The swell has dropped and the stage is set as New Zealand's vast pool of junior surf lifesavers hit the water and sand at this year's Oceans 15.

From today, 800 competitors are stamping their mark on Mount Maunganui's Main Beach for the annual Under-14 New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships, competing not only for individual accolades but for club glory as well.

Hundreds of junior surf lifesavers from across New Zealand converged on Mount Maunganui for the four-day event. Photos: Tracy Hardy.

Near picture-perfect conditions greeted relieved organisers and the 10-to-14-year-old athletes this morning, with this week's big swell dropping away to leave beautiful, two-foot waves behind.

Main Beach had large swells predicted for this week, with the host club forced to train in nearby Pilot Bay on Tuesday.

'This time yesterday it was nothing like what it is out the front,” says a Oceans 15 event organiser Hayley McMahon, 'so I'm really relieved the weather has done what it was forecast to do.

'The sun has come out and the swell has dropped, so this is kid-friendly. I'm really happy about that.

This year the competitors, from 42 clubs nationwide, are taking part in the highly-popular yet competitive carnival.

Auckland's Orewa, with 62, and Red Beach, with 58, boast the most athletes, but local clubs are hot on their heels with defending champions Omanu entering 46, and both Mount Maunganui and Papamoa have 44.

From the South Island comes seven teams from within the Canterbury region and two from Dunedin.

Hayley, speaking to SunLive from Main Beach, says it is great to finally have the national showpiece underway after months of planning and days of setting up last week.

The four-day carnival is described as being the high-point of the surf lifesaving season for junior members.

Today athletes across all four age groups – Under-11, 12, 13 and 14 – will compete in three disciplines; beach flags, board race, and the run, swim, run event.

Omanu will be looking to defend their 2014 title – the first time in the event's 14-year history the club has tasted overall victory – but Hayley says athletes having fun is also high on the agenda.

'This event for us is all about celebrating the glory and I suppose participation of the athletes as well,” she says. 'It's not only about winning but also getting out there and giving it a go.”

And she couldn't be happier than having the event held at Mount Maunganui, with its pristine beaches and fantastic surf break.

'It's such a great location to hold this event,” adds Hayley. 'It's very iconic and fits very well to hold this event here, so we are very happy to be here.”

Oceans 15 runs through until Sunday with the majority of the finals across four age groups held on the last day.