10 Things to Know about the 2018 VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship

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10 Things to Know about the 2018 VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship

From October 27 – November 4 the world’s best U-18 surfers will gather in Huntington Beach, USA to represent their nations and go for Gold in the 2018 VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship presented by Visit Huntington Beach.

Here are the ten things that you need to know about the upcoming event:

  1. 1. The records

The 2018 edition of the VISSLA ISA Juniors has set new records for the participation of girls and countries.

362 athletes from 44 nations will compete, surpassing the record of 41 nations set at the 2016 edition in the Azores Islands of Portugal.

Additionally, the 154 Girls that are registered shatters the record of 104 set in 2016, marking an important success in the ISA’s push for gender equality in the sport.


  1. 2. Gender equality

Aligning with the ISA World Surfing Games and ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship, the 2018 VISSLA ISA Juniors will adopt equal slots for girls and boys, making it the first to feature full gender equality in the event’s history.

  1. 3. How to watch online

The live webcast will be streamed on www.isasurf.org from October 27 – November 4. Visit the official event page for results, team rosters, photos, videos, and news pertaining to the competition.

The event can also be viewed live on the ISA’s Facebook page: International Surfing Association.

  1. 4. Home field advantage

The last time the event was held in the United States, Team USA put on a brilliant performance in Oceanside, California to earn their first-ever Junior Team Gold Medal.

Coming off a second Team Gold Medal performance at the 2017 edition in Japan, they will look to build on the local support and earn an unprecedented third Gold in four years.

Seven surfers from USA’s 2017 Gold Medal squad will bring their championship experience to their 2018 campaign in Huntington Beach. Photo: ISA / Ben Reed
Seven surfers from USA’s 2017 Gold Medal squad will bring their championship experience to their 2018 campaign in Huntington Beach. Photo: ISA / Ben Reed
  1. 5. The history

Historically, the ISA has served as a glimpse into the future stars of the sport. Past ISA World Junior Champions include the 2014 WSL Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA, 2010), Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW, 2014, 2013), Filipe Toledo (BRA, 2011), Tom Curren (USA, 1980), Tyler Wright (AUS, 2010, 2009), Alejo Muniz (BRA, 2008), Laura Enever (AUS, 2008), Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS, 2007), Julian Wilson (AUS, 2006), Owen Wright (AUS, 2006), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS, 2005, 2004), Matt Wilkinson (AUS, 2004), Jordy Smith (RSA, 2003) and Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA, 2015).

Brazil’s Gabriel Medina stands atop the podium at the 2018 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in New Zealand, paving the way to his 2014 WSL Title. Photo: Cory Scott
Brazil’s Gabriel Medina stands atop the podium at the 2018 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in New Zealand, paving the way to his 2014 WSL Title. Photo: Cory Scott
  1. 6. VISSLA and the support

This year’s competition marks the fifth consecutive year that VISSLA has supported the World Championship as the title sponsor, bringing their youthful, unique energy to the world’s largest junior surfing competition.

The 2018 edition also counts on the support of Visit Huntington Beach as the Presenting Sponsor, Pasea Hotel and Spa as the Official Host Hotel, and Surfrider Foundation as the Official Sustainability Partner. 

  1. 7. The venue – Huntington Beach Pier

The south side of Huntington Beach Pier will host the dual-podium format event. Huntington Beach will return to the global focus of Surfing after having hosted numerous elite surfing events – such as the Vans US Open of Surfing and the ISA World Surfing Games.

  1. 8. Social Media

The ISA will be posting live updates, photos and videos from the competition on social media. Follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube and don’t forget use the official hashtags #ISAworlds and #VISSLAISAworldjuniors.

Facebook: International Surfing Association (@ISAsurfing)
Instagram: @ISAsurfing
Twitter: @ISAsurfing
Youtube: @ISAsurfing

  1. 9. The Gold Medalists

The 2017 World Champions are as follows:

Girls U-16: Alyssa Spencer (USA)
Boys U-16: Joh Azuchi (JPN)
Girls U-18: Brisa Hennessy (HAW, since changed to CRC)
Boys U-18: Ignacio Gundesen (ARG)

Both U-16 World Champions, Spencer and Azuchi, will return to defend their Titles in 2017.

  1. 10. The Schedule

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 International Surfing Association (ISA), founded in 1964, is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the World Governing Authority for Surfing, StandUp Paddle (SUP) Racing and Surfing, Bodysurfing, Wakesurfing, and all other wave riding activities on any type of waves, and on flat water using wave riding equipment. The ISA crowned its first Men’s and Women’s World Champions in 1964. It crowned the first Big Wave World Champion in 1965; World Junior Champion in 1980; World Kneeboard Champions in 1982; World Longboard Surfing and World Bodyboard Champions in 1988; World Tandem Surfing Champions in 2006; World Masters Champions in 2007; and World StandUp Paddle (SUP) and Paddleboard Champions in 2012.

ISA membership includes the surfing National Governing Bodies of 104 countries on five continents. Its headquarters are located in La Jolla, California. It is presided over by Fernando Aguerre (Argentina), first elected President in 1994 in Rio de Janeiro. The ISA’s four Vice-Presidents are Karín Sierralta (PER), Kirsty Coventry (ZIM), Casper Steinfath (DEN) and Barbara Kendall (NZL).