The world stage is calling for WA’s rising surf stars, with Maverick Wilson (Dunsborough) and Olive Hardy (Gnarabup) set to pull on the green and gold at the 2025 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in Punta Rocas, Peru, kicking off this weekend, December 5–14.
The talented West Australian duo will line up against the best junior surfers on the planet as part of the Australian Junior Irukandjis Team, chasing international success in one of the most competitive junior events in the world.
Wilson, the current WA U18 State Champion and 2023 Australian U16 Champion, brings proven big-event experience and competitive firepower into the U18 division. Hardy arrives in Peru as the reigning Australian U16 Girls Champion, following a dominant year across state and national competition and valuable experience on the WSL Qualifying Series. Both surfers will play a key role as Team Australia looks to defend its Junior World Title following last year’s historic victory in El Salvador.
10 Things to Know About the 2025 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship
1. 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 72 surfers to have competed at the Olympics so far, 59 previously participated in the WJSC, with 32 earning ISA World Junior medals, including more than 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).
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 return to compete, including 2024 U/16 World Champions Ziggy Aloha Mackenzie (AUS) and Dylan Donegan (ESP), who will each compete in the U/18 division for the first time.
Also making their debut in the U/18 division are two two-time U/16 medalists, Lukas Skinner (ENG) and Clémence Schorsch (FRA), who are both hungry for the win after claiming the silver medals in 2024 – the second year running 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.
Current Team World Champions, Australia, will return to defend their title. Having gone a decade between wins prior to 2024, Australia will now look to claim their ninth WJSC team gold medal.
4. New National Teams
Four national teams, Angola, India, Saint Lucia, and Slovenia, will be represented in the WJSC for the very first time. It will be the first ever ISA event for Saint Lucia, one of the newest nations to join as a member.
5. 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
6. Gender Equality
Equalling the record set in 2024, girls make up 43% of the competitors representing their nations in the 2025 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.
7. Where to Watch
The live webcast will be streamed on www.isasurf.org from December 5 – 14. Visit isasurf.org for results, team rosters, photos, videos, and news pertaining to the competition.
8. 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.
You can also stay across the action via LiveHeats and via Surfing WA’s social media channels and website.
9. Schedule
December 5 – 3:00pm: 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 Surf Nation has staged two World Surfing Games (2010 and 2014) and has debuted two of the ISA’s World Championship series — hosting the inaugural World Longboard Championship in 2013, as well as the first two editions of the World SUP and Paddleboard Championship in 2012 and 2013.
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