This past week, 420 of the world’s best junior surfers joined together at Surf City El Salvador’s world-class point break of Punta Roca to celebrate the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Junior Surfing Championship (WJSC). Held at the twin breaks of La Bocana and El Sunzal for the third time since 2022, the event began on Saturday September 5, and run through Sunday September 13, South American time.
Athletes from 56 national teams are present as part of one of the largest fields in the event’s history. Members from each nation joined in the traditional ISA Sands of the World ceremony, pouring sand from their home beaches into one container as a symbol of the peaceful gathering of nations of the world through surfing as part of the Opening Ceremony on Friday September 4.
Three nations, the Bahamas, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, are each present to compete in the WJSC for the first time. For Mozambique and Zimbabwe, two of the newest ISA member nations, it is their first-ever ISA participation.
Eleven former medallists are among the crowd, including 2025 U/18 World Junior Champions Sol Borelli (ESP) and Dylan Donegan (ESP). Already making history by becoming the first surfer to win the gold medal in both the U/16 and U/18 age divisions, Donegan now hoped to break even more boundaries as he aims for his third gold medal. 2025 U/16 Boys World Junior Champion Ocean Lancaster (AUS) returns, competing for the first time in the U/18 division.
The WJSC has established itself as a proven pathway to the Olympic Games. Of the 71 surfers to have competed at the Olympics so far, 62 previously participated in the event, with 33 earning ISA World Junior medals. As surfing enters its third Olympic cycle, many of the participants have their sights firmly set on one day representing their nation on sporting’s biggest stage.
ISA President, Fernando Aguerre, said:
“We are very thankful to our great friends in El Salvador, President Nayib Bukele, Minister Morena Valdez, Alejo Campos and the whole team, for the incredible welcome and the amazing organization. Surf City has shown again that it is one of the great surfing destinations in the world, with incredible waves and incredible people. We are very happy to bring the world’s best junior surfers here, and we know they are going to have an amazing experience.
“For the young surfers here, this is your opportunity to compete, to represent your country, but also to make friends and share this experience with surfers from around the world. Many of our Olympians started just like you, at a World Junior Championship, dreaming, believing, and working hard. Maybe you will win a medal, maybe you will not, but you are all champions because you are here. And when you go home, I hope you go home as ambassadors of El Salvador, ambassadors of surfing, and ambassadors of friendship and international understanding. This is what a better world through surfing looks like.”
El Salvador Tourism Minister, Morena Valdez, said:
“Among these four hundred athletes, we can expect great things, our future doctors, leaders, and hopes of our nations. Enjoy this opportunity that life has given you. Surf the waves, but above all make friendships and connections, because you never know who is watching. The person in the crowd today could be your next sponsor or the one who gives you the opportunity to show your talent. From El Salvador, with the full support of President Bukele, the Government, the Ministry of Tourism, and all of our key partners, we are here to make sure you have the best possible experience alongside your friends, families, and technical teams. And remember, if you don’t catch the best waves, more good waves will always come. Welcome to El Salvador. Aloha.”
Reports dating from the latest and then reverting to the first day of heats run below and will be updated as results come in.
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Team Australia at the Opening Ceremony. Credit: ISA / Sean Evans
Australia Solidifies Large Rankings Lead on Day 7 of 2026 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Junior Surfing Championship
Surf City El Salvador – Friday September 11, 2026 US time
Big moves defined the action both in the water and on the leaderboard on day seven of the 2026 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Junior Surfing Championship (WJSC). A rising four-to-six-foot swell provided major opportunity for the world’s best juniors, drawing big scores across the two podiums of La Bocana and El Sunzal. The remainder of Round 3 and all of Round 4 was completed for the U/18 Girls division, along with U/16 Girls Round 3, U/18 Boys Round 4, and Rounds 4 and 5 of U/16 Boys.
A brutal day for returning WJSC medallists saw four of the remaining nine eliminated. Catalina Zariquiey (PER), Tiger Abubo (HAW), Thiago Passeri (ARG), and Clémence Schorsch (FRA) each had their 2026 campaigns cut short today, joining those already eliminated, Sol Borelli (ESP) and Caden Francis (AUS). While Alexis Owen (NZL) and Zoey Kaina (HAW) managed to sneak through their heats, defending World Junior Champions Dylan Donegan (ESP) and Ocean Lancaster (AUS) continued to thrive.
The teams race shifted from an even contest to a runaway, with Australia pulling clear by nearly 1,500 points, a commanding advantage at this stage of the event. USA pulled ahead of Hawaii to stand in second place, while Spain made a big leap from seventh to fourth, and Peru held firm at No. 5.
Australia Extends Its Advantage in the Team Race
With nine surfers still in the draw, Australia has a full three more competitors than their closest rival, USA, who share an active team of six along with Spain. Of the seven excellent scores today, five were from Australians, including two from 13-year-old Leihani Zoric (AUS) in U/18 Girls, one each in Round 4 and 5. In U/16 Girls, Eliza Richardson (AUS) earned the day’s highest single-wave score of the division, an 8.50, for the backhand attack on the first wave of her heat at El Sunzal. A newcomer on a team filled with former medallists, Richardson was happy to back up her score and move forward towards the shared goal of the three-peat for her nation in the team medals.
“I’ve been wanting to get an excellent score because I’ve mainly been getting 6’s, so to put together that wave I’m pretty stoked,” Richardson said. “This has happened a couple of times where I’ll get a solid score and then it takes me ages to back it up, which is a bit scary, but I managed to get one so I’m stoked. We’re all really good friends on the team and everyone surfs so well. It’s so sick staying in one house, just such a great vibe. We’ve unfortunately lost two or three surfers but I reckon we’re still definitely in the game. We’ve won the past two years so it’s still definitely doable and hopefully we can get it.”
Ocean Lancaster (AUS), the 2025 U/16 Boys gold medallist, and newcomer Locana Cullen (AUS) were the two other Irukandjis to break into the excellent range today. Both surfers topped the scale for their division in the day’s final rounds, U/18 Boys and U/16 Boys, respectively. 2025 U/16 Girls Bronze Medallist Lucy Darragh (AUS) won her U/16 Girls heat, with Talia Tebb (USA) also progressing in the division, while Stella Green (AUS) claimed another heat victory in U/18 Girls, along with Ben Zanatta Creagh (AUS) in U/18 Boys, and Rio Luther Barr (AUS) in U/16 Boys.
ISA Reports from the days preceding Friday's surfing, with a focus on their sections on the Irukandjis, run below.
2026 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship - Team Irukandjis
U-18 Men's
- Ben Zannata Creagh (Dee Why, NSW): 2025 U18 Australian Junior Champion.
- Caden Francis (Coolangatta, QLD): 2025 U16 ISA Bronze Medallist, 2025 U18 Australian Junior Series Champion.
- Ocean Lancaster (Merewether, NSW): 2025 U16 ISA World Junior Champion.
U-18 Women’s
- Stella Green (Buddina, QLD): 2025 U18 Australian Junior Champion.
- Meika Locke (Palm Beach, QLD): 2025 U18 Australian Junior Series Champion.
- Leihani Zoric (Broken Head, NSW): 2026 Indigenous Surfing Titles Open Women’s Champion, Stab High Ladybirds finalist.
U-16 Men's
- Ashton Crowley (Lennox Head, NSW): 2025 U16 Australian Junior Champion.
- Locana Cullen (Newport, NSW): 3X Stab High Junior Men's Champ + 2026 2nd in Open Men's Stab High.
- Rio Luther Barr (Bellingen, NSW): 4th in 2025 U16 Australian Junior Series.
U-16 Women's
- Lucy Darragh (Gerringong, NSW): 2025 U16 ISA Bronze Medallist, 2025 U16 Australian Junior Series Champion.
- Talia Tebb (Avoca, NSW): 2X Australian Junior Champion (2024, 2025).
- Eliza Richardson (Coolangatta, QLD): 2nd 2025 U16 Australian Junior Series + 2nd in 2025 U16 Australian Junior Titles.
The team has been selected through a combination of results from the 2025 Australian Junior Surfing Titles, the 2025 Australian Junior Series National Rankings, and wildcard selections, ensuring a balance of proven performers and high-potential talent.
Ben Zanatta Creagh, Team Australia, Day 7 - Friday September 11 Credit: ISA / Jersson Barboza
Leihani Zoric, Team Australia, Day 7 - Friday September 11 Credit: ISA / Jersson Barboza
Rio Lutter Barr, Team Australia, Day 7 - Friday September 11 Credit: ISA / Jersson Barboza
Lucy Darragh, Team Australia, Day 7 - Friday September 11 Credit: ISA / Jersson Barboza
Ocean Lancaster, Team Australia, Day 7 - Friday September 11 Credit: ISA / Jersson Barboza
Stella Green, Team Australia, Day 7 - Friday September 11 Credit: ISA / Jersson Barboza
Locana Cullen, Team Australia, Day 7 - Friday September 11 Credit: ISA / Jersson Barboza
Pumping Surf Greets World’s Best for Day 1 of 2026 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Junior Surfing Championship
Surf City El Salvador – Saturday September 5, 2026
The 2026 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Junior Surfing Championship (WJSC) kicked off with a huge day of competition, seeing 54 heats run across two podiums. Clean, four-to-six-foot swell poured into Surf City, providing non-stop action in pumping surf for the first 27 heats in the opening round of U/18 boys at the peak of La Bocana and the U/16 girls at the long, right point of El Sunzal.
The majority of the returning medallists competing today also claimed opening heats wins, beginning with 2024 U/16 Boys Copper Medallist Alexis Owen (NZL), whose sister Zara Owen (NZL) progressed through her first-ever ISA heat at the same time. Two-time medalist Thiago Passeri (ARG), 2025 U/18 Boys Bronze Medallist Tiger Abubo (HAW), and the two U/16 bronze medallists from 2025, Lucy Darragh (AUS) and Caden Francis (AUS), all earned convincing early wins, along with 2025 U/16 Boys Gold Medallist Ocean Lancaster (AUS).
Lancaster posted one of the highest single wave scores of boys competition today, a 7.67, within his 13.77 heat total. Competing in the U/18 division for the first time, Lancaster is aiming to steady his nerves as he captains Australia alongside Stella Green (AUS), with the defending back-to-back Team Champions looking to claim a third consecutive title.
“Watching the heats before, it looked super consistent, so I was just like, ‘Alright, let’s not get too psyched up,'” Lancaster said. “I had to get out there and get the ball rolling, go out and do what I know. It was really slow off the start and I didn’t want the nerves to come up too quick, so I just buried them back down, kept looking for a wave, and from then on it got pretty busy. I started feeling the heat and was like, ‘Whoa, this is something I’m not used to.’ Just stuck with that motion, kept at it, and came out on top. I’m absolutely loving it here. There’s nothing better than waking up early for a surf and walking outside to it being warmer than inside.”
Talia Tebb, Team Australia, Day 1. Credit: ISA / Jersson Barboza
La Bocana Wave Machine Sets Stage for Day 2 of 2026 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Junior Surfing Championship
Surf City El Salvador – Sunday September 6th, 2026
The second day of competition in the 2026 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Junior Surfing Championship (WJSC) showcased another pumping day of surf, with a continued run of solid four-to-six foot swell lining the twin podiums of Surf City, La Bocana and El Sunzal. The remaining nine heats in U/18 Boys Main Round 1 were completed at La Bocana, before the first 18 heats of U/18 Girls Main Round 1 took place. At El Sunzal, 5 heats finished U/16 Girls Main Round 1, before the opening 22 heats in U/16 Boys Main Round 1.
Leihani Zoric Steals Last-Second Win Before Skai Suitt Fires Day’s Highest Score
Leihani Zoric (AUS) was able to maintain Australia’s perfect record after a buzzer-beater in the last 10 seconds of her U/18 Girls heat. Facing fellow 13-year-old phenom Shakti Martinez (PAN), who posted some of the highest numbers of day one in her opening U/16 heat, Zoric was on the ropes from the start after Martinez won the opening exchange, earning a 7.00 to Zoric’s 3.17. The proud Indigenous Australian fought back with a big single backhand blast for a 6.33, however, before repeating the performance with a similar hit on the buzzer for an even better 6.40.
“I’ve had a lot of pressure moments in my life. I did Stab High last year and I was in the finals, hadn’t made an air, and then I made one on my last wave. So I’m used to the pressure a little bit. There are a lot of good girls in Australia so you’re always under the pump, but it was nice to get the win on that one. Hopefully I can just build a house from now, get some good scores and show the world what I’ve got. My mob is from the Yued mob in Western Australia, and I want to say hi to all my family over there, I miss you guys so much. But I have grown up on Bundjalung Country in Byron Bay my whole life, born there and living there right now.”
Surfing in the following heat was the surfer who defeated Zoric in the Stab High Sydney Final, Skai Suitt (HAW). The 16-year-old Hawaiian opened her account in the event by delivering a nail-biting two-turn backhand combo to earn a 9.00, the highest single-wave score of the day.
Leihani Zoric, Team Australia Day 2. Credit: ISA / Jersson Barboza
Ashton Crowley, Team Australia Day 2. Credits: ISA / Jersson Barboza
Ben Zannata Creagh, Team Australia Day 2. Credits: ISA / Jersson Barboza
First Eliminations on Day 3 of 2026 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Junior Surfing Championship
Surf City El Salvador – Monday September 7, 2026
Day three of the 2026 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Junior Surfing Championship (WJSC) saw the first eliminations of the event take place, with the repechage round beginning for both U/16 divisions, along with U/18 Boys, following the completion of Main Round 1 for U/18 Girls and U/16 Boys. Surf City continued to live up to its name, with four-to-five-foot swell providing ample opportunity for the peak of La Bocana and the long, right point of El Sunzal.
Due to the size of the field, only a single round of repechage will take place for each division. This guarantees at least two heats for every surfer in the event but determines that every heat moving forward will result in direct elimination for those who don’t advance.
Team Australia. Credit: ISA / Sean Evans
Defending Team Champion Australia Maintains Perfect Start With Wins Across the Board
With the completion of Main Round 1 across all divisions, Australia, the back-to-back defending Team Champion, stood alone in securing heat wins for all 12 of their team members. The sole team member to compete today, co-captain Stella Green (AUS), locked in the equal-highest single-wave score of U/18 Girls competition for the day, a 7.33, in her ISA debut. Green’s forehand attack on a long La Bocana right that continued to offer opportunity down the line earned the high score, backed up by a 5.33 earned on the left to secure a convincing victory for the 18-year-old.
“The conditions are pretty fun today. There are still a couple of big roll-in sets, but it was good to get my heat going and my boards are feeling good, so I’m pretty happy with my result,” Green said. “It’s pretty special to be captain of the team. They’re all such a good crew and we’re all having the best time. This place is insane, pretty hot to be honest, but I love it. It’s such a different aspect to home and I’m loving it. I felt the nerves just before paddling out, especially after waiting three days for the first heat, but it’s good to get it going and hopefully I keep on going.”
Stella Green, Team Australia Day 3. Credit: ISA / Jersson Barboza
Teams Race Comes Into Focus on Day 5 of 2026 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Junior Surfing Championship
Surf City El Salvador – Wednesday September 9, 2026
The fun surf continued for day five of the 2026 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Junior Surfing Championship (WJSC), with clean three-to-four-foot peaks dotting the lineup of La Bocana and El Sunzal continuing to produce its reliable long walls. The remainder of Round 2 in U/16 Girls and U/18 Boys was completed before all of Boys U/16 Round 2 and the first 11 heats of U/18 Girls Round 2 were run.
By day’s end, over half of the field had been eliminated – 238 of the original 420. Though the majority of returning medallists continued their solid runs, defending U/18 Girls World Junior Champion Sol Borelli (ESP) was eliminated in one of the last heats of the day as a result of standout performances from Victoria Muñoz Larreta (ARG) and Emma van der Huls (NED).
Australia, Brazil, and Peru Solidify Shared Rankings Lead With Full Teams Intact
With just 13 heats remaining in Round 2, all in U/18 Girls, the teams race has come into further clarity, seeing three nations emerge at the top. Australia, Brazil, and Peru are still carrying all 12 surfers, with Australia and Peru already confirming all but one through to Round 3, while Brazil’s three U/18 Girls are yet to surf their Round 2 heats. After earning their first WJSC team medal in almost 15 years at home during the 2025 event, Peru have shown up in a big way in their return to El Salvador, especially as they set themselves as one of the three teams to move forward as a complete unit. Event newcomer Lucca Barrientos (PER) topped the U/16 Boys scoring for the day, posting both the highest single-wave score, a 7.83, and the best two-wave total, 13.83.
“I’m feeling amazing, I had two good waves and I’m so stoked,” Barrientos said. “My strategy was to go for the lefts first, but they weren’t working, so I grabbed a right and it felt good, so I stayed with the rights. Then I got a sick left at the end too. The water felt like it wasn’t that good, but when I see it back, the waves were actually really good. I was singing Wonderwall by Oasis before I paddled out. I’m very happy. I just wanna surf again, it was so sick out there.”
Credit: ISA / Pablo Franco
Ashton Crowley, Team Australia, Day 5. Credit: ISA / Sean Evans
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Ocean Lancaster, Team Australia, Day 5. Credit: ISA / Jersson Barboza
Ben Zannata Creagh, Team Australia, Day 5. Credit: ISA / Jersson Barboza
Locana Cullen, Team Australia. Credit: ISA / Pablo Jiminez
Meika Locke, Team Australia, Day 5. Credit: ISA / Jersson Barboza
Meika Locke, Team Australia. Credit: ISA / Pablo Jiminez
New Zealand Builds Momentum With Fresh Team and Experienced Guidance
New Zealand was one of only six teams to have carried their full contingent into Day 5. With two-time Olympian Billy Stairmand (NZL) coaching alongside former competitor Daniel Kereopa (NZL), the largely new team is hoping to translate fresh excitement into a deeper push. Though they lost their first two surfers today, all three U/16 Boys, Jesse Frazerhurst (NZL), Sol Fritchley (NZL), and Zeke Pragert (NZL) won their heats, as did Alexis Owen (NZL) in U/18 Boys.
The first Kiwi to win a WJSC medal in almost a decade, Owen, claimed the copper in the U/16 division the last time the event was held in Surf City El Salvador and has returned largely in support of his 13-year-old sister Zara Owen (NZL), who is also already through to Round 3. Alexis found one of the best waves of his division today, driving through multiple powerful carves to earn an excellent 8.00.
“I was on Heat 3 on the first morning in really tricky conditions so it was good to be able to find a decent one today to build some confidence and get in a rhythm,” Owen said. “I got fourth last time I was here, so I know how long and intense it can be in the heat, especially coming from Dunedin to here. It’s my fourth time doing this event, but it’s the first time here for a lot of the team, so there’s fresh eyes and fresh excitement from everyone. Our coaches Billy [Stairmand] and DK [Daniel Kereopa] and the team manager are all doing a really good job as well. It’s been awesome.”
Medal Contenders Tested on Day 6 of 2026 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Junior Surfing Championship
Surf City El Salvador – Thursday September 10, 2026
The intensity came thick and fast on day six of the 2026 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Junior Surfing Championship (WJSC). Important matchups played out across the twin podiums of La Bocana and El Sunzal in building three-to-five-foot surf. The remaining heats of U/18 Girls Round 2 were completed at the beginning of the day at El Sunzal, along with the first seven heats of Round 3 at the end of the day at La Bocana after the full U/18 Boys Round 3 had wrapped there. U/16 Boys Round 3 rounded out the day at El Sunzal.
As results shifted throughout the day, the two most successful teams historically in WJSC competition at Surf City El Salvador, Australia and Hawaii, settled at No. 1 and No. 2 on the rankings, respectively. In both 2022 and 2024, the two teams alternated between gold and silver at the location and, at a crucial point in this year’s event, are poised to do the same again. Sitting directly below them to complete the current Top 5 are Brazil, USA, and Japan.
One of the emerging phenoms from Brazil, 15-year-old Artur Vilar (BRA), posted the highest single wave score of the event, a 9.17, in the final heat of the day at El Sunzal, blasting the entire way to the sand on a nearly minute-long ride to secure advancement into U/16 Boys Round 4.
Former Medallists Face High-Stakes Battles as U/18 Boys Field Narrows
Tiger Abubo (HAW) closed out a strong showing in the first heat of the morning with a solid 7.83. Matched with an opening 6.50, the crisp backhand bottom-to-top turn combos performed by the returning bronze medallist on the La Bocana lefts earned a 14.33 total. Abubo moved into Round 4 ahead of Brazil’s John Muller (BRA), who also surfed an impressive heat, mixing up his approach across the peak to eliminate Sev Tolhurst (NZL).
“I was psyched I got the first heat of the day, the waves are really fun right now,” Abubo said. “My two first rounds were in the afternoon so it was a little windier, so it was nice to get a glassy heat. I was liking these lefts, they’re offering quite a bit of wall and it’s so good to just tee off on them. The vibes are high on Team Hawaii. We’re just supporting each other through the heats, having a bit of fun, playing cards and all kinds of stuff, just laughing. Overall, really fun vibes.”
The surfer who defeated Abubo in 2025, Dylan Donegan (ESP), also claimed victory to move forward with event standout Michael Monteiro (ITA). There were mixed fates for the returning U/16 finalists, however. Reigning U/16 Boys World Junior Champion Ocean Lancaster (AUS) convincingly won his heat largely on the strength of critical backhand hits, but Thiago Passeri (ARG), the 2025 U/16 Boys silver medallist, and 2025 U/16 Boys Bronze Medallist Caden Francis (AUS) ended up at opposite ends of their three-person heat.
It was Tanner Sandvig (CAN) who took the early advantage over his medal-winning competitors, setting himself in a comfortable position before Passeri built a slim lead late in the heat. Meanwhile, Francis struggled to find a score of note, eventually locking in one of the higher scores of the matchup around the seven-minute mark. Still in need of a 4.47, Francis was able to scramble priority and catch a wave with 5 seconds remaining, the resulting number landing just shy at a 4.00, leaving all three surfers within 0.60 of each other, seeing Passeri and Sandvig progress.
Caden Francis, Team Australia, Day 6. Credit: ISA / Pablo Jiminez
Leihani Zoric, Team Australia, Day 6. Credit: ISA / Jersson Barboza
Ocean Lancaster, Team Australia, Day 6. Credit: ISA / Sean Evans