Porzig learned to row at St Stithians College in Johannesburg, under Paul Jackson who later coached national South African crews.

Porizg first made state selection for Western Australia in the 1991 youth eight which contested the Noel Wilkinson Trophy at the Australian Rowing Championships.

[6] At the Australian Institute of Sport in 1993 Porzig was initially paired with Robert Jahrling and they won their early 5 km time trials beating other combinations of their cohort.

Porzig made his Australian representative debut in the seven seat of the men's eight who competed at the 1993 World Rowing Championships on Racize, Croatia and placed fourth.

[7] Porzig, Fernandez, Jahrling, Hayman and Ben Dodwell remained in the Australian eight into the 1996 Olympic year and were joined in the crew by the Stewart twins and the New South Wales pair of Walker and Wearne taking over in the stern end.

However in the final they started slowly and their late sprint home left them 0.8 seconds behind the Brits at the line and taking the silver Olympic medal in a thrilling finish.