The ISA World Junior Surfing Championships kicks off today in Ecuador. This year the US has put together a solid team that should give the dominant Australians a run for their money.

In the Boys Under 18 division the US is sending some very talented surfers especially Nat Young, who last year was NSSA Open Men's National Champion, and took home the O'Neill Cold Water Classic as well. Click here for to read an interview MORINformed did with Nat a few months back in Hawaii. In this division the Aussies have won every year but two that this contest has existed, Hawaii and Brazil each have a win apiece.

The US also has a talented Boys Under 16 team. Two names in particular, Kolohe Andino and Evan Geiselman, are sure to make their impressions felt.

In the Girl's under 18, Courtney Conlogue and the the rest of the US team are looking solid. Conlogue has been a force in competitive female surfing for some time, and is ready to bring a Girl's Under 18 title home to the United States.

GrindTV will be presenting a live webcast of the event, so stop by tomorrow and cheer for your favorite surfing country.

Here's the official 2009 PacSun USA Surf Team travel roster:

BOYS UNDER 18

Nat Young

Evan Thompson

Fisher Heverly

Chase Wilson

Alternate: Balaram Stack

BOYS UNDER 16

Kolohe Andino

Conner Coffin

Evan Geiselman

Ian Crane

Alternate: Jacob Halstead and Colin Moran

GIRLS UNDER 18

Courtney Conlogue

Lakey Peterson

Kaleigh Gilchrist

Lani Doherty

Alternate: Taylor Pitz