Joh Azuchi returns to represent Japan on their quest for a team Gold Medal. Photo: ISA / Ben Reed

2018 VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship Preview

44 Nations set to send 362 of world’s best junior surfers to Huntington Beach, USA

The 2018 edition of the VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship – presented by Visit Huntington Beach – has set the teams participation record for the second year in a row, with the 44 attending nations set to surpass the record 41 set in 2017.

At the same time, the 154 girls that have registered for the event has also set a new participation record, set at the 2016 edition in the Azores Islands of Portugal when 104 girls took part. The increase in participation marks a success in the ISA’s push for gender equality in the sport.

The 44 National Teams – from all five continents – will send 362 of their top under-18 surfers to Huntington Beach, USA from October 27 to November 4 with their sights set on winning the individual Gold Medals and overall Team World

To see the full team rosters, click here.

The record growth is highlighted by the return of Chinese Taipei, Fiji, and Samoa, who will all look to build on their first-time appearances in 2017 at this year’s edition in Huntington Beach, while China will field a junior team for the first time in the event’s history.

Headlining the world-class talent to compete are a range of past ISA Junior World Champions, including Hawaii’s Summer Macedo (2015), USA’s Alyssa Spencer (2017) and Japan’s Joh Azuchi (2017).

The host team USA will look to continue their streak of dominance on home surf, after taking the Team World Championship Trophy in two of the last three editions of the event (2015, 2017).

They will return seven of the twelve surfers from their 2017 Gold Medal squad, adding valuable championship experience to their 2018 campaign.

Alyssa Spencer will return to defend her individual and team Gold Medals from 2017. Photo: ISA / Sean Evans
Alyssa Spencer will return to defend her individual and team Gold Medals from 2017. Photo: ISA / Sean Evans

The 2018 edition of the VISSLA ISA Juniors marks an important moment in the event’s history as the first to feature equal slots for girls and boys, once more highlighting the ISA’s global commitment to gender equality.

In 2018, all four divisions, Girl’s and Boy’s U-16 and U-18, will feature a maximum of three athletes each per country.

Having played a historic role in the history of the ISA, Huntington Beach will return to host its fifth ISA Global Event in 2018. The last time the ISA Juniors were held in Huntington Beach was in 2005 when Australia’s Stephanie Gilmoreearned her second ISA Junior Title.

The south side of Huntington Beach Pier will welcome the world’s best junior Surfing talent. Photo: Mike Harris
The south side of Huntington Beach Pier will welcome the world’s best junior Surfing talent. Photo: Mike Harris

Since the inception of the Junior Division in the ISA in 1980, the event has been a glimpse into who will become the future stars of the sport. Legendary surfer Tom Curren jump-started his career as the first ISA Junior Champion. Past and current stars followed in his footsteps, including Gabriel MedinaJulian WilsonJordy SmithFilipe ToledoOwen WrightLeonardo FioravantiStephanie GilmoreSally Fitzgibbons, Laura EneverTatiana Weston-Webb, and Tyler Wright.

Initially held as a division in the ISA World Surfing Games, the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship became a standalone event in 2003 and has been held annually ever since.

ISA President Fernando Aguerre said:

“2018 is set to be another incredible year for the VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship. We have an elite level of talent coming from all around the world, demonstrating the inclusive, global nature of the ISA.

“This is a year for the girls to shine, as the first edition to feature complete gender equality. The level of women’s Surfing has been exploding and I am excited to see who will rise to the top and stake their claim as World Champions.

“I would like to give special recognition to the dedicated support of Vissla towards the ISA and Junior Surfing as a whole. They have been a key factor in the growth and success of this Global Event since 2014, and I look forward to growing our partnership through 2020 and beyond.

“We aso are excited that the Surfrider Foundation has agreed to be the official sustainability partner for the event and to organize a baseline study of ISA practices in order to assist us in improving our sustainability efforts at every ISA Global Event.”

The schedule for the event will be as follows*:

October 27 – Opening Ceremony at 10am, Main St. and Pier Plaza
October 27 – Competition to commence at 3pm, Huntington Beach Pier south side
October 28 – November 4 – Competition at Huntington Beach Pier south side, 7:30am – 5pm
November 4 – Closing Ceremony after competition

*Schedule subject to changes. All times in Pacific Standard Time.

To see the full schedule of activities, click here.

The event will be streamed live on www.isasurf.org October 27 – November 4.

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