, after last year being named as a non-travelling reserve on the same team due to struggling to make finals at national competitions.

But he has been carving up in the last few months, winning the Under-16 Boys Division at the Surfing New Zealand National Scholastic Surfing Championships at Piha late last year, and this year placing third in the under-16 division at the National Surfing Championships. He is currently ranked fourth in Billabong Grom Series in the under-17 division.

His preparation for ISA Worlds has included running and surfing as much as he can, as well as researching waves in Ecuador. "I've been told it's like surfing Manu Bay in Raglan, a left-hand point break," he said.

His goal is to at least get through to the quarter-finals of the event, and he thinks the New Zealand team have a good chance. In 2013 the Kiwi team placed ninth at the event when it was held in Nicaragua.

"The surfing's good - we just don't get the support that the other countries get."

The trip is expected to cost around $5000 to $6000, and Scott-Arrieta is selling raffle tickets and appealing for donations to help him get there.

Scott-Arrieta's ultimate goal in surfing is to "try and make a living out of it". Donations can be made into Scott-Arrieta's fundraising account 12-3099-0765129-51.

The Junior Championships is an annual event having been held since 2003.

New Zealand Junior Surfing Team:

Under-18 Boys: Dune Kennings, Elliot Paerata-Reid, Jordan Griffin, Korbin Hutchings. Non-travelling reserve: Kayden Mayes.

Under-18 Girls: Britt Kindred, Jasmine Smith. Non-travelling reserve: Abby Falwasser-Logan.

Under-16 Boys: Daniel Farr, Jonas Tawharu, Kehu Butler, Manu Scott-Arrieta. Non-travelling reserve: Isaac Kettle.

Under-16 Girls: Elin Tawharu, Kea Smith. Non-travelling reserve: Raiha Ensor.