WA competitors Olive Hardy and Maverick Wilson continued their charge in Peru on Day 5 of the 2025 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship (WJSC). Hardy moved through Round 2 with ease, claiming a solid victory in clean three-to-four-foot surf at Punta Rocas, while Wilson put the field on notice with a dominant heat that he won by more than four points.
Their results contributed to another strong day for the Irukandjis, who move forward as equal-second on the overall team rankings. Australia remains firmly in the hunt behind Brazil, Peru, and the USA, with momentum building across multiple divisions as the event progresses.
Read on for the Day 5 highlights.
Day 5 HIghlights
Day 5 of the 2025 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship (WJSC) saw the world’s best junior surfers light up three-to-four-foot peaks at Punta Rocas, where U/18 boys Main Round 2 was completed, while further inside, competitors attacked the long lefts of El Bosque for the remainder of U/18 girls Main Round 2 and the first 21 heats of U/16 girls Main Round 2.
With just three heats left to complete Main Round 2 in all divisions, the list of nations retaining full teams was further refined. Brazil, Peru, and the USA move forward as equal-first on the rankings, followed by Portugal, Australia, and France. Catalina Zariquiey (PER) once again delivered a highlight performance for the host nation, posting the highest single-wave score of her division, a 9.00.
Leah Turner (HAW) and Charli Hately (AUS) Go Blow-for-Blow in High-Intensity Matchup
A battle between two explosive goofty-footers played out at El Bosque when Leah Turner (HAW) and Charli Hately (AUS) went blow-for-blow in U/16 girls Main Round 2. Turner built strong early, posting a 6.00 and 7.50 to maintain heat control. Meanwhile, Hately struggled to break out of the 4-point range, before finding a long open face to unleash her strong open face carves and post an 8.83. Turner wasn’t finished however, improving her back-up score to reclaim the lead that Hately had taken and secure the heat win.
“That was so fun, surfing lefts,” Turner said. “I’m so excited to surf left, on the front side, just getting used to the new board and having fun out there. It’s really different than a normal contest. I feel less pressure for some reason, and supporting the whole team and having the whole team support me, it’s a great experience. When everyone goes out, I’m biting my nails, hoping that they can make it through.”
Turner’s older brother, Jacob Turner (HAW), also progressed through his heat. Competing in their first ISA event, the Kauaian siblings will be joined in Main Round 3 by teammates Legend Chandler (HAW), Tiger Abubo (HAW), Manalani Cazimero (HAW), Kalei Rivas (HAW), Kahanu Rangel (HAW), Elliamna Grubbs (HAW), and Zoey Kaina (HAW).
Yet another goofy-footer to deliver a standout performance at El Bosque, Kaina posted the equal-highest heat total of U/16 girls Main Round 2. The 15-year-old’s 14.50 two-wave total included an 8.33 earned from her stylish and critical forehand hits.
Continuing a Powerful Goofty-Footed Legacy, Samuel Lowe (AUS) Sets the Bar in U/18 Boys
One of many second generation pro surfers competing in Peru, Samuel Lowe (AUS) closed out his U/18 boys Main Round 2 heat with an excellent 8.00, his second of the event. Building across each of his four waves, Lowe moved up the placings behind local Peruvian Adrian de Osma (PER) before delivering a masterclass in power and flow on his backhand to steal the win in the last 20 seconds. The son of former WSL Championship Tour stalwart Mick Lowe (AUS), who won the World Grommet Titles in 1993, Samuel has carried the powerful goofy-footed legacy of his father into a solid junior career of his own. Competing in his first ISA event, Lowe has been named Captain of the defending Team World Champion alongside Milla Coco Brown (AUS).
“The word that’s been going around our camp has been awareness. I just felt super aware out there and in tune with the waves and the sets, so feeling good over here,” Lowe said. “Australia, we just have so much presence already coming from back-to-back, or hopefully back-to-back champions, but winning last year. So being named Captain for my country has been so sick. You can sort of stay sheltered in your own country and think you’re the best when you come over to these world games. It’s so eye-opening to see the talent around the world and the things you have to be doing to be at the top of your game.”
Siqi Yang (CHN) Delivers Standout Performances Across Two Divisions
Though still only 16, Siqi Yang (CHN) is already appearing in her eighth ISA event between the WJSC and World Surfing Games. Yang is the first Chinese surfer to compete in the Olympic Games, and also the youngest surfer so far to appear in the Olympics. She is also the first current Olympian to compete in the WJSC. Despite increasingly good results, Yang is yet to win an ISA medal, a feat that would be yet another first for her nation. Today, Yang posted the only excellent score of U/18 girls Main Round 2, an 8.00, before her powerful backhand assault at El Bosque also earned a 7.83 in her U/16 girls heat.
“Today the waves are very good and my 8-point wave was so good,” Yang said. “It’s powerful. I prefer power surfing and clean surfing, it’s so good. This event has been really fun. The waves were a mix of forehand and backhand, and it’s very clean. I’m keen to do even better in tomorrow’s heat.”
Competition will resume tomorrow, Thursday, December 11, at 7:00 a.m. PET with U/18 girls Main Round 3 at Punta Rocas and the continuation of U/16 girls Main Round 2 at El Bosque.
Events
