Junior World Wave Championship Grand Finals: Wave juniors meet in Western Australia

The world's best junior windsurfers have arrived in Geraldton, Western Australia, to prepare for the Junior World Wave Championship Grand Finals. The event will take place from 10 to 18 January 2026 and marks a first, as this is the first time in history that the junior finals will be held in Australia. Geraldton is known to be a winter hotspot for many pros, with consistent wind conditions and powerful waves.

The Japanese team has sent three of its top young athletes, including Natsuki Wakasa, 17, and Ryoma Sugi, 16. Sugi is already familiar with world titles - in 2023 he secured the U15 World Wave Championship title. The young Japanese, who arrived in Geraldton on Tuesday, is thrilled: "I'm really happy and excited to be in Geraldton. It's an honour to compete at the World Grand Final and I'm grateful for this opportunity. Becoming World Champion would be a dream come true and would motivate me to keep improving and pushing myself to my limits. It's fun to learn from each other and share the enthusiasm for windsurfing."

Strong competition in both divisions

Sugi will face strong competition in the boys' event, including Europe's top talent Javier Escribano, 16, and Australia's number one Tyler Wallrodt, 17. The locals have the home advantage on their side, know the local conditions inside out and can rely on the support of the home crowd. Nevertheless, the international participants will be doing everything they can to prove their qualities and take home the title.

In the girls' event, Australia's top young talent Sarah Kenyon, 17, is the favourite on her home turf in Geraldton. However, she will be up against strong competition from Japan - Wakasa and Nozome Sakai will be doing everything they can to win the title. Up-and-coming talents from Perth such as Ines Callenaere (13 years old) and Thura Van Essen (15 years old) will also be keen to seize their chance. Kenyon herself is particularly looking forward to socialising with other young female windsurfers: "I'm pretty excited because I get to meet and make friends with the new generation of young windsurfing girls. The competition motivates me because there are more girls and they are trying new things, which also makes me want to try new things."

The weather forecast promises ideal competition conditions throughout the event period. The hetas are likely to be held in the afternoon, with several potential locations available: Sunset Beach, Coronation Beach and Oakajee River Mouth. Depending on the conditions, the organisers can react flexibly and adapt the spot accordingly to ensure optimal conditions for the participants.

Focus on promoting young talent

A Junior Windsurf Training Camp is being organised alongside the World Championships and is open to all young people between the ages of 8 and 20. The camp is aimed at beginners through to advanced windsurfers and offers a unique opportunity to learn from some of the best athletes in the sport. Among the coaches is the 2025 U21 World Champion, Jake Ghiretti from Margaret River.

You can find all the information on Instagram at @oceaniayouthtitles