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.
1. 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).
2. 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.
3. 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?
4. 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.