One of Whāingaroa’s rising young surfers, Van Camenzind, is taking the skills developed on Raglan’s waves to the international stage as part of the New Zealand Junior Surfing Team. Before the team left for El Salvador, we spoke to Van about the opportunity to compete against the world’s best junior surfers.
How does it feel to be selected for the New Zealand Junior Surfing Team heading to El Salvador?
It feels pretty unreal. I’m so stoked to be selected to represent New Zealand. It’s something I’ve always wanted to achieve for a while, so it’s cool to finally get the opportunity to go and compete against the best junior surfers from all around the world.
By the time this goes to print you will have left. What was the preparation process like before getting away?
There was quite a lot to prepare before the trip, from training to getting my boards and gear ready and also fundraising to help with the cost. I’ve also been putting a lot of time into my surfing and training with Johnny down at the Refinery to make sure I’m as prepared as I can be for when I get over there.
Can you talk us through your general performance in comps to qualify for the event?
I’ve had a pretty good run in comps this year which lead me to qualifying for the team. I’ve been focusing on being consistent, making good decisions in my heats and putting together good scores.
What is your school situation and how has this helped your surfing progress?
I’ve been at Raglan Area School and have been involved in the Surf Academy. Being able to combine school with surfing has been a massive help because I’m around surfing and training a lot more.
When did you start surfing and who supported you?
I started surfing when I was really young with my dad down at the beach. My family have always supported me and helped me get to training and competitions. The local surf community and Deane and Larry at the Surf Academy have helped me come a long way with my comp surfing.
How has growing up surfing in Whaingaroa influenced your ability?
Growing up in Whaingaroa has been awesome for my surfing. There are so many different waves around Raglan, so you learn to adapt pretty quickly. Surfing Manu Bay and the other local breaks regularly has given me a good understanding of the ocean and helped me become more confident in the water.
What is your dream surfing holiday?
Either a boat trip to the Mentawais with the boys, or a trip around Indonesia.
What is your goal for the event?
My main goal is to surf to the best of my ability and enjoy the experience of representing my country. I also want to put myself in a position to get good results and hopefully go as far as I can in the event.
