A third son, Ben, now 7, came along during their time at Mimiwhangata, and the three Moretti boys lived most Kiwi kids dream lifestyle - surfing, diving, fishing in their spare time.
While Joe has left home and is studying marine biology in Tauranga, Paul and Ben are home-schooled because of the price of commuting to town, or sending the boys away. Paul recently spent a few terms at Raglan Surf Academy but it became too pricey for him to stay on there.
When Paul and Joe decided to start competing in surf contests as youngsters, Chris, who had surfed all his life, decided to coach the boys. The boys soon began stamping their mark on the national surf scene and have been contenders throughout the age groups for the past few years.
Paul, who is known for his progressive surfing, producing amazing tricks, said competing has made him a better surfer.
"Competing opens your eyes to different places and people - free surfing, where you are off doing your own thing and competing in a contest are two very different things - I think it's important to keep improving my surfing and watching others to see where you should be at," Paul said.
IN competitive surfing, judges look at the amount of manoeuvres, including cut-backs and tube rides, along with where these manoeuvres are performed on the wave. Speed, power and flow and wave selection are also taken into account and a competitor's final score will usually be based on scores from their best two waves in a heat.
Last year, both siblings were chosen for the New Zealand Junior Surf team to attend the ISA World Junior Surfing Championships in Peru, and still eligible to compete, Paul was selected for the 2012 NZ team after his second place in the Under-16 boys final at the national champs at Piha, in January.
Paul will head to Panama with the team on April 8, to try to improve on his disappointing 43rd placing in 2011.
"Last year the team did not really pull together. It was my first major international contest, and I got caught up in the whole scene and what was happening rather then concentrating on my routine," Paul said.
It was also obvious to Paul he came from a completely different background and had a different upbringing to most of the youngsters in the team.
"We live super different lives - I am mates with a couple of the others who are pretty mellow, but it did seem like most of the others were in it for the fortune and fame," Paul said.
After reflecting on his 2011 worlds performance, Paul was adamant he would not let the size or opposition phase him at the worlds this time, and was approaching Panama with a philosophical outlook.
"Like everyone, the goal is to go over there and win. I'm training hard building up to it, but once there I will try to take it how it comes," he said.
LIVING at Mimiwhangata, away from the masses and the material hype of the city, has given Paul an appreciation of keeping things simple when it comes to surfing.
"I think it's important to bring it back to what surfing is supposed to be about - being a good person and competitor. Living here I can't get a big ego - there's no one around to see me," he quipped.
Paul has recently moved into the Under-20 age grade on the national circuit, which was a big step up, he said. He is now competing against his brother Joe, which is difficult at times, because they have always been supportive of each other.
"But we both just do the best we can," he said.
As they move into the older age grades, surfers need more financial and coaching support if they are to move on to the qualifying circuit - which both Paul and Joe want to do.
"The ultimate goal is to make the WCT (World Championship Tour) and to live and breathe surfing - which is many surfers' dream. I'm going to try to do what I can to make it.
"It's pretty tough to do without money or any security, but I will do what I can and make the most of the opportunities that come my way," Paul said.
Unlike many other teenagers his age, Paul has not been lured into drinking alcohol and partying. "I know where I want to be, and I know how that lifestyle would affect me and work against me. I'm not tempted at all."
AS it has grown more popular, surfing has ever-increasing costs associated with it.
While proud of his boys, Chris said the cost it takes to keep his children in competitive surfing has compounded, and it had taken a financial and emotional toll on his family.
"We're still paying off the $10,000-plus it cost us [Chris, Joe and Paul] to go to Peru last year, and now we have to raise funds for Paul to go to Panama at the start of April this year - and we only found out he was in the team in February - it doesn't give us much time to fundraise," Chris said.
Surfing NZ do not provide any funding to the team members, so in between training everyday at the beach, and at Whangarei Aquatic Centre's gym several times a week with NZ junior coach Jason Ruddell, Paul has been trying to raise money.
"Paul's been out there doing the odd sausage sizzle and selling firewood, and among other things. The money side of things adds a huge stress ... he needs to be just surfing at this point, not stressing because dad is stressing that there is no money for petrol and food," Chris said.
While the Moretti family have tried to get financial sponsorship from various companies, it was hard to come by in NZ, Chris said.
"Our boys basically taught themselves and they have worked their butts off with no reward."
Both his parents and Paul agreed he needed to have a back-up plan, and he was completing his NCA Levels. More travel was also on the cards, but Paul said he would have to sit down, and look at where the surf competitions were and where he would gain the best experience.
With humility, and maturity beyond his years combined with his insane talent, Paul Moretti is a star in the making, more focused on being the best he can be, rather than the fame and fortune attracting many to his sport.
The Lions Foundation recently donated $2000 to Paul Moretti's Panama fund, while the Surf Emporium have organised the Paul to Panama project. They will be showing Splinters, an award-winning surf documentary, at the Old Library on March 31. Tickets are $10 each. Also $5 raffle tickets are for sale at The Surf Emporium, Tutukaka Surf, or Surfline, with prizes from West wetsuits, The Surf Emporium, Tutukaka Surf and the Moretti family.
