Moretti to captain NZ team

Chatting with Mimiwhangata's Joe Moretti, you get the feeling this 17-year-old is an old soul in an athlete's body.
His mature attitude and wise head has earned him the skipper's role of the 12-strong junior Kiwi team departing to Peru for the 2011 Quiksilver ISA World Surfing Championships today .
Moretti was named captain at the final team training camp last month and he said his new role had already given him a different perspective on the upcoming championships.
"I guess it means I will need to be a good role model and be more focused. I will be down at the beach 24/7 supporting the rest of the team; spending more time down there than I normally would ... I won't just be thinking of myself, but everyone else as well," Moretti said.
He will keep a particular eye out for his younger brother, Paul Moretti, who is 15.
While Joe competed for New Zealand at the worlds in 2009, this is Paul's first worlds campaign and he will be looking for a strong performance in the under-16 boys division, while Joe will take on the competitive U18 boys field.
"There are around 25 or so teams competing from around the world, and each individual's points go towards the team's overall ranking, so everyone in the team will be looking to do their best. There are high expectations for us to do well," Joe said.
The level of competition at the event is "crazy", he reckons.
"There are some guys in my age group, such as Brazil's Gabriel Medina and Californian Kalohe Andino, who will possibly be surfing at this competition, and they also compete on the WQS pro-circuit."
Having professionals contest an amateur event will push every surfer.
Moretti said: "It should lift you, it's something to aspire to, to do your best and try to beat the likes of those guys."
This year has been a whirlwind for the Northland siblings. Along with being named in the squad to travel to Peru, competitions, training camps and fundraising for the trip, Joe moved to Tauranga in February to study Marine Studies, while Paul shifted to Raglan to attend the Raglan Surfing Academy.
The brothers were looking forward to catching up during the championships, which start on Saturday and conclude on May 29 at Punta Hermosa, renowned for its all year-round solid swells.
Both brothers are heading into the competition, feeling prepared and confident..
"I'm feeling pretty good at the moment. I've been lucky with the surf. I've surfed nearly every day this year. I have some new boards which are feeling really good underfoot ... I'm just taking it step by step and not letting it all overwhelm me," Moretti said.
Meanwhile, Paul is getting top coaching and is learning a lot about his sport in Raglan.
"He should go all right in Peru, he's really focused," his brother said.
The boys each had to fundraise $4000 for the trip along with working part time and fundraising ventures, the Lion Foundation NZ also gave them $2000 to share.