Surfing officials see chance to impress big guns

Officials from the International Surfing Association will keep a close eye on this week's junior event in Piha as they weigh up a bid from New Zealand to host the 2011 World Surf Games.

Surfing New Zealand pulled off a major coup in getting the World Junior Championships, considered the pinnacle event for under-18 surfers, to Piha. It is the first time an event of this magnitude has been staged in New Zealand and more than 25 years since an ISA event was held in Australasia.

Surfing NZ chief executive Greg Townsend believes if the week goes off without a hitch, they'll significantly boost their chances of hosting the senior event in 2011.

"We've got one opportunity to do it well," said Townsend.

"I'd like to do a real good job of this one and if we can do that I'd feel confident that it would put us in a really good position to host the next one."

Among the visiting officials in Auckland for the event is ISA president Fernando Aguerre and Townsend plans to use the opportunity to discuss the specifics of New Zealand's bid.

"We'll be discussing venues and timings and that sort of thing, and we expect to find out in the next couple of months if we're successful."

Townsend said he had a couple of locations in mind for the World Games.

"It just depends on what support we can get from those regions, obviously. We'd be talking to the Government about it and also the sponsors we've got involved with this event."

Also keeping a watchful eye on the proceedings in Piha will be the International Olympic Committee. Aguerre met IOC President Jacques Rogge in Switzerland this month to discuss the possibility of including surfing in the shortlist for the 2020 Olympic programme. He outlined the ISA's efforts to develop the sport around the world and the role World Championship events, which are run entirely separate from the professional circuits, play in the promotion of the sport.

"We are making a very serious bid to become an Olympic sport," said Aguerre. "Our events are known as the Olympics of Surfing. Athletes don't come here to win money, they do it for the honour of representing their countries."

He said the IOC was very enthusiastic about the recent developments in man-made waves and believes the new technology is key to surfing's potential inclusion in the Summer Games.