URBIZTONDO BEACH, San Juan, La Union, Philippines (Sunday, January 18, 2026) – Today, Isla Huppatz (AUS) and Dane Henry (AUS) won the 2025 World Surf League (WSL) World Junior Championships Philippines Presented by Purefoods and Magnolia. The two 2025 Australia/Oceania Junior Champions prevailed as the best under-20s on a tense Finals Day that featured inconsistent one-to-two-foot swell, requiring smart wave selection and critical small wave skills to top the podium as the 2025 World Junior Champions. In addition to the prestigious titles, both surfers gained valuable positions for their first season on the Challenger Series in 2026.
Event Standout Isla Huppatz Wins First World Junior Title
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The standout surfer all week, Isla Huppatz (AUS) carried her incredible form all the way through to the biggest win of her career. The 18-year-old reigning Australia/Oceania Junior Champion defeated 2023 World Junior Champion Sierra Kerr (AUS) in the Final, joining Kerr in a strong legacy of Australian World Junior Champions that includes Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Laura Enever (AUS), and Isabella Nichols (AUS). Huppatz launched her campaign with the highest single-wave score of the event, a 9.00, in the Opening Round, where she also defeated Kerr in a non-elimination heat. The Victorian-raised Gold Coast resident went on to earn or equal the highest numbers across her remaining appearances, right up until the Final.
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“I can’t believe it, to be honest, this is crazy,” Huppatz said. “Oh my gosh, when it was counting down, like 5 seconds to go, I was like there’s no waves coming, I started to tear up. I couldn’t believe it, it just hit me all at once. Sierra [Kerr]’s one of my best mates, so she was so stoked for me. I’m so glad I got to share a Final with her. Obviously it was super grovelly, but we both still got some so it was sick.”
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The two Australian regular-footers, Kerr and Huppatz, advanced to the Final after defeating goofy-footers Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW) and Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) in tight Semifinal match-ups. The Final opened with Huppatz winning a key exchange, earning a 7.17 to a 6.50 from Kerr. Huppatz was nonetheless left chasing a score for the majority of the 40-minute Final, with Kerr steadily increasing her back-up score. As the clock entered the final five minutes, Huppatz finally found a wave that allowed her to unleash the exciting critical hits that had delivered her success throughout the event, earning a 5.50 and the win.
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“We both had good starts with bigger scores, and then it just kind of went really grovelly,” Huppatz continued. “I went a couple under priority hoping it would be something, give me any section, and it didn’t really work out and I was getting a bit rattled, but it’s not over until it’s over. Then that last wave gave me one good section at the start and it fired me up. I don’t know what I was really turning on, but I just got the score, can’t believe it.”
Sierra Kerr’s (AUS) runner-up finish was notably impressive after the 18-year-old spent close to six months away from competitive surfing due to illness. Having discovered she has Lyme disease, Kerr has been both recovering and learning how to manage her diagnosis. Kerr also began the competition battling an unrelated sickness, putting on highlight performances regardless to defeat fellow Stab High victor Skai Suitt (HAW), Challenger Series competitor Reid Van Wagoner (USA), CT Rookie Bella Kenworthy (USA), and Olympian Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) in an exceptional run to the Final.
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“It’s my first time competing properly, like first time doing two heats in a day since this comp last year,” Kerr said. “I’m just grateful to be here and couldn’t have picked anyone better to have the Final with than Isla [Huppatz], it was super fun. Stoked for her and congrats everyone.”
Australia’s Dane Henry Wins Maiden World Junior Title
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Dane Henry (AUS) has capped off an incredible season with the biggest win of his career. Having joined elite company in September 2025 by adding an ISA World Surfing Games gold medal to that of his existing ISA U/18 World Junior gold, Henry went on to claim the regional Australia/Oceania Junior title, along with his first Qualifying Series (QS) win. Today’s victory sees the 19-year-old Australian become the fifth Australian man to win a WSL World Junior Title, joining the likes of Joel Parkinson (AUS) and Ethan Ewing (AUS).
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“It’s been a massive week, it feels like I’ve been here for about a month,” Henry said. “I want to say a massive thanks to my coach, Adam Dufner. I’ve been training with him for 10 years, honestly wouldn’t be able to be here without him. It’s been special sharing this moment with just us and my beautiful mother, Kiri Henry. She’s the best mum on the planet. My circle’s so good right now and I’m over the moon. There’s been a lot of big Aussie names to win this comp and this is one to tick off for me.”
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Henry opened Finals Day with a thrilling Semifinal victory over Lennix Smith (AUS) that saw Smith eliminated in the same round as last year, this time on the receiving end of the same last-second drama he had delivered to others throughout the 2024 event. Needing a 5.33 with 30 seconds remaining on the clock, Henry was gifted a wave that allowed for three turns, two amongst the most critical of the heat, providing him with a 5.60 and progression into the Final of his first World Juniors. Though choosing the patient route for the Semifinal, Henry went on the attack in the Final, staying active to find the sections that would allow him to deliver the explosive and fluid brand of surfing he is known for. Though the early advantage went to his opponent, Nadav Attar (ISR), Henry was able to add a 7.00 to a 6.67 and hold the lead for the second half of the heat.
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“I’ve been dreaming of this for a long time,” Henry continued. “I was watching Bronson [Meydi] win it last year and drawing inspiration from that. Everything’s kind of led to this moment, but I know it’s just the beginning and to make that Challenger Series, lift the weight off the shoulders for the last two QS’s and also to share the Final with Nadav [Attar]. He’s an absolute legend, honestly wouldn’t want to share it with anyone else. We were just chatting out there and it was like no other Final I’ve been in. It was really special to share that moment with him and super sick to see him do so well coming from a super underdog to getting second in the event. It was mental to see that happen.”
The only non-Australian to make the Final, the ascendancy of Nadav Attar (ISR) to the Final was a true underdog story. Prior to today, Attar had only placed in a single WSL Final, that of the Pismo Beach Pro Junior victory that qualified him for his first World Juniors appearance. Representing his nationality of Israel, but residing in Costa Rica, where he grew up surfing and competing, 20-year-old Attar was a surprise package throughout the event, defeating a series of Challenger Series competitors, including Lucas Cassity (MEX), Oliver Zietz (NDL), and Winter Vincent (AUS), last year’s World Junior runner-up and an event favorite.
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“It’s been a great week,” Attar said. “My first time in the Philippines, and it’s already my favorite country other than Israel and Costa Rica. Special thanks to all the locals, you guys made it that much more special. The support from all the crowd, from all the parents, from all the people here has been amazing. Thank you to the locals for sharing your waves too. I know we were kind of a lot of competitors and we wanted every wave, so thank you for that too. Congratulations to all the Finalists. You guys are amazing surfers. Cheers for the support this week.”
2025 World Junior Championships Women’s Final Result:
1 – Isla Huppatz (AUS) 12.67
2 – Sierra Kerr (AUS) 12.17
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2025 World Junior Championships Men’s Final Result:
1 – Dane Henry (AUS) 13.67
2 – Nadav Attar (ISR) 11.40
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2025 World Junior Championships Women’s Semifinal Result:
HEAT 1: Isla Huppatz (AUS) 9.83 DEF. Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW) 7.73
HEAT 2: Sierra Kerr (AUS) 11.66 DEF. Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) 8.43
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2025 World Junior Championships Men’s Semifinal Result:
HEAT 1: Dane Henry (AUS) 13.27 DEF. Lennix Smith (AUS) 13.00
HEAT 2: Nadav Attar (ISR) 11.27 DEF. Winter Vincent (AUS) 2.93
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The WSL World Junior Championships Presented by Purefoods and Magnolia is proudly supported by Purefoods, Magnolia Inc., SMC Infrastructure Inc., BMEG / Nutrichunks, and the Philippines Sports Commission.