Georgia Wight, of Alexandra, and Kate McDonald, of Clyde, have been selected in the New Zealand team for the world mountain biking championships in Canberra, Australia, in August.
Georgia will compete in the downhill event, while Kate will turn out in the cross-country.
The two 16-year-olds, both in year 12 at Dunstan High School, are members of the Wakatipu Central Otago Cycle Club and have represented their country before.
They were members of the New Zealand under-17 road cycling team in the Canberra Tour last year, and Georgia was also in the national track cycling team at the Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney in January.
The festival attracted 1800 athletes from 20 countries, competing in 21 sports.
Downhill is a relatively new discipline for Georgia.
"I've only been doing it for a few months and had to borrow a bike for the nationals in March," Georgia said.
She won the open (one level below elite) women's title at the national downhill championships in Nelson then competed for Southland at the national track championships in Invercargill, finishing sixth in the individual pursuit.
"I think mountain biking is my favourite thing, though - especially downhill. It's all over real fast and it's fun.
"There's a good atmosphere at the start and finish line."
Kate also enjoys mountain biking but said she would struggle to choose between it and road cycling.
"I like them both. Each has its good points and I'd quite like to keep doing both for as long as I can," she said.
Kate tested out the world championships course in Canberra earlier this year.
"Competing at that level will be pretty special and I just want to do well and see what it's like at that level."
She got into the sport because her father, Ian, was a cyclist. Georgia said her family had "always been on bikes".
The girls said they were lucky to have so many bike trails handy to where they live and were also fortunate to have so many good cyclists on hand to ask for advice.
Kate's training is mostly cycling based, while Georgia plans to mix swimming and gym work with training rides.
