Three years after picking up his dad’s old longboard, Mount Maunganui surfer Jaxon Willows is preparing to take on the world’s best.

The 18-year-old is in El Salvador this week to represent New Zealand at the ISA World Longboard Championship.

“I’m excited and nervous at the same time,” Willows said ahead of the competition.

Willows began surfing after moving to Mount Maunganui from Queenstown seven years ago.

“One day I grabbed my dad’s old longboard and took it out in some small surf. From that first session, I fell in love with how smooth and simple longboarding felt.

“What I love most about longboarding is the style and flow ... it’s about making the most of every wave and expressing yourself through your surfing.”

The Colliers New Zealand Longboarding Team member has been travelling to Gisborne to surf waves similar to those in Central America.

“When we first get there, it will just be training and figuring out the waves,” he said.

“I’m hoping it’s around four to five feet. Hopefully it’s big, so I can get some good, solid training in.”

He said he is looking forward to meeting fellow surfers from around the world, experiencing a different culture and representing his country.

“And the warm water,” he added.

Earlier this year, Willows won the Under 18 and Open Men’s national titles, becoming the second New Zealand surfer to achieve both in the same year.

He repeated the feat at the New Zealand Longboard Festival in Pāpāmoa in February and finished third overall in the World Surf League Australia/Oceania Regional Longboard Qualifying Series.

Willows will be in El Salvador with three other young New Zealand surfers, team captain Jack Tyro, Izaro Williamson Sasia and TeWaiotu Fairlie - all aged under 20.

Jaxon Willows first took up longboarding on his dad's old board and is now representing New Zealand on the world stage.

Colliers New Zealand Longboarding team manager Craig Williamson said Willows has quickly established himself as a serious competitor.

“Jaxon has had a really good year.

“What I like about Jaxon is how quickly he has developed. He’s only 18 but he already has a lot of confidence in his surfing and isn’t fazed by surfing against the bigger names.”

Williamson said his success is impressive given he is balancing surfing with a carpentry apprenticeship.

“He’s doing a carpentry apprenticeship, getting up and going to work, and fitting his surfing and training around that. He’s managing to pursue two pretty demanding pathways at the same time.”

He also noted the 18-year-old’s humility and work ethic that make him a valuable teammate.

“He’s humble, he listens, he works hard, and he doesn’t get carried away with himself. Those qualities matter when you’re competing internationally.”

Williamson said the focus will be on more than simply gaining experience with a young team heading to El Salvador.

“We’ve got a young, hungry group of surfers who have earned their spots, and we’ll be looking to perform and represent New Zealand really well.”

Colliers Tauranga managing director Simon Clark said Willows’ selection reflects the talent emerging from the region’s coastline.

“Mount Maunganui has a deep connection to surfing, and Jaxon’s selection is an example of the exceptional talent emerging from our coastline.”

“We’re excited to see him represent New Zealand at the ISA World Longboard Championship.”

Zoe Blake is a multimedia journalist at the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post.