URBIZTONDO BEACH, San Juan, La Union, Philippines (Monday, January 12, 2026) – The action continued on day two of the 2025 World Surf League (WSL) World Junior Championships Philippines Presented by Purefoods and Magnolia, where the 2025 World Junior Champions will be crowned by week’s end. A slowly decreasing three-to-four-foot swell on the right point of Urbiztondo Beach set the stage for the completion of the women’s Opening Round and men’s Elimination Round, along with the first six heats of the women’s Elimination Round.
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The next call will be tomorrow, Tuesday, January 13 at 7:30 a.m. GMT+8 for a possible 8:05 a.m. start.
Isla Huppatz Delivers Statement With Opening Performance
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The powerful back foot of Isla Huppatz (AUS) provided the Australian with a 15.83 (out of a possible 20) heat total, the highest of the event so far, on the back of two single turns in the final women’s Opening Round heat. Busting straight through the lip to drift her tail on a huge section saw the 18-year-old earn a 9.00, which she quickly followed up with a similarly powerful hit for a 6.83, leaving Challenger Series competitor Reid Van Wagoner (USA) in need of near perfection and 2023 World Junior Champion Sierra Kerr (AUS) requiring a two-wave combination to defeat her. Returning to the Philippines after a Quarterfinal finish in the 2024 event, Huppatz is primed to move even deeper in the draw this year.
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“It was such a sick wave and such a sick section, so I just put everything into it, felt good” Huppatz said. “That’s definitely one of my strengths. I definitely look for a nice close-out section and I got one in that heat, so that was nice. A lot of the waves, especially down the end, fizzle a lot and just go fat. You’re just out there, you just look for one big section and that’s about it. I’ve never really been one to think too much about who’s in my heat or what heat I am. I just focus on myself and the waves and everything.”
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Following Elimination Round wins, Van Wagoner and Kerr both joined Huppatz in the Round of 16, with Kerr posting some of the highest numbers of the round to take the victory in a tight heat over Skai Suitt (HAW).
Lukas Skinner Builds Momentum in Elimination Round
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Taking the opposite approach to his Opening Round heat, Lukas Skinner (GBR) stayed highly active throughout his match-up with Connor Slipjen (RSA). Skinner started strong, posting a 12.00 heat total within the first five minutes, and continued to build his scoreline, leaving Slipjen to chase large numbers the entire time. The speed and flow emanating from Skinner’s effortless approach was highlighted by a lofty, extended air reverse followed by a large end section attack that netted a 7.00, locking the 17-year-old’s two-wave total at 13.67, the highest of the round.
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“I’m super happy, the waves are firing, it’s almost as fun as it gets for a comp,” Skinner said. “I just thought I’d keep the ball rolling and try to catch as many waves as I could and just get the nerves out of the way because Elimination Round, you know, you’re out if you lose this round. I think just not focusing on all the negatives from your first heat because my surfing felt good, I just couldn’t back it up, so I just focused on that. My surfing was good and if I get good waves, I can go far. I think just that and just believing in yourself, that’s the biggest thing really. All the training you’ve done up to this event, you’ve just got to believe it, and trust it. I’m really happy.”
Elimination Round Sweep for Brazilians Klaussner, Kainalo, Falcao, and Mandelli
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Needing his highest score of the heat with 25 seconds left on the clock, Gabriel Klaussner (BRA) powered through a solid series of forehand hits to earn a 7.33 (out of a possible 10) buzzer-beating heat win. Current European Junior Champion Alfonso Suarez (ESP) had maintained control through much of the match, with Klaussner unable to score above a 5.00. The 20-year-old Brazilian held strong until the final moments however, delivering confident surfing despite feeling the pressure to earn a berth in the Round of 16 in his first World Juniors appearance.
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“That was gnarly,” Klaussner said. “I knew that wasn’t a good sized wave, but I knew the wave was good and had the potential in it. So glad I made this score and advanced for the next heat. I knew it was the score, but surfing the wave was scary. My legs were shaking. But yeah, happy to get some good surfing done. And again, make the heat.”
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In a tight women’s Elimination Round heat, Luara Mandelli (BRA) maintained a steady lead over Japan’s Sumomo Sato (JPN) to advance to the Round of 16. Fellow Brazilians Ryan Kainalo (BRA) and Rickson Falcao (BRA) also claimed Elimination Round wins over Ben Esterhuyse (RSA) and Dylan Wilcoxen (INA), respectively.
Challenger Series Experience Prevails Under Local Pressure
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Local wildcard Toby Espejon (PHL) put Challenger Series competitor Keoni Lasa (EUK) on the ropes in the third men’s Elimination Round heat. Lasa posted two four-point rides early, before Espejon added a 5.17 to a 4.20, leaving the Basque surfer to scratch for his best wave yet in the event. Having fallen out in the Elimination Round in 2024, Lasa was determined to push through and eventually found the connection he’d been looking for. The 20-year-old blasted his strong backhand to earn a 6.83 and reclaim the lead before closing out the heat with a 6.10.
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“I knew that was going to be a hard heat against the local Toby [Espejon],” Lasa said. “He ripped in that heat. He had me under pressure for a bit. I started off with two finishes that I was looking for because yesterday I fell a lot in my heat. So I wanted to finish off my first two waves, but then all of a sudden he had a really good wave, like a 5, and I was feeling the pressure for a bit. But then I had a good wave and it all worked out, so I’m psyching. I think all three of us felt the nerves in the first heat, and we all kept falling. Of course, going against these guys, you really have to do good, and you feel the pressure. Everyone’s ripping and I think you have to really do good to win these heats.”
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Espejon’s loss followed that of his younger brother Troy Espejon (PHL) in the first men’s Elimination Round heat. The two women’s Filipino wildcards, Mara Lopez (PHL) and Cathleya Casals (PHL), also bowed out in the Elimination Round to Challenger Series surfers despite putting up strong performances. Lopez was defeated by Mirai Ikeda (JPN), while Casals went down to Reid Van Wagoner (USA). Bouncing back after her morning Opening Round loss, which nonetheless saw her post solid numbers, Van Wagoner’s powerful backhand hooks shone in the smaller conditions. The 16-year-old American is currently competing in her first Challenger Series season, having had a big year since last appearing at the World Juniors in the Philippines.
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“I surfed a good heat this morning, Isla [Huppatz] was ripping, so stoked to go out there with three amazing girls and showcase our surfing,” Van Wagoner said. “It’s definitely different [this afternoon]. It’s way harder than this morning to identify the good ones. 2025 was an amazing year. A lot of stuff happened that I wasn’t expecting to happen. I just want to shout out to my parents for supporting me through this whole thing, it’s been super hard. My mom’s going through some health issues. So doing that and traveling with me all the way here, I’m super stoked and super grateful. But yeah, hopefully 2026 brings the same. Let’s see.”
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Women’s Opening Round (Heats 7-8) Results:
HEAT 7: Talia Swindal (USA) 11.33 DEF. Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW) 9.26, Emily Jenkinson (RSA) 4.77
HEAT 8: Isla Huppatz (AUS) 15.83 DEF. Reid Van Wagoner (USA) 11.57, Sierra Kerr (AUS) 10.73
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Women’s Elimination Round Results (HEATS 1-6):
HEAT 1: Mirai Ikeda (JPN) 9.17 DEF. Mara Lopez (PHL) 5.57
HEAT 2: Luara Mandelli (BRA) 10.10 DEF. Sumomo Sato (JPN) 8.47
HEAT 3: Reid Van Wagoner (USA) 9.90 DEF. Cathleya Casals (PHL) 5.60
HEAT 4: Carla Morera de la Vall (ESP) 9.06 DEF. Anastasia Venter (RSA) 7.40
HEAT 5: Sierra Kerr (AUS) 11.27 DEF. Skai Suitt (HAW) 9.67
HEAT 6: Zoey Kaina (USA) 11.33 DEF. Emily Jenkinson (RSA) 5.54
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Women’s Elimination Round Matchups Remaining:
HEAT 7: Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW) vs. Stella Green (AUS)
HEAT 8: Maria Salgado (POR) vs. Catalina Zariquiey (PER)
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Men’s Elimination Round Results:
HEAT 1: Lennix Smith (AUS) 12.93 DEF. Troy Espejon (PHL) 7.66
HEAT 2: Gabriel Klaussner (BRA) 12.33 DEF. Alfonso Suarez (ESP) 10.93
HEAT 3: Keoni Lasa (EUK) 12.93 DEF. Toby Espejon (PHL) 9.37
HEAT 4: Ryan Kainalo (BRA) 10.43 DEF. Ben Esterhuyse (RSA) 7.37
HEAT 5: Lukas Skinner (GBR) 13.67 DEF. Connor Slijpen (RSA) 9.84
HEAT 6: Willem Watson (AUS) 13.33 DEF. Kingston Panebianco (HAW) 6.27
HEAT 7: Rickson Falcao (BRA) 10.83 DEF. Dylan Wilcoxen (INA) 8.76
HEAT 8: Nadav Attar (ISR) 10.27 DEF. Riki Sato (JPN) 7.10
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Men’s Round of 16 Matchups:
HEAT 1: Lennix Smith (AUS) vs. Lukas Skinner (GBR)
HEAT 2: Rickson Falcao (BRA) vs. Ryan Kainalo (BRA)
HEAT 3: Keoni Lasa (EUK) vs. Gabriel Klaussner (BRA)
HEAT 4: Dane Henry (AUS) vs. Willem Watson (AUS)
HEAT 5: Winter Vincent (AUS) vs. Hugh Vaughan (AUS)
HEAT 6: Will Deane (USA) vs. Ikko Watanabe (JPN)
HEAT 7: Oliver Zietz (NLD) vs. Conor Donegan Dos Santos (ESP)
HEAT 8: Lucas Cassity (MEX) vs. Nadav Attar (ISR)
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The 2025 WSL World Junior Championships Philippines will be held at The Point at Urbiztondo Beach, San Juan, Philippines, from January 11-18, 2026.