10 Things to Know About the 2023 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship
The 2023 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship (WJSC) is set to gather the world’s best junior surfers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on November 24 – December 3, 2023.
Here are 10 things you need to know about the upcoming competition.
- Pathway to the Olympic Games
The best junior surfers from every part of the globe will contend for medals in this prestigious event that has proved itself as a direct pathway to the Olympic Games. 33 out of the 40 Tokyo 2020 Olympic surfers previously participated in the WJSC, 16 of them claiming ISA World Junior medals, including Olympic Bronze Medalist Owen Wright (AUS), Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), and Gabriel Medina (BRA).
Multiple Paris 2024 qualified surfers have also topped the podium at the WJSC, including current WSL World Champions Caroline Marks (USA) and Filipe Toledo (BRA).
- Former Medalists and Future Olympians Return
Three of the four of the 2022 WJSC U/16 Boy’s medalists will be present. Silver medalist Inigo Madina (FRA) and copper medalist Hans Odriozola (ESP) will once again vie for the U/16 World Title, while 2022 U/16 World Junior Champion, Willis Droomer (AUS) will compete for the first time in the U/18 Boy’s division.
Two of the four 2022 WJSC U/16 Girl’s medalists will also return. Bronze medalist Mirai Ikeda (JPN) and copper medalist Tya Zebrowski (FRA) will both seek to better their results in the U/16 Girl’s.
Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualified surfer Sanoa Olin will represent Canada in her fifth WJSC when she competes in the U/18 Girl’s
- Record National Teams Participation
46 national teams will gather to compete for the coveted Team Gold medals, surpassing the previous record set in 2022. Current Team World Champions, Team Hawaii, will look to defend their title and add a sixth World Championship to their total as they approach Australia’s record of seven. The home team of Brazil hasn’t won since the inaugural event in 2003. Will this be the year they win it back?
- New National Teams
Three national teams, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Ukraine, will be represented in the WJSC for the very first time, while one team, Romania, will participate in their first ever ISA event.
- The Divisions
365 athletes will compete across four divisions:
- Girl’s U/16
- Boy’s U/16
- Girl’s U/18
- Boy’s U/18
- Gender Equality
A record 177 girls (44% of competitors) will compete and represent their nations in the 2023 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.
- Where to Watch
The live webcast will be streamed on www.isasurf.org from November 24 – December 3. Visit isasurf.org for results, team rosters, photos, videos, and news pertaining to the competition. Watch HERE
- Social
The ISA will be posting live updates, photos and videos from the competition on social media. Follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Don’t forget to use the official hashtag #ISAworlds.
Facebook: International Surfing Association
Instagram: @ISAsurfing
Twitter: @ISAsurfing
YouTube: @ISAsurfing
Tiktok: @isasurfing
- Schedule
November 24 – Opening Ceremony, Macumba Beach; 3:30pm – Local Time
November 25 – December 2: Competition Days
December 3: Finals and Closing Ceremony
- The ISA and Brazil
The WJSC is being hosted by the Brazilian Surfing Confederation (CBSurf) with the strong support of the Brazilian Olympic Committee and the State of Rio de Janeiro.
It will be the 19th edition of the WJSC and the second time the event has been hosted by Brazil, after the 2006 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship was held in Maresias. Two historic editions of the ISA World Surfing Games were also hosted by Brazil, the first of which was in Rio de Janeiro in 1994.
National Teams will parade carrying their flags to the “Sands of the World” ceremony.
Competition runs from Nov 25th to Dec 2nd.
Watch live webcast on the link below and check our social platforms for daily news.
Live Webcast Watch Here
Go to Surfing New Zealand
Author: Dan Westerkamp