Mount Maunganui surf lifesaver Sam Shergold will spearhead a Kiwi team in search of medals at the 2015 ISA Stand Up Paddle and Paddleboard Championship in Mexico next month.

At the 2014 tournament, Shergold claimed silver in the 18km long distance prone race, and a year on he's included in New Zealand's 11-strong side - believed to be their strongest yet.

New Zealand's Sam Shergold (front, left) makes a break with Australia's Rhys Burrows in the 18km prone paddle board race in 2014. Photo: Michael Tweedle/ISA.

He is joined by Waihi Beach's Alexis Poulter, who's looking to improve on 11th place at last year's event as the female SUP surfer.

The team will compete at the 2015 championships at Sayulita, Mexico from May 10-17.

Shergold leads the side with the help of a full strength team in 2015, who are expected to better 2014's final ranking of 10th overall.

In Nicaragua last year, the Mount surf lifesaver lead for large chunks of the race and was part of two break-away groups.

The first was after 7km, when Shergold was one of four paddlers to break free of the chasing pack, although the decisive move came with still nearly 3km remaining, when he and Australian Rhys Burrows made their move.

However, it was Burrows who won the final sprint up the beach to claim gold.

But a strong showing at both the Mount Monster, where he placed third behind Max Beattie and Cory Taylor, and the New Zealand Surf Lifesaving Championships, should give Shergold the confidence he needs.

Next month a full complement of Kiwi SUP paddlers and surfers will be a huge advantage to the team as they vie for overall team points and a podium finish.

The SUP paddlers include champion windsurfer JP Tobin and ex-New Zealand representative swimmer Penelope Strickland (both Auckland), who have both taken up SUP paddling in recent years as a cross-over activity.

Tobin and Strickland are complemented by the experience of Raglan's Armie Armstrong, who will contest the distance race, and 15-year-old Aucklander Ollie Houghton, who will compete in the technical race.

Armstrong has been at the forefront of the sport for the past five years and has also achieved success at a number of international events.

The eight day event includes surfers from over 25 nations competing in ten surfing and racing disciplines.

The team are managed by Mount Maunganui's Barbara Newton, while Andrew Newton, also from the Mount, will act as coach and reserve.