After four years in the international surf lifesaving mix, Omanu ironman Max Beattie gets the chance to pull on the captain's armband at this weekend's 2015 Sanyo Bussan International Lifesaving Cup in Japan.

The 23 year-old is no stranger to international competition after forming part of the New Zealand Black Fins team that won the world surf lifesaving title in 2012 and again in 2014.

Omanu's Max Beattie. Photo: Jamie Troughton/DScribe Media.

He also went to Japan in 2013 as part of the New Zealand Open Team for the International Surf Rescue Challenge, where the team finished runners-up to Australia.

Beattie, who is based on the Gold Coast, says he's honoured to be captaining the team for the Sanyo Cup.

Max says: 'Since coming through the High Performance program and being a part of the NZ open squad for the last four years and trying to emulate guys like Andy McMillan and Kevin Morrison, I noticed myself maturing.

'So many of my heroes have worn the silver fern on their cap and I'm super proud to carry on an amazing legacy.”

As captain, his advice for the team will be more about the processes than the result.

'Do the little things right and the result will take care of itself,” he says.

On a personal level, his goals for the competition aren't necessarily based around racing. His aim is to support, motivate and help his team mates achieve their goals.

”Just like all international competitions, I'm also really excited to see how the less-experienced countries are developing and catching up with friends from around the world,” he adds.

Alongside Max in the team of eight are fellow world champions Danielle McKenzie and Cory Taylor.

The remaining athletes include former New Zealand Youth Team members Ben Johnston (Papamoa), Jake Hurley and Hannah Williams, while Taranaki's Zoe Hobbs and Dunedin's Carina Doyle will make their international debuts on the surf lifesaving stage.

The Japan Lifesaving Association extended the invitation for a New Zealand team to attend the competition earlier in the year.

The team was named in late May and the athletes have been putting in the usual long training hours in preparation.

New Zealand coach Jason Pocock says it's a great opportunity to send a team across to have a hit out against teams like Australia and Japan.

'It also gives a few of the more development athletes an opportunity to race at this level,” says Pocock.

He adds it is also a great chance to compete on an international stage ahead of September's International Surf Rescue Challenge to be held in Australia.

'A number of the Sanyo Cup team members, including Danielle, Max and Cory, are part of the 12-strong Black Fins team for the ISRC,” says Jason, 'so it's a good opportunity to test their performance at this part of the season.”

The 2015 Sanyo Bussan International Lifesaving Cup is being held in Aoshima Beach, Miyazaki, Japan from July 19-20.

Events include surf race, board race, oceanman/woman, beach flags, beach sprint, board rescue tube rescue, oceanwoman relay and beach relay.

New Zealand surf lifesaving team for the 2015 Sanyo Bussan International Lifesaving Cup in Japan:

Max Beattie, Omanu

Danielle McKenzie, Mairangi Bay

Cory Taylor, Midway

Zoe Hobbs, Fitzroy

Carina Doyle, St Clair

Ben Johnston, Papamoa

Jake Hurley, Mairangi Bay

Hannah Williams, Piha