Australia has taken the lead in team rankings on day five of the 2023 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in Brazil.
The ISA noted that a dropping swell, combined with the fact that every heat left in the event was straight elimination, placed significant importance on every small decision. While the pressure got to some, the frontrunners didn’t miss a beat, rising to the occasion and proving exactly why they are the favourites.
Five teams started the day fully intact; Australia, USA, Japan, Brazil, and defending champions Hawaii. However, within an hour, each team had seen their first surfers eliminated. By the end of the day, Australia had firmly asserted themselves on top, ahead of France, Brazil, Japan and USA.
Keira Buckpitt earned yet another solid round three win with an 8.83 heat total to kick off the day in Girl’s U/18, while Sierra Kerr and Isla Huppatz both posted impressive numbers in Girl’s U/16, posting 9.26 and 12.63 heat totals, respectively.
Fletcher Kelleher once again stood out in Boy’s U/16, as did Lennix Smith in Boy’s U/18.
Surprisingly, the 2022 U/16 Gold Medalist, Willis Droomer (AUS), was the first to go down from Team Australia but with 10 of the 12 Junior Irukandjis team members progressing through to round four, Australia remains in great shape heading into the last few days of the championship.
For more information, visit the ISA event website HERE.
About the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship:
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, with Stephanie Gilmore among past ISA World Junior Champions.
2023 Junior Irukandjis team:
U18 Girls
Coco Cairns (Tewantin, QLD)
Jahly Stokes (Buddina, QLD)
Keira Buckpitt (Culburra Beach) *Junior Irukandjis team Captain
U18 Boys
Harley Walters (Angourie, NSW)
Lennix Smith (Barrack Point, NSW) *Junior Irukandjis team Captain
Willis Droomer (Jan Juc, VIC)
U16 Girls
Isla Huppatz (Bilinga, QLD)
Milla Brown (Newport, NSW)
Sierra Kerr (Bilinga, QLD)
U16 Boys
Kash Brown (Cronulla, NSW)
Rico Haybittle (Palm Beach, QLD)
Fletcher Kelleher (Freshwater, NSW)
Participation
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