Mount Maunganui's Jessica Miller has been named captain of the New Zealand team competing at next month's Sanyo Cup in Japan.

Now based on the Gold Coast, the 21 year-old represented New Zealand at last year's Sanyo Cup where she took gold in the Ironwoman along with a bronze in the Women's Ski.

The Sanyo Cup is an annual beach competition hosted by the Japan Lifesaving Association and the 2017 event will be held at the Momochihama Seaside Park in Fukuoka from June 24-25.

This year, Jess will race alongside her brother Hamish Miller who captained the Junior Black Fins at the 2016 Lifesaving World Championships in The Netherlands, and their second cousin Casie Fyall of Waikanae who also represented New Zealand at last year's Sanyo Cup.

Jess says she's honoured to be selected as captain and to have the opportunity to lead and race with a talented bunch of athletes on an international stage.

'I can't wait to step up to the challenge and be the person that my team mates can come to.”

And as she's raced twice before in Japan, she's also looking forward to sharing her knowledge about racing conditions and the culture with her team mates.

'It will be awesome to share with the newbies but the thing I'm most looking forward to is the friendly, yet very competitive, competition between all of the nations. Last year the racing was tough and it was awesome to see the Japanese really putting their foot in the door.”

Jess believes the team is strong and determined enough to take out the overall competition and really give the Aussies a nudge. Personally, her goal is to win the Ironwoman on both days, like she did at last year's Sanyo Cup.

'I'm really excited to see what everyone can achieve over there and I can't wait to lead the team to success with Danny and Steve. It will also be a cool experience to be able to race with my brother Hamish and second cousin Casie in a New Zealand team!”

Alongside Jess, Hamish and Cassie in the team of five males and five females are fellow Mount lifeguard Libby Bradley, Papamoa's Ben Johnston, Mairangi Bay's Bayden Botha and Samalulu Clifton, Fitzroy's Javon McCallum, East End's Claudia Kelly, and Lyall Bay's Atakura Julian.

Coach Danny Morrison says he and team manager Steve Vaughan couldn't be happier to have Jess lead this year's team.

'In looking at the final team, we have a great mix of talented young athletes and some athletes with a fair bit of experience in international competition and the High Performance environment.

'Jess stood out as someone who has really taken control of her own destiny in the sport and is very driven to make the step up to the next level of international competition. She has a great surf head on her shoulders and has shown a level of maturity that will help her make the most of this role.”

The two days of racing will include events such as Surf Race, Board Race, Oceanman/Woman, Beach Flags, Beach Sprint, Board Rescue Tube Rescue, Oceanwoman Relay and Beach Relay.

New Zealand will join teams from Australia, USA, Great Britain, Netherlands, South Africa, Hong Kong and Japan.

SANYO CUP: NEW ZEALAND TEAM

• Jessica Miller - Mount Maunganui (captain)
• Casie Fyall - Waikanae
• Claudia Kelly - East End
• Libby Bradley - Mount Maunganui
• Samalulu Clifton - Mairangi Bay
• Bayden Botha - Mairangi Bay
• Hamish Miller - Mount Maunganui
• Javon McCallum - Fitzroy
• Atakura Julian- Lyall Bay
• Ben Johnston- Papamoa
• Danny Morrison - Coach
• Steven Vaughan - Manager

To follow the team's journey, visit the SLSNZ High Performance Facebook page.