Australian Team Set to Compete at the ISA World Junior Surfing Championships: Loci + Ben Representing Australia!
Australia’s Junior Irukandjis Team have arrived in El Salvador, where 12 of the nation’s best junior surfers will represent Australia at the 2026 ISA World Junior Surfing Championships from 4–13 September. The team includes local surfers Loci Cullen and Ben Zanatta.
The Australian team heads into the championships as the reigning World Team Champions, having claimed gold at both the 2024 and 2025 editions of the event, and will be chasing a historic third consecutive team gold medal when competition gets underway at La Bocana and El Sunzal.
The Irukandjis Australian Surfing Team continues to hold its place as the most successful national team in ISA World Junior history, a legacy built on consistent podium finishes, world champions, and a deep pipeline of emerging talent that has shaped junior surfing on the global stage.
Several familiar names from last year’s gold-medal winning team return to the green and gold in 2026, with defending ISA World Junior Champion Ocean Lancaster returning, alongside Caden Francis and Lucy Darragh, who both rejoin the squad following their 2025 bronze-medal performances.
"Competing for Australia at the ISA’s is the best experience ever as a junior. To represent your country and your home and put your best foot forward. The amount of energy surrounding the comp was incredible in 2025, it really brings the best out of everyone. So keen to rip in with the team this year and try to get a team gold three-peat!" – Caden Francis (QLD), 2025 U16 ISA Bronze Medallist, 2025 U18 Australian Junior Series Champion.
"Representing Australia at ISA Worlds last year was such a cool experience, so I’m honoured to have qualified again. Last year was one of my favourite comps I’ve ever done. I was stoked to win Bronze but helping the team get Gold was my favourite part about it! I love the team aspect of the event and getting to wear the green and gold and represent Australia. My goal is to improve on last year’s result, and try to win a Gold medal, and hopefully help team Aus bring home the 3rd Gold in a row!" – Lucy Darrah (NSW), 2025 U16 ISA Bronze Medallist, 2025 U16 Australian Junior Series Champion.
The team spent the lead-up to the championships preparing at the Surfing Australia Hyundai High Performance Centre, with the Irukandjis completing a dedicated preparation camp focused on the unique demands of ISA competition.
The camp has provided the team with an opportunity to come together, build team culture and prepare for the competition formats and conditions they will face in El Salvador, with athletes and coaches now turning their attention to the final preparations before competition begins.
The camp also marked an important moment for the team, with the 2026 Irukandjis captains announced ahead of their departure for El Salvador: Ocean Lancaster (NSW) & Stella Green (QLD)
The legacy of the Irukandjis is one that Ocean Lancaster knows well, as an ISA World Champion himself, he will step into a 2026 leadership role. Having previously looked up to former Irukandjis captain and two-time ISA Champion Dane Henry, Ocean knows the legacy that comes with leading the Australian team.
“Being selected as team captain is such an honour. In previous years, I looked up to Dane and Milla when they were captains, and I always knew that was a position I wanted to be in one day. I’m really proud to have the opportunity to lead this team, and hopefully help us bring home a third consecutive team gold. That’s the main goal for all of us. I’m super keen to get over there, get things started and see what we can achieve together.” – Ocean Lancaster (NSW), 2025 U16 ISA World Junior Champion.
"We're incredibly proud to announce our Australian team for the ISA World Junior Championships in El Salvador this September. As 2024 and 2025 world champions, we know the target on our back is bigger than ever, and this team is ready for that challenge. With returning athletes 2025 U16 World Champion Ocean Lancaster, bronze medallists Caden Francis and Lucy Darragh, and a group of exciting Junior Irukandji debutants, this is a stacked team. Under Head Coach Pete Duncan, we'll come together in August for the ISA Junior Camp and head to El Salvador with one goal: the 3-Pete!" – Luke Macdonald, Head of Pathway Program at Surfing Australia.
2026 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship - Team Irukandjis
U-18 Men's
- Ben Zannata (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.
10 Things to Know About the 2026 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Junior Surfing Championship
1. Pathway to the Olympic Games
Bringing together the top emerging talent from throughout the world, the event has become a clear stepping stone to the Olympic Games. Of the 71 surfers to have competed at the Olympics so far, 62 previously participated in the WJSC, with 33 earning ISA World Junior medals, including half of the surfers to earn Olympic medals so far — Carissa Moore(USA), Caroline Marks (USA), Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), Gabriel Medina (BRA), Bianca Buitendag (RSA), and Owen Wright (AUS).
Freesurf - September 3 2026 US time, Friday here. Credit: ISA / Pablo Jimenez
2. Former Medallists Return
Eleven former medallists will return to compete, including 2025 U/18 World Junior Champions Sol Borelli (ESP) and Dylan Donegan (ESP). Donegan made history in 2025 as the first surfer to win the gold medal in both divisions, having claimed victory in the U/16 category in 2024. Joining them will be 2025 U/16 World Junior Champion Ocean Lancaster (AUS), as well as U/16 girls silver medalist Catalina Zariquiey (PER), who will both be competing in the U/18 division.
3. Defending Champions Australia Aim for Three-peat
56 national teams will gather to compete for the coveted team gold medals. Back-to-back Team World Champions, Australia, will return looking for their second WJSC three-peat, having previously set the record with a five-event winning streak between 2006-2010. After more than a decade between wins prior to 2024, Australia will now look to claim their tenth WJSC team gold medal.
4. New National Teams
Three national teams, Bahamas, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe, will be represented in the WJSC for the very first time. It will be the first-ever ISA event for Mozambique and Zimbabwe, two of the newest nations to join as ISA members.
5. The Divisions
427 athletes will compete across four divisions:
- Girl’s U/16
- Boy’s U/16
- Girl’s U/18
- Boy’s U/18
6. Gender Equality
Equalling the current record, girls make up 44% of the competitors representing their nations in the 2026 WJSC. Since 2017, the ISA has offered equal competition slots for men and women across its World Championship Series, promoting women’s participation and gender equality in surfing.
7. Where to Watch
The live webcast will be streamed on www.isasurf.org from September 4 – 13. Visit isasurf.org for results, team rosters, photos, videos, and news pertaining to the competition.
8. Social
The ISA will be posting live updates, photos and videos from the competition on social media.
9. Schedule
- September 4 – 4pm: Opening Ceremony, Punta Rocas
- September 5 – 12: Competition, La Bocana and El Sunzal
- September 13: Finals and Closing Ceremony
10. The ISA and El Salvador
Surf City El Salvador has become a massive supporter of the ISA and surfing, demonstrating itself as a true world class surfing destination. This will be the eleventh major ISA event to carry the title Surf City El Salvador. Two prior editions of the ISA WJSC (2022, 2024) have been joined by two editions of the World SUP and Paddleboard World Championship (2019, 2025), and three editions each of the ISA World Longboard Championship (2023, 2024, 2025) and the ISA World Surfing Games (2021, 2023, 2025).
Locals can follow the team on the ISA event site: isasurf.org/event/2026-isa-world-junior-surfing-championship and on Surfing Australia's Irukandjis social platforms.