Twelve ISA Scholarship ambassadors represent their nations with pride
Improved, clean conditions produce high scores in Huntington Beach
USA’s Sawyer Lindblad first competitor to crack 9-point range for single wave score
France’s boys impress, Kyllian Guerin nabs top heat total
Twelve ISA Scholarship ambassadors representing their nations at the 2019 VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship presented by Visit Huntington Beach have put the developmental power and success of the program on display.
The twelve surfers have used their ISA Scholarship to aid the development of their Surfing and education to go on to represent their nations at the highest level of Junior Surfing.
Among the 342 competitors, the twelve recipients of the scholarship are Abril Solis (ARG), Rachel Agüero (CRC), Cedric McCrackin (CRC), Barnaby Cox (ENG), John Vasea (FIJ), Ulaiasi Tukana (FIJ), Valentina Resano (NCA), Candelaria Resano (NCA), Oscar Guzman (NCA), Amaru Rodriguez (PER), Daniella Rosas (PER), and Puleiata Martin (SAM).
Nicaragua’s Candelaria Resano, a 2018 ISA Scholarship winner, advanced through her Girls U-16 Main Event heat and spoke about the value of the award to her.
“I was happy to know that the ISA is looking out for young surfers around the world, not just for surfing but education as well.
“It’s important to know how to balance out Surfing and school because both are equally as important.”
2016 ISA Scholarship winner John Vasea from Fiji spoke about what the program has meant to him.
“When I found out that I won the ISA Scholarship it was a great feeling. It allowed me to travel the world, including to the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship for my first time last year.
“For whoever wants to be an ISA Scholarship winner, I would tell them to work hard because it will be the best feeling of your life.”
Peru’s Daniella Rosas, an ISA Scholarship ambassador who earned provisional qualification for Tokyo 2020 with a Gold Medal in the Pan American Games, advanced through her Girls U-18 Main Event Round 2 heat to keep her Gold Medal chances alive and well.
Since 2007, the ISA Scholarship Program has awarded more than USD $308,500 to over 300 surfers across all five continents.
Monday’s action kicked off with drastically improved conditions at Huntington Beach Pier, with increased swell and offshore winds.
France was the standout nation on the Boys side of the competition. Kyllian Guerin was the top performer in the Boys U-16, earning an event-high heat total of 15.97, and Tiago Carrique impressed in the Boys U-18 with a division-high total of 15.17.
Japan’s Kana Nakashio put on a solid performance for the defending Gold Medalist Team Japan in the Girls U-16 with a 15.83 heat total, the highest of the day for the girls.
USA’s duo of Caitlin Simmers and Sawyer Lindblad also shined in the Girls U-16 with top heat totals. Lindblad became the first surfer to crack the 9-point mark in the event thus far for a single wave, scoring a left hander worth 9.07 points heading toward the pier.
Nakashio and Simmers followed close behind Lindblad’s mark, each with single wave scores of their own worth 8.5.
ISA President Fernando Aguerre said:
“Huntington Beach flipped the script today and produced excellent waves for the world’s best junior surfers.
“Today the U-18 and U-16 girls moved over onto the broadcasted north podium and showed their world-class talent to a global audience. The girls even managed to earn the highest wave scores of the day.
“I am proud to see the ISA Scholarship program bearing fruit. Young surfers that we have been supporting for years are finally getting to the level where they can represent their entire nation. It’s inspiring to see their progression and maturity on display here in Huntington Beach.”
The official Surfline forecast is calling for the current south swell to hold on Tuesday with an increase in northwest swell in the afternoon. Conditions are expected to be clean in the morning, with an onshore breeze developing in the afternoon.
The 2019 VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship is broadcast live until November 3 on isasurf.org.
View schedule for Tuesday’s competition here.
The remaining event schedule is as follows*:
October 29 – November 3 – Competition on the south side of Huntington Beach Pier, 7am – 5pm
November 3 – Closing Ceremony at Pier Plaza following the close of competition
*Subject to changes. Pacific Standard Time.