Having long nurtured the dream of riding for their country against the cream of global talent, Mount Maunganui duo Mac Christie and Jordan Griffin are now buzzing on the reality.
Named six weeks ago in the New Zealand team for the 2012 ISA world junior championships, to be held in Panama from April 14-22, the Tauranga Boys' College schoolmates are the latest in a sizeable line-up of Tay St "grommets" to make the junior side in recent years.
Their international debut will see Christie, 16, competing in the boys' Under-18 division and Griffin, 15, surfing in the boys' Under-16 grade.
While Christie has been in prime position for the 12-strong team since being selected in the wider squad of 22 in December, Jordan powered his way in with two finals berths in the first two contests of the new year.
Son of former national representative and perennial longboard maestro Phil Griffin, the wiry natural-footer placed fourth in the Billabong Grom Series opener at his home break on February 4-5 and the following weekend went one better, finishing third at Whangamata.
"I've been aiming to make the team since I started doing the Grom Series in Under-14 grade. Dune Kennings [Whangamata] has been in the team from when he was young, I thought if he can do it why can't I?" Jordan says.
"I was told earlier this year I had to get some better contest results. I didn't do very well in the GromSearch contest or the nationals so I really had to step it up."
He had felt his dream slipping away when the squad had a training camp following the Mount contest, with no hint he was in the frame. "After they had that second training camp I didn't think I had a chance.
"Not being in the wider squad meant I had to push myself even more though, it's been a good thing really."
For Christie, a tall goofy-footer, heading off to the world juniors will likewise be the fulfillment of a long-held ambition.
"It always seemed a far-fetched goal when I was in under-16. To make the squad in December I was so stoked, and it's even better to get into the final team."
Aiding Christie's build-up has been his family's recent move from Tauranga's Avenues to his surf stomping grounds at the Mount, enabling him to eke the most out of the Bay's fickle surf conditions.
The highlight of his season so far is surfing through to the open quarter-finals at national tour event, February's O'Neill Sequence Surf Shop Pro in Gisborne. Last summer he made the open final at the Mount's national tour round, the Power Balance Pro, memorably beating 2011-12 world pro junior competitor and fellow Tay St local Matt Hewitt in the process.
Christie is hoping to be in the same sharp form this weekend at Raglan for the Volcom VQS event.
While Griffin didn't make the semis in the Grom series finale at Piha earlier this month, consistency sees him lying fourth in the Under-16 division. The fourth event counting towards overall rankings is Maz Quinn's Quiksilver King of the Groms at Gisborne, postponed from this weekend to next weekend due to poor surf prospects.
Christie and the rest of the wider squad had their first training at Piha after January's nationals, the one-day session testing their fitness with copious drills. At the second training camp, team coach Jason Ruddell, a personal trainer and surf coach from Whangarei, put his charges in the water for simulated heats, complemented by swimming sessions at Baywave.
Watching Ruddell's video footage of their nationals heats has helped identify technical aspects they need to focus on, Christie says.
"I'm working on keeping my arms up from my body, not dropping them behind me. It gives you more control and keeps your weight centred over the board."
The adjustment builds on insights Christie gleaned from former New Zealand representative Larry Fisher of Raglan Surfing Academy, who is also Ruddell's predecessor as national junior coach.
"I stayed with Larry, he made DVDs of my surfing and from him I learnt about arm control and to not move my body too much, keeping it smooth and extending my legs at the right time."
Christie and Griffin helped the Bay of Plenty team win the 2010 national scholastics title at Gisborne, a feat last year's side couldn't quite repeat at in Northland, where they finished third. Captaining the 2011 Bay team, Christie placed fourth in boys' Under-16 while Griffin just missed the cut for the longboard final.
With contest venue Playa Venao offering ample beachbreaks and the team lucking into accommodation at the beach, the duo should feel right at home.
The New Zealand team has one more two-day camp at Raglan at the end of this month to gear up for their campaign.
Rip Curl New Zealand team for ISA world junior championships at Playa Venao, Panama, April 14-22
Under 18 boys: Mackenzie Christie (Mnt), Ben Poulter (Rag), Paul Moretti (Mimiwhangata), Tane Wallis (Piha). Non-travelling reserve: Jules Craft (Gis).
Under 18 girls: Alethea Lock (Chch), Ella Williams (Whgmta), Jasmine Smith (Gis), Jayda Martin-Fitzharris (Gis). Non-travelling reserve: Dayna Story (Gis).
Under 16 boys: Elliot Paerata-Reid (Piha), Jordan Griffin (Mnt), Korbin Hutchings (Gis), Harrison Whiteside (Chch).
Manager: Tony Baker (Mangawhai). Coach: Jason Ruddell (Whgrei). Assistant manager/coach: Warren Asplin (Ham).