Maria Salgado (POR) and Dylan Donegan Dos Santos (ESP) won the inaugural Wild Atlantic Way Junior Pro, the World Surf League (WSL) Junior Qualifying Series (JQS) 1,000 in Bundoran, Ireland. After navigating the difficult conditions this week, competitors were greeted with pumping three-to-four-foot surf at The Peak for an epic Finals Day. It was a celebration of surfing returning to the Northwest coast of Ireland, with Europe’s best 20-and-under surfers showcasing their skills and posting near-perfect scores throughout the day, entertaining the crowds watching from the cliff.
Maria Salgado Wins Second Junior Title This Season
The women’s Final was an edge-of-your-seat affair, with excellent scores, entertaining lead changes and last-minute heroics. 18-year-old Maria Salgado (POR) added another JQS win to her name, taking out the inaugural Wild Atlantic Way Junior Pro. Salgado has been having an incredible season across the Junior and Qualifying Series (QS) tours. She won the GADIS Junior Pro Ferrol and earned a runner-up finish last week at the ABANCA Pantin Classic Galicia Pro QS 4,000, and has now moved up to No. 2 on the regional Junior rankings.
“I feel incredibly happy and honored to have been the first surfer to win the Pro Junior at Bundoran," said Salgado. "It was an incredible experience competing in Donegal, a place with challenging waves and such a welcoming surfing community. This victory means a lot to me, and I hope it inspires other young surfers to believe in their dreams."
“This second victory gives me even more confidence and motivation for the next stages of the Pro Junior. I want to continue evolving, giving my best in each event, and maintaining consistency throughout the season. My goal is to enjoy the process, learn from each experience, and, of course, strive for more good results,” said Salgado.
Anais Blanchard (FRA) was the first to post a score and take an early lead, but once Carla Morera De La Vall (ESP) got going, she locked in two great rides that increased the requirement for everyone else. Salgado waited a long time, but got herself back in the game with an excellent 8.43 (out of a possible 10), while Naïa Monte (FRA) was lying in fourth with two small scores. Suddenly the intensity of the heat took a turn, and there was a momentum shift in Salgado’s favour. The Portuguese star cranked out an excellent 8.83 to take the lead with a total of 17.26 (out of a possible 20). Monte came around with back-to-back rides in the 7-point range to take second place, with De La Vall and Blanchard in third and fourth respectively.
On their way to the Final, De La Vall and Monte posted near-perfect rides and excellent heat totals. De La Vall took the win in her heat with a total of 17.17, with Blanchard in second, while Monte posted an incredible 18.66, with Salgado in second place. De La Vall holds onto the No. 1 spot on the regional Junior rankings, with Monte and Blanchard in third and fourth.
Dylan Donegan Dos Santos Earns Special Victory, Retains No. 1 Ranking
Almost a year later since his debut JQS win, 17-year-old Dylan Donegan Dos Santos (ESP) won his second title at the Wild Atlantic Way Junior Pro. After coming agonisingly close in Ferrol with a runner-up finish, Dos Santos came into this event as the top ranked junior, tied with João Mendonça (POR). The Lanzarote youngster started his day with an excellent performance in the Quarterfinals, and ended it with an excellent total of 16.00 to take the win. Keeping his No. 1 spot on the rankings, Dos Santos is in a great position to qualify for the World Junior Championships where he’ll hope to improve on his third-place finish from 2024.
“I’m super happy to take the win in Ireland,” Dos Santos said. “It’s a very special place for me with my mom being from here, and I spent so much time here during my childhood. It feels really special and I have no words to describe how happy I am. I’m really happy with my results this season and I’m stoked to be leading the rankings. I can’t wait for the next event!”
Dos Santos started the Final with an excellent 8.60, and then scoured the lineup to improve his backup. Lukas Skinner (GBR) and João Mendonça (POR) played the patient game, with both surfers opting to wait for the set waves. Dos Santos increased his lead with a 7.40, while Skinner’s two-wave total of 14.16 was enough to secure runner-up ahead of Mendonça. Axel Dominguez (FRA) has been one to beat this week, posting excellent performances throughout, but unfortunately he ran out of gas in the Final and had to settle for fourth.
While Dos Santos created some breathing room at the top of the rankings between himself and Mendonça, Spain’s Alfonso Suarez and Conor Donegan Santos are third and fourth, while Dominguez has moved up to fifth.
The next stop on the WSL Europe Junior Tour is the Edommo Junior Pro Razo Presented by Espazo Nature from September 24-27 in Razo, Carballo, Spain.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
The Wild Atlantic Way Junior Pro was scheduled to run from September 4-7, 2025 in Bundoran.
The Wild Atlantic Way Junior Pro is part of the Salt Water Festival and is proudly supported by Failte Ireland, Donegal County Council, the Wild Atlantic Way, and Monster Energy.
Wild Atlantic Way Junior Pro Women’s Final Results:
1- Maria Salgado (POR) 17.26
2- Naïa Monte (FRA) 15.20
3- Carla Morera De La Vall (ESP) 14.50
4- Anais Blanchard (FRA) 13.00
Wild Atlantic Way Junior Pro Men’s Final Results:
1- Dylan Donegan Dos Santos (ESP) 16.00
2- Lukas Skinner (GBR) 14.16
3- João Mendonça (POR) 10.93
4- Axel Dominguez (FRA) 10.10
Wild Atlantic Way Junior Pro Women’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Carla Morera De La Vall (ESP) 17.17 DEF. Anais Blanchard (FRA) 13.20, Saioa Ortega (EUK) 12.20, Lee-Ann Boudine (FRA) 10.74
HEAT 2: Naïa Monte (FRA) 18.66 DEF. Maria Salgado (POR) 16.30, Lua Escudeiro (POR) 14.93, Victoria Backhaus (ITA) 9.07
Wild Atlantic Way Junior Pro Men’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Axel Dominguez (FRA) 14.66 DEF. Dylan Donegan Dos Santos (ESP) 14.60, Paco Alonzo (FRA) 14.50, Michele Scoppa (ITA) 8.47
HEAT 2: Lukas Skinner (GBR) 14.54 DEF. João Mendonça (POR) 12.36, Alfonso Suarez (ESP) 11.83, Francisco Mittermayer (POR) 11.56
