Surfing Australia is excited to announce the 12 surfers who will represent Australia at the 2024 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in El Salvador, next month.
The athletes have been attending a training camp at the Surfing Australia Hyundai High Performance Centre as they prepare for the waves of La Bocana and El Sunzal.
Surfing Australia Talent Pathway Coach, Peter Duncan, who is travelling with the Junior Irukandjis, said: “This camp is all about preparing them for the ISA’s in El Salvador. We’re going to throw different challenges at them, make sure they adapt and get the gist of what an ISA campaign is.
“The team consists of surfers from across Australia, who qualify either by winning the Woolworths Australian Junior Surfing Titles, winning the national rankings or through a wildcard system. The level of talent is unbelievable. These surfers are setting the benchmark in international standards, which is cool as well.
“The wave in El Salvador can be a nice, punchy kind of wave, which suits the Aussie style of surfing. We expect to see big combos and big turns and we expect the team to do pretty well. Sierra Kerr won individual gold last year. We ended up fourth overall but are hoping to get back into that top tier and take home gold this year. Isabella Nichols and Jacob Wilcox were in the last team to do that. And they’re currently on the World Tour, so it’s great to see the pathway and where you can get to from the ISA’s.”
14-year-old Charli Hately said: “This camp is about team bonding, figuring out what it’s going to be like when we get over to El Salvador, heat drills and just having fun.
“Representing Australia on this team is amazing. I’ve never been to El Salvador before and I hear it’s an amazing wave and the culture is amazing too. Our team is good on paper, so I think our chances are pretty good of winning. Sierra (Kerr) is amazing and has won it. I could only hope to do what she did.”
17-year-old Dane Henry and 16-year-old Milla Brown have been named team captains.
“Being named captain is a huge accomplishment. I’m really keen to work with everyone. We have a really strong team and I think we have a good chance of getting gold so I’m hoping to get us there,” Henry said.
“Looking forward to surfing with the crew and having as much fun as possible and hopefully leading the team to gold. It’s a pretty big role, to be the captain alongside Dane, and pretty cool,” Brown said.
The best junior surfers from every part of the globe will contend for medals at the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship, which will take place from the 3rd to the 12th of May. This championship has proved to be a direct pathway to the Olympic Games, with Olympic Bronze Medallist Owen Wright, eight-time World Champion StephanieGilmore, two-time World Champion Tyler Wright and Sally Fitzgibbons among the past ISA World Junior Champions.
For more information visit the ISA event website.
2024 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship – Team Irukandjis:
U18 Girls
Milla Brown (Newport, NSW)
Willow Hardy (Gnarabup, WA)
Isi Campbell (Denmark, WA)
U18 Boys
Eden Hasson (Port Stephens, NSW)
Dane Henry (Fingal Head, NSW)
Fletcher Kelleher (Freshwater, NSW)
U16 Girls
Ziggy Mackenzie (Bilinga, Qld)
Charli Hately (Tugun, Qld)
Ocea Curtis (Lennox Head, NSW)
U16 Boys
Lachlan Arghyros (Kingscliff, NSW)
Maverick Wilson (Dunsborough, WA)
Ocean Lancaster (Merewether, NSW)
Event Schedule:
*subject to change at any time at the ISA’s discretion
Pre-Competition
Friday, May 3rd
4pm – Opening Ceremony / next to Casa de Mar
Competition
Saturday, May 4th
7am-5pm – Competition @ El Sunzal and La Bocana
Finals Day
Sunday, May 12th
TBD – Finals
30min after competition – Closing Ceremony / behind Casa De Mar
Follow the team and the Irukandjis on our Socials.
Surfing Australia is thankful for the support it has received from the Australian Government – through the Australian Sports Commission – to help enhance the Irukandjis medal chances at Paris 2024.
The Irukandjis are proudly presented by Hyundai.
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