The 2025 surfing season is set to begin with one of the sport’s most prestigious events—the World Surf League (WSL) World Junior Championships. From January 13 to 19, 48 of the most promising young surfers will gather at Urbiztondo Beach in San Juan, Philippines, to compete for the title of World Junior Champion.
This marks the first time the event will be held in the Philippines, a significant milestone for both the country and the WSL. The competition will feature 24 men and 24 women, all under the age of 20, who have earned their spots through qualifications in the WSL’s seven global regions. Although the event takes place in 2025, the winners will officially be crowned the 2024 World Junior Champions.
The WSL World Junior Championships is considered a critical stepping stone for surfers aiming to make their mark on the Championship Tour (CT). Past champions include surfing legends like Andy Irons, Gabriel Medina, Joel Parkinson, Sally Fitzgibbons, and Vahine Fierro. Last year, Australian Sierra Kerr and Californian Jett Schilling claimed victory in their respective divisions.
WSL Commissioner Jessi Miley-Dyer emphasizes the importance of the event, stating, “It is an elite competition that gives the world a true look at who could be contesting World Titles on the Championship Tour in the future. It also offers junior talent an invaluable opportunity to experience CT-level competition on the global stage.”
Urbiztondo Beach, known for its high-performance right-hand pointbreak, is expected to offer the perfect canvas for the next generation of surfers to showcase their skills. The beach, which has hosted several WSL events over the past two years, will provide both exciting waves and challenging conditions for competitors.
“The waves in La Union are super high-performance and will suit the exciting brand of surfing that the world’s best juniors will bring,” says Andrew Stark, WSL APAC President.
With the world’s best under-20 surfers set to compete in one of the sport’s most anticipated events, all eyes will be on the Philippines as the next generation of surfing stars makes its mark.