Nadav Attar achieves his first WSL victory after being crowned champion of the SLO CAL Pro Junior 2025 in Pismo Beach, California.

Nadav Attar achieves his first WSL victory after being crowned champion of the SLO CAL Pro Junior 2025 in Pismo Beach, California.

Nineteen-year-old Nadav Attar achieved a resounding success, scoring a perfect 100 at Pismo Beach, California, during one of the World Surf League (WSL) junior tour events. Nadav was crowned champion of the event, and what's most remarkable is the way he did it, taking first place in every heat leading up to the final—in other words, he went undefeated throughout the entire competition. These were his results in each of the heats:

- Round 48: First place with a score of 12.40

- Round 32: First place with a score of 13.14

- Quarter-finals: First place with a score of 11.10

- Semifinal: First place with a score of 14.73

- FINAL: First place with a score of 16.00

We contacted Nadav to learn about this experience and his impressions after the event:

Since 2023 you started competing in WSL category events, two years later you achieved your first title by being crowned champion of the SLO CAL PRO junior 2025. How do you feel about that?

It took me a few days to process everything and now I can say that I am very grateful, above all, for the support that the surf community of Costa Rica and Israel has given me since the win, it has been incredible, I never imagined having this amount of support.

Not only did you become champion, but you went undefeated throughout the entire event, winning first place in every heat, including the final. What was your mindset during this event to achieve this result? What did you do differently compared to past events?

It's funny, actually. Right before leaving for California, I got sick at home. I had to change my ticket so I could rest. I arrived in California and didn't surf the first few days because I was so sick. My first sessions at Pismo were pretty awful, haha. The cold , plus how weak I was, made me feel completely unconfident for the event. Maybe that's why I did well; I had zero pressure at the event.

How did you prepare for the event? What does your training routine consist of?

I had a pretty busy training schedule that I was able to organize with my coaches. I train in the water with my coach Alex (Initiative Surf), I do physical training with Jon (Foundation Training) twice a week, and I train with Gilded Iguana three times a week thanks to their sponsorship. In total, I do physical training five times a week. But I surf every day.

How many times a day do you surf?

I surf in the morning and afternoon every day.

Besides physical training, what activities do you do to strengthen and take care of your mindset?

My family inspires me a lot to meditate. My brother Roey works with a neuroscience doctor (Dr. Joe Dispenza), so I practice Joe's meditations daily, and the changes that occur are incredible.

How does this victory influence your future plans as an athlete?

This victory has shifted my mindset in a new direction. Although it's a great achievement, I know it's just the first step in my career. There's still a long way to go to reach the top. But this win showed me that anyone in our group can truly achieve it. And I feel like we'll achieve it together!

How many years have you lived in Costa Rica?

I've been living in Costa Rica for almost 13 years. I know you know I represent Israel, and that many don't like it, but I'm truly happy and proud of my decision. Even though I don't have the Costa Rican flag, I'll always be representing you as well because everything I do is thanks to this country.

What are your competitive goals for 2025?

My goals for 2025: Our WSL Pro Jr season has just begun, and we have two more events to finish. My goal is to finish in the top two of the North American rankings to qualify for the World Junior Championships. Right now, I'm in first place, but there's still a long way to go.

In the QS, our season is also about to end, and I'm not aiming to qualify for the Challengers since I'm ranked 50th, but the new season starts in April in California, and that's where I'll be looking to begin my Challenger qualification for 2026. Besides, several players in the group are very close to qualifying this season. So my goal is to see them qualify in March too!

How do you see the surfing scene in Costa Rica? Do you see any areas for improvement?

I feel that Costa Rica needs more financial support for the surfers who represent the country. Traveling isn't cheap, the athletes work incredibly hard to achieve their goals, and I feel that deserves support. Especially since they are all such good people and set a great example for Costa Ricans internationally.

Do you currently have any sponsors?

I currently have sponsors and I'm very grateful for their support. Vissla is a brand that's very interested in my career and they make me feel like part of the family. Since the win, several doors have opened for me, a couple in Israel, mostly. I hope to share more information soon.

How do you see the issue of sponsorships at the national and international level? What do you feel brands demand, and what do you feel athletes who aspire to obtain sponsors need to improve?

Many of the conversations we've had in our travel group lately have been about sponsors. I feel it's very important that all of us as athletes know our worth. I feel that surfers can no longer accept just any contract, not only for personal reasons—more than anything, for the next generation. We know the next generation is coming on strong, and it's important that they know they deserve a lot of support right now. If everyone knew their true value, national brands would already be providing athletes at a higher level of support.

Note by: Yeison Jiménez Dittel.