ISA President Fernando Aguerre presents Team Hawaii with the ISA World Junior Team Champion Trophy. Photo: ISA/Michael Tweddle

Following an incredible week of camaraderie and competition between the 32 National Teams, the Final Day of the VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship (WJSC) delivered great waves and exciting surfing performances. The VISSLA ISA WJSC officially closed after all the individual and team champions were crowned.

Hawaii is the new VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship Gold Medal Team and winner of the Team Champion Trophy.

In the individual divisions, Brazil’s Luan Wood won the Boys U-18, Hawaii’s Tatiana Weston-Webb defended her Gold Medal in the Girls U-18, France’s Leo-Paul Etienne won the Boys U-16, and Hawaii’s Mahina Maeda also defended her Gold Medal in the Girls U-16 in the incredible waves at La Loberia (La FAE), Ecuador.

All the individual Gold Medalists (from left to right): Brazil´s Luan Wood (Boys U-18), Hawaii´s Tatiana Weston-Webb (Girls U-18), France´s Leo-Paul Etienne (Boys U-16), and Hawaii´s Mahina Maeda (Girls U-16). Photos: ISA/ Rommel Gonzales

“Thank you everybody for coming to Ecuador, and thank you to everyone in Salinas for receiving us with open arms,” commented ISA President Fernando Aguerre. “To all the competitors, congratulations, if you were here, you are a champion. At the end of the day there will be four individual Gold Medalists, but all of you are champions as members of your National Teams, the highest honor, which is surfing for your country and the love of your sport. Ecuador has a beautiful ocean that provides an endless source of waves and joy. We hope to be back with an ISA World Championship next year.

“I want to give a special thanks to the President of Ecuador Rafael Correa, the Ministries of Sport and Tourism, and a special recognition to our hosts, the Ecuadorean Surfing Federation (FES), and its President Xavier Aguirre, thank you very much for your excellent work in developing surfing in your country.”

The ocean came alive on the final day of competition, as predicted by Surfline, the official forecaster, as the swell arrived with powerful waves in the 6-8 feet range. The conditions provided great waves for the world’s best juniors to perform at their highest level.

The first final in the water was the Girls U-16, where Hawaii’s Mahina Maeda, posted 10.90, earning, for second year in a row, the Gold Medal and World Championship. Maeda battled the conditions from the incoming new swell, and had to wait for her last two waves to take the Gold Medal back to Hawaii.

Girls U-16 World Champion Mahina Maeda from Hawaii. Photo: ISA/Michael Tweddle

“I feel so amazed right now. Honestly this is the biggest dream come true that I ever had,” said the ecstatic Hawaiian. “I stuck to the game plan and got one score under the belt and then worked to improve it. In the end, my last two waves improved my score so I was really happy about that. I wanted to win and I won, that was my overall goal, to get two Golds.”

The Silver Medal went to Costa Rica’s Leilani McGonagle (8.94), the Bronze to Australia’s Laura Poncini (10.57), and the Copper to USA’s Maddie Peterson (5.50).

Up next was the Boys U-16 Grand Final. France’s Leo-Paul Etienne won the Gold Medal, earning 12.44 points against Silver Medalist Joe Van Dijk (11.86) from Australia. The Bronze went to Nolan Rapoza (11.57) from USA and the Copper to Griffin Colapinto (6.93) also from USA.

Boy´s U-16 World Champion Leo-Paul Etienne from France. Photo: ISA/Michael Tweddle

“This is incredible! This is my first ISA World Championship and I never thought I would become a World Champion, it’s just amazing. I want to come back next year and win again the ISA World Junior Championship!”

Hawaii’s Tatiana Weston-Webb once again demonstrated her strong skills to take the Gold Medal for Hawaii. The 2014 ISA WJSC Gold Medalist, Weston-Webb, posted the highest total heat score of the entire event in both the Boys and Girls divisions, scoring an impressive 18.16, and also the highest single wave score of 9.83 in the Girls Division during the Grand Final.

Girls U-18 World Champion Tatiana Weston-Webb from Hawaii. Photo: ISA/Michael Tweddle

“I want to thank my family back at home and from all over the world, you are the best! And the family that I have here in Ecuador is unbelievable.

“I watched the waves from earlier heats and also I watched Mahina win, just like last year, so I got super pumped from that. The waves were on my front hand and I always have so much fun on those waves. I just want to thank the ISA for having such a great venue and put on such a spectacular event. I can’t wait to come here maybe as a coach or as a Hawaii Team Member, helping the young kids surf. I just can’t be thankful enough.”

The Hawaiian defeated Silver Medalist Kim Veteau (FRA, 11.86), Bronze Medalist Tia Blanco (USA, 9.37), and Copper Medalist Leilani McGonagle (CRI, 9.17).

In the Boys U-18 Final, Brazil’s Luan Wood won Gold after posting a big score in his first wave of the Final, a 8.60, followed by a 5.83, for a total of 14.43. His teammate, Elivelton Santos, followed with a score of 10.93, earning the Silver Medal.

Boy´s U-18 World Champion Luan Wood from Brazil. Photo: ISA/Michael Tweddle

“I thank God and I don’t have words right now, I’m so excited. Brazil wins! Thanks to all my family and the Secretariat of the State of Santa Catarina, if it wasn’t for them and my family I wouldn’t be here.”

Lucca Mesinas, from Peru, won the Bronze Medal, finishing third with a 9.94 and Hawaii’s Imai DeVault won the Copper Medal placing fourth with a 9.50.

When the surfing competition concluded, the Closing Ceremony took place to recognize all ISA Scholarship winners present at this event and officially close the 2014 VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship. Nine ISA Scholarship recipients were called to the stage to receive a certificate from the ISA President. Many of these surfers were able to qualify for their National Teams with the help of the ISA Scholarship as well as continue their education. After that inspiring ceremony, all the individual and team medals were awarded to the winners.

ISA President Fernando Aguerre (left) with the 2013 ISA Scholarship Recipients, who were participating in Ecuador. Photo: ISA/Rommel Gonzales

Official Results:

Overall Team Results:
1. Hawaii- 21,168 points and Winner of the ISA World Junior Team Champion Trophy
2. France- 20,872, Silver Medal
3. Australia- 20,628, Bronze Medal
4. USA- 18,418, Copper Medal
5. Brazil- 17,426
6. Peru- 15,062
7. Japan- 14,820
8. South Africa- 14,618
9. Portugal- 13,852
10. New Zealand- 13,474
11. Costa Rica- 12,252
12. Argentina- 11,866
13. Ecuador- 10,766
14. Venezuela- 10,740
15. Great Britain- 9,393
16. Uruguay- 7,959
17. Germany- 7,834
18. Chile- 7,554
19. Barbados- 7,548
20. Mexico- 7,034
21. Tahiti- 5,630
22. Puerto Rico- 4,260
23. Wales- 3,600
24. Guatemala- 3,552
25. Italy- 2,440
26. Canada- 1,800
27. Ireland- 1,500
28. Austria- 1,200
29. Switzerland- 1,056
30. Trinidad & Tobago- 960
31. Russia- 960
32. Sweden- 480

Boys Under-18:
Luan Wood (BRA), Gold Medal
Elivelton Santos (BRA), Silver Medal
Lucca Mesina (PER), Bronze Medal
Imai DeVault (HAW), Copper Medal

Girls Under-18:
Tatiana Weston Webb (HAW), Gold Medal
Kim Veteau (FRA), Silver Medal
Tia Blanco (USA), Bronze Medal
Leilani McGonagle (CRI), Copper Medal

Boys Under-16:
Leo-Paul Etienne (FRA), Gold Medal
Joe Van Dijk (AUS), Silver Medal
Nolan Rapoza (USA), Bronze Medal
Griffin Colapinto (USA), Copper Medal

Girls Under-16:
Mahina Maeda (HAW), Gold Medal
Leilani McGonagle (CRI), Silver Medal
Laura Poncini (AUS), Bronze Medal
Maddie Peterson (USA), Copper Medal

For a full list of results visit: http://isawjsc.com/2014/results/
For the full event coverage with daily videos and photo galleries visit- http://www.isawjsc.com/

ISA Aloha Cup Gold Medalists, Team Hawaii, dominated against the defending champions Japan, Australia, and USA. Photo: ISA/Rommel Gonzales

The 2014 VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship comes to a close tomorrow when all the individual and team Gold Medals will be decided. A solid south swell began to fill in Saturday afternoon and is expected to be even larger for the Finals on Sunday at La Loberia (La FAE). The surf is predicted in the 6-8ft range with occasional 10ft sets. The new swell will greet the world’s best juniors in time for the Repechage and Grand Finals.

Portugal’s Teresa Bonvalot took advantage of today’s improved conditions and is one step closer to the Grand Final. Photos: ISA/Rommel Gonzales

Team Hawaii won the exciting ISA Aloha Cup. This tag-team relay competition is always a great surfing show. Hawaii ended with an impressive 74.54 combined score, defeating 2013 ISA Aloha Cup Champions Japan (2nd, 61.29), Australia (3rd, 40.13), and USA (4th, 39.34). Team Hawaii’s last competitor in the water, Tatiana Weston-Webb, had the highest three-wave total, higher than all other competitors in the final, including all the sixteen boy, quite an impressive history making performance.

Today was a crucial day for the overall team standings. Hawaii has taken over the rankings and is now sitting in first place with 5 of their 12 surfers remaining in the competition; the most out of all the teams still in contention for Gold. Chasing the Hawaiians are the defending champions, Australia, USA, and France.

“I am so happy to finally be here in Salinas. I spent the first half of the week in Turkey at SportAccord, the largest sport world conference,” remarked ISA President Fernando Aguerre. “It was a great meeting, continuing with our campaign for inclusion of surfing in the Olympics. Of course, I wanted to also be here in Salinas with the 300 juniors from around the world. It seems I arrived and the waves got better just in time for the final days. Sunday is going to be a spectacular day and I want to wish the best of luck to all of the finalists.”

Day Seven of the 2014 VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship saw heats from Qualifying Rounds 4 and 5, Repechage Rounds 6, 7, 8 and 9, as well as the ISA Aloha Cup Final.

Elivelton Santos from Brazil was the stand out of the Boys U-18 Qualifying posting an impressive 15.93. Santos had a slow start in his heat, but towards the end he scored an excellent ride of 8.50, followed by a 7.43 to seal his win. The 17 year-old Brazilian defeated Hawaiians, Imai Devault (12.44) and Seth Moniz (11.00).

Brazil’s Elivelton Santos. Photo: ISA/Michael Tweddle

In the Boys U-18 Repechage, Japan’s Takumi Nakamura put on a show with his powerful surfing today advancing to the Repechage Final. Nakamura, 2012 ISA WJSC Silver Medalist, scored a 15.17 to defeat Nelson Cloarec (10.50) from France and Kanoa Igarashi (6.00) from USA.

Japan’s Takumi Nakamura. Photos: ISA/Rommel Gonzales

In the Boys U-16 Qualifying, France’s National Junior runner-up and Junior SUP Champion, Leo-Paul Etienne, earned a 14.60, the highest score of the division, defeating Australia’s Joe Van Dijk (10.33) and USA’s Nolan Rapoza (10.27). Etienne sealed his victory from with his first two waves in heat, 7.33 and 6.77.

In the Boys U-16 Repechage, Hawaii’s Noa Mizuno had the highest score with 12.84, followed closely by Nolan Rapoza (12.83) from the USA. Both competitors sent home New Zeland’s Kehu Butler (11.27) and Australia’s Zac Wightman (9.54). Mizuno and Rapoza will face each other again tomorrow in the Repechage Final.

In the Girls U-18 Qualifying, Guadeloupe’s Open Female Champion, Kim Veteau from France, posted 14.00, to defeat 2013 ISA WJSC U-18 Gold Medalist Tatiana Weston-Webb (9.87) from Hawaii and Australia’s Isabella Nichols (8.74).

The standout surfer in the Girls U-18 Repechage was Hawaii’s Bailey Nagy, posting a 11.70 to defeat Australia’s Junior Titles winner, Isabella Nichols (10.83), Australia’s U-16 Champion Holly Wawn (9.20), and Argentina’s National Junior Champion, Lucia Indurain (7.43).

Hawaii’s Mahina Maeda, 2013 ISA WJSC U-16 Gold Medalist, led the charge in the Girls U-16 Qualifying, earning a 13.26 and defeating Australia’s Laura Poncini (11.84) and her teammate, 2012 ISA WJSC Gold Medalist, Dax McGill (10.47).

Hawaii’s Mahina Maeda. Photos: ISA/Rommel Gonzales

urf out there because most of my prior heats were on the shore break and it was usually high tide so I got to surf poor conditions. Today I was really happy to surf the outside on the point where it’s a left and that’s my favorite thing to do. Rocky’s (Rocky Point on Hawaii’s North Shore) is my favorite place in the world, and that wave reminds me of Rocky’s, way, the with a left that runs and has amazing sections to hit.

Another stand out in the Girls U-16 and U-18 Qualifying was Costa Rica’s Leilani McGonagle, who is competing in both divisions. McGonagle, the Central American Junior Champion and 3-time National Champion in her country, had two back-to-back heats, and in both, managed to advance to the next round in first place with good scores. She is now just one step away from the Medals.

Costa Rica’s Leilani McGonagle. Photos: ISA/Rommel Gonzales

“That heat was really difficult because the waves were complicated as they are coming up, and it was a bit choppy, but luckily I was able to get a couple of good set waves in both heats and get some high scores. It was really hard, but hearing my teammates on the beach giving their all for me made me want to give my all for them.”

The 2014 VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship resumes Friday at 7:40am with The Morning Show hosted by Beau Hodge, and with guests from the Team Hawaii.
For a full list of today’s results, click here- www.isawjsc.com/results/
For a full list of team standing, click here- http://isawjsc.com/2014/inc/pdfs/TEAM-POINTS-ECUADOR-2014.pdf

All You Need is Ecuador. Photo: ISA/Michael Tweddle

Following that, the competition will feature:
Main Podium:
1 Heats Qualify 5 Boys U-18
1 Heats Qualify 5 Boys U-16
1 Heats Qualify 4 Girls U-16
1 Heats Qualify 4 Girls U-18
1 Heats Repechage 8 Boys U-18
1 Heats Repechage 8 Boys U-16
1 Heats Repechage 6 Girls U-16
1 Heats Repechage 6 Girls U-18
Final Girls U-16
Final Boys U16
Final Girls U18
Final Boys U-18

The live webcast of the entire 2014 VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship is available on www.isawjsc.com
Here is the scheduled for Day 7:
Saturday, 7:40am Salinas, Ecuador
Saturday, 5:40am West Coast USA
Saturday, 2:40pm Western Europe
Saturday, 10:40pm Sydney, Australia