10 Things You Should Know About the 2025 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship

The 2025 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship (WJSC) will bring together the world's best junior surfers in Punta Rocas, Peru, from December 5-14, 2025.

Here are 10 things you should know about the upcoming competition.

1. Road to the Olympic Games
Bringing together the best emerging talent from around the world, this event has become a clear stepping stone to the Olympic Games. Of the 72 surfers who have competed in the Olympic Games so far, 59 previously participated in the WJSC, and 32 won ISA Junior medals, including more than half of the surfers who have earned Olympic medals: Carissa Moore (USA), Caroline Marks (USA), Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), Gabriel Medina (BRA), Bianca Buitendag (RSA), and Owen Wright (AUS).

The youngest Olympic surfer to date, Siqi Yang (CHN), who competed in Paris 2024 at just 15 years old, will also return to the WJSC in 2025.

2. Former medalists return
Ten former medalists will compete again, including the 2024 U/16 World Champions, Ziggy Aloha Mackenzie (AUS) and Dylan Donegan (ESP), who will be competing for the first time in the U/18 division.

Also making their U/18 debut are two surfers who have won multiple medals in U/16: Lukas Skinner (ENG) and Clémence Schorsch (FRA), both determined to win after earning silver medals in 2024 — the second consecutive year for Skinner.

3. Record national participation
57 national teams will gather to compete for the coveted team gold medals, surpassing the previous record set in 2024.

The reigning World Team Champions, Australia, will return to defend their title. After a decade without a victory before 2024, Australia will now be looking to capture their ninth team gold at a WJSC.

4. New national teams
Four national teams—Angola, India, Saint Lucia, and Slovenia—will be represented at the WJSC for the first time. It will be the first ISA event ever for Saint Lucia, one of the newest member nations.

5. The Divisions
427 athletes will compete in four divisions:

● U/16 Female

● U/16 Male

● U/18 Female

● U/18 Male

6. Gender equality
Matching the record set in 2024, women make up 43% of the competitors representing their nations at the WJSC 2025.

Since 2017, the ISA has offered equal competitive slots for men and women in all its World Championship series, promoting female participation and gender equality in surfing.

7. Where to watch it
The live stream will be available at www.isasurf.org from December 5th to 14th.
Visit isasurf.org for results, team lists, photos, videos, and competition-related news.

8. Social Networks
The ISA will post real-time updates, photos, and videos of the competition on social media.

Follow @ISAsurfing on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook.

9. Schedule

● December 5 – 3:00 pm: Opening Ceremony, Punta Rocas High Performance Center

● December 6-13: Competition, Punta Rocas and El Bosque

● December 14: Finals and Closing Ceremony

10. The ISA and Peru
Peru will host the world's best junior surfers for the second time, following the 2011 edition in Punta Hermosa. This surfing nation has organized two World Surfing Games (2010 and 2014) and has hosted the debut of two ISA World Championship series – the inaugural World Longboard Championship in 2013 and the first two editions of the World SUP and Paddleboard Championship in 2012 and 2013.