KEY POINTS:
Defeat last year will be a motivating factor for the Auckland team in the surf league at Mt Maunganui in three weeks.
The lineup has a wealth of experience with half the 12-strong team either current or former New Zealand representatives.
The current national champions are veteran Katie Pocock, the women's ski champion, and Travis Mitchell and Kevin Morrison in the open men's ski and board.
Pocock and Mitchell make welcome returns to the Auckland team after missing last year's league because of national sprint kayak commitments.
Vaughan Roberts also returns as the beach sprint and flags expert after being unavailable last year.
Australian-based Lucy Pengelly is unavailable because of a back injury that also kept her from the New Zealand team at the International Surf Challenge at Bondi in December.
Her place in the team is taken by another Australian-based Kiwi, Jessica Parr.
The Pocock family remains one of the cornerstones with Jason, the current New Zealand surf coach of the year, continuing the motivation behind the team, while youngest brother Cameron is also on duty.
First-time open competitors Andrew Lancaster and Ashley Matuschka earned their selection as the inflatable rescue boat crew after a stint in last year's under-19 Auckland league team and winning a national title at the New Zealand championships last season.
AUCKLAND TEAM
Cameron Pocock, Kevin Morrison, Danny Morrison, Travis Mitchell, Andrew Lancaster, Michael Buck, Chris Moors, Ash Matuschka, Vaughan Roberts, Jessica Parr, Jane Moors, Katie Pocock, Lauren Johnson.
