Here
are
10
things
you
need
to
know
about
the
upcoming
competition.
-
Pathway
to
the
Olympic
Games
Bringing
together
the
top
emerging
talent
from
throughout
the
world,
the
event
has
become
a
clear
stepping
stone
to
the
Olympic
Games.
Of
the
71
surfers
to
have
competed
at
the
Olympics
so
far,
62
previously
participated
in
the
WJSC,
with
33
earning
ISA
World
Junior
medals,
including
half
of
the
surfers
to
earn
Olympic
medals
so
far
—
Carissa
Moore
(USA),
Caroline
Marks
(USA),
Tatiana
Weston-Webb
(BRA),
Gabriel
Medina
(BRA),
Bianca
Buitendag
(RSA),
and
Owen
Wright
(AUS).
-
Former
Medalists
Return
Eleven
former
medalists
will
return
to
compete,
including
2025
U/18
World
Junior
Champions
Sol
Borelli
(ESP)
and
Dylan
Donegan
(ESP).
Donegan
made
history
in
2025
as
the
first
surfer
to
win
the
gold
medal
in
both
divisions,
having
claimed
victory
in
the
U/16
category
in
2024.
Joining
them
will
be
2025
U/16
World
Junior
Champion
Ocean
Lancaster
(AUS),
as
well
as
U/16
girls
silver
medalist
Catalina
Zariquiey
(PER),
who
will
both
be
competing
in
the
U/18
division.
-
Defending
Champions
Australia
Aim
for
Three-peat
56
national
teams
will
gather
to
compete
for
the
coveted
team
gold
medals.
Back-to-back
Team
World
Champions,
Australia,
will
return
looking
for
their
second
WJSC
three-peat,
having
previously
set
the
record
with
a
five-event
winning
streak
between
2006-2010.
After
more
than
a
decade
between
wins
prior
to
2024,
Australia
will
now
look
to
claim
their
tenth
WJSC
team
gold
medal.
-
New
National
Teams
Three
national
teams,
Bahamas,
Mozambique,
and
Zimbabwe,
will
be
represented
in
the
WJSC
for
the
very
first
time.
It
will
be
the
first-ever
ISA
event
for
Mozambique
and
Zimbabwe,
two
of
the
newest
nations
to
join
as
ISA
members.
-
The
Divisions
427
athletes
will
compete
across
four
divisions:
-
Girl’s
U/16 -
Boy’s
U/16 -
Girl’s
U/18 -
Boy’s
U/18
-
Gender
Equality
Equaling
the
current
record,
girls
make
up
44%
of
the
competitors
representing
their
nations
in
the
2026
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
September
4
–
13.
Visit
isasurf.org
for
results,
team
rosters,
photos,
videos,
and
news
pertaining
to
the
competition.
-
Social
The
ISA
will
be
posting
live
updates,
photos
and
videos
from
the
competition
on
social
media.
Follow
@ISAsurfing
on
TikTok,
Instagram,
Twitter,
YouTube
and
Facebook.
-
Schedule
-
September
4
–
4pm:
Opening
Ceremony,
Punta
Rocas -
September
5
–
12:
Competition,
La
Bocana
and
El
Sunzal -
September
13:
Finals
and
Closing
Ceremony
-
The
ISA
and
El
Salvador
Surf
City
El
Salvador
has
become
a
massive
supporter
of
the
ISA
and
surfing,
demonstrating
itself
as
a
true
world
class
surfing
destination.
This
will
be
the
eleventh
major
ISA
event
to
carry
the
title
Surf
City
El
Salvador.
Two
prior
editions
of
the
ISA
WJSC
(2022,
2024)
have
been
joined
by
two
editions
of
the
World
SUP
and
Paddleboard
World
Championship
(2019,
2025),
and
three
editions
each
of
the
ISA
World
Longboard
Championship
(2023,
2024,
2025)
and
the
ISA
World
Surfing
Games
(2021,
2023,
2025).
Go to Surfing New Zealand
Author: Ben Kennings