Leading the Aussie charge in three separate divisions will be Tim Macdonald (North Stradbroke Island, Queensland) Wade Carmichael (Avoca, New South Wales) Jordi Watson (Currarong, NSW) and Thomas Woods (Coolangatta, Queensland) in the Under 18 boys division.

Cooper Chapman (North Narrabeen, NSW) Matt Banting (Port Macquarie, NSW) Creed McTaggart (Margaret River, WA) and Jake Scott (Malabar, NSW) in the Under 16 boys division.

The Under 18 Girls division will be contested by Tyler Wright (Lennox Head, NSW) Philippa Anderson (Merewether, NSW) Felicity Palmateer (Trigg Beach, WA) and Ellie-Jean Coffey (Crescent Head, NSW).

The 24 top class surfers completed a gruelling three-day selection camp at Surfing Australia’s High Performance Centre on December 22 under the guidance of head coach Martin Dunn and high performance coaches Mark Richardson and Grant Hudson.

During the selection camp each athlete’s wave point averages, previous competition results, fitness, and overall approach were tested and analysed, allowing point scores to be awarded to each surfer.

Based on this point scoring system, the selections were made.

“It was a very tough and close selection camp, with only the smallest of margins separating each surfer” Mr Dunn said.

“We were all very pleased with the attitude and skill displayed by all surfers at the selection camp and we are confident that we have selected a strong, talented team who will do Australia proud at the World Junior Championships.”

TravelSIM Team Australia will head to New Zealand in January 2010.

The team will be fighting to defend their current world title after winning Australia’s fourth consecutive championship in Ecuador last year.