The Otago team returns to the national surf league at Mount Maunganui today after an absence of two years from the teams event.
Individual surfers have competed during this period and have kept the Otago brand noticed on the national scene.
Over the last three weekends, Otago surfers have contested events in Christchurch.
In the southern region surf league, the St Clair team won six of the 10 events it contested in the 16-event competition.
The national surf league is made up of a number of team events, including inflatable rescue boat racing, swimming and craft and beach running.
The under-14 and under-16 teams compete today and Friday at Mount Maunganui's Main Beach.
Both teams have had recent success against their Canterbury counterparts, with the under-16s claiming a rare win and the under-14 junior lifeguards drawing before a countback had them finish a close second on overall wins.
Both teams have outstanding individuals, including Bailey Brandham, who is the current national champion in under-14 board and swim events.
In the under-16 grade, Hamish Taylor and Jamie Mowat have dominated the Southern region competition this summer in swim, craft and iron man competition.
Jessie Schneiders is Otago's best female under-16 competitor. She will miss the beach events to concentrate on the craft and swim.
Schneiders and Mowat will also double up on the weekend, taking on vital roles as part of the under-19 team, which also includes national champions Jordy Fogarty and Angus MacKenzie. Hamish McCulloch is a strong swimmer.
The open team includes double national beach sprint champion Joe Kemp and swimmer Adam Simpson, who has been successful in regional events in the North Island.
Simpson has been training under former national coach John Bryant at Mount Maunganui. Bryant, a former member of Dunedin's St Clair club, will be acting as open team coach for the event.
Mick Hastie has returned to Dunedin from Perth, where he trained with leading Australian surf club Trigg Island.
Hastie and team-mate Heath Ratten, who also spent the summer training and racing in Perth, will provide experience in the craft events.
