Today, the world’s best surfers aged 20-and-under competed in lully but fun two-to-three-foot conditions at The Point at Urbiztondo Beach to officially set the Semifinal matchups of the 2025 World Surf League (WSL) World Junior Championships Philippines Presented by Purefoods and Magnolia.

The next call will be tomorrow, Thursday, January 15 at 7:30 a.m. for a possible 8:05 a.m. start.

From Opposite Sides of the Draw, Australia’s Huppatz and Kerr Set the Pace

For the third day running, Isla Huppatz (AUS) proved to be the standout of the women’s draw, today posting a 15.57 heat total. The number, which included an excellent 8.07 and 7.50, comes second only to her own Opening Round two-wave total that featured the highest single wave score of the event so far. A back-and-forth battle against Challenger Series competitor and 2025 Asia Junior Champion Anon Matsuoka (JPN) saw Huppatz, the reigning Australia/Oceania Junior Champion, staying patient to find the waves that allowed her to attack multiple critical sections down the line. Finding crucial end-section hits on each, the 18-year-old was able to put Matsuoka on the ropes and leave the Japanese looking for a large score for the final third of the heat.

"[Anon Matsuoka] is such an amazing surfer and a really good competitor," Huppatz said. "She's been on the Challenger Series for a bit, so I was a bit nervous coming up against her. Glad I could get the job done. I was just staying focused on my own game and the conditions and my own plan and stuff. The conditions, they're pretty slow. There's some 20-minute lulls, but then it kind of flows and then there's a few sets, so you’ve just got to wait for your moment to then go. But when they come, they're pretty fun."

Quarterfinal 3 saw the two most-decorated surfers in the draw, 2023 World Junior Champion Sierra Kerr (AUS) and 2025 Championship Tour (CT) Rookie Bella Kenworthy (USA), face off. The all-star match-up was all about the Australian however, as Kerr started strong and built consistently, earning an excellent 8.00, along with two rides in the 7-point range, while Kenworthy struggled to break out of the 5’s. Largely sticking to the rail, Kerr was able to drift the tail to close out a three-turn combo to collect her high number. 18-year-old Kerr now moves into her third World Junior Semifinals in her fourth appearance, continuing her campaign to be the first woman to claim a second World Junior Title.

"It was my first proper heat with Bella [Kenworthy], so it was fun," Kerr said. "It's funny, she was at my house in Australia for the past ten days. We traveled here, we were just eating brekkie together, at dinner last night, just like, 'Oh, I wish it could have happened later.' I love having heats with my friends. It'd be sick [to meet Isla Huppatz in the Final]. We're both Aussies, we do the Pro Juniors together, QS's together. We've had some heats, and yeah, we're super good friends, so it'd be sick fun to meet in the Final and yeah, see who gets it."

The two Australian regular-footers will each meet goofy-footers in the Semifinals, with Huppatz coming up against Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW) and Kerr taking on Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK). The two more experienced competitors, Inso and Gonzalez Etxabarri, held court over younger rivals in the opening and closing Quarterfinals. The Hawaiian claimed her win in a low-scoring affair over 14-year-old Carla Morera De La Vall (ESP), while the Basque eliminated 16-year-old Catalina Zariquiey (PER) with an excellent 8.17.

Australian Sweep Sees Smith, Henry, and Vincent Move Into Semifinals

Despite fighting sickness, Lennix Smith (AUS) returned to the Semifinals for the second consecutive year after taking out a tight heat over Rickson Falcao (BRA). As with his Round of 16 showing, Smith opened strong, picking up an 8.17 within the first three minutes, but today struggled to find a back-up. Meanwhile, Falcao, the last remaining men’s goofy-footer, continued to build throughout the heat, eventually landing the event’s first full rotation air reverse under priority to earn a 7.17 and take the lead from the Australian. Needing a 5.23 with less than two minutes remaining, Smith finally found a wave that allowed multiple turns, providing him with a 6.57 and the win.

"I thought I butchered it, giving him that wave," Smith said. "I had priority and I was like, 'Far out, what have I done?' But the little one came at the end and I did a few little wiggles and managed to get a 6. Pretty chuffed on that one, I was kind of delirious out there."

A second battle of the powerhouse surfing nations also went the way of Australia when Dane Henry (AUS) eliminated Gabriel Klaussner (BRA), setting up an all-Australia first Semifinal between Henry and Smith. Though not posting the highest numbers of the event, Henry has won each of his heats with confident performances, today earning his personal best number of the event, a 7.83. A third Australian, Winter Vincent (AUS) moved into the Semifinals for the second year in a row, following his runner-up finish in 2024. Vincent overcame Ikko Watanabe (JPN) in a close heat that saw just over half a point separating their final totals.

Representing Israel and Costa Rica, Attar Delivers Breakthrough Semifinal Run

Representing Israel by way of his home in Costa Rica, Nadav Attar (ISR) claimed a major victory for both nations when he moved into the Semifinals of his first WSL World Juniors. Attar utilized an exceptionally mature use of priority and smart wave selection to find the best options to attack the few critical sections on offer in his Quarterfinal match against Oliver Zietz (NDL). Though Zietz held the higher single wave score for much of the heat, Attar stayed consistently ahead, before a 7.57 from the Israeli placed a larger requirement on the Dutch that he was ultimately unable to meet despite a last-minute attempt coming close.

"Oliver [Zietz] is a great surfer. I knew the conditions were tricky and grindy, so him having that 7 the whole heat when I had a 6.5 as my highest score, it was super sketchy for sure," Attar said. "I knew that if he's on a good one, he's gonna get the score, so I'm super happy. I'm just trusting the process, all the training I've been doing before this event, not just now, the past few years. I know it's my time right now, and I knew it for that heat too. I was just trusting that and I left it to the nature."

Women’s Quarterfinal Matchups:
HEAT 1: Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW) 8.50 DEF. Carla Morera De La Vall (ESP) 6.03
HEAT 2: Isla Huppatz (AUS) 15.57 DEF. Anon Matsuoka (JPN) 12.34
HEAT 3: Sierra Kerr (AUS) 15.33 DEF. Bella Kenworthy (USA) 11.30
HEAT 4: Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) 13.80 DEF. Catalina Zariquiey (PER) 9.56

Women’s Semifinal Matchups:
HEAT 1: Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW) vs. Isla Huppatz (AUS)
HEAT 2: Sierra Kerr (AUS) vs. Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK)

Men’s Quarterfinal Matchups:
HEAT 1: Lennix Smith (AUS) 14.74 DEF. Rickson Falcao (BRA) 13.40
HEAT 2: Dane Henry (AUS) 14.50 DEF. Gabriel Klaussner (BRA) 10.16
HEAT 3: Winter Vincent (AUS) 11.26 DEF. Ikko Watanabe (JPN) 10.70
HEAT 4: Nadav Attar (ISR) 14.27 DEF. Oliver Zietz (NLD) 13.70

Men’s Semifinal Matchups:
HEAT 1: Lennix Smith (AUS) vs. Dane Henry (AUS)
HEAT 2: Winter Vincent (AUS) vs. Nadav Attar (ISR)

• Isla Huppatz (above) Delivers Statement With Opening Performance
• Lukas Skinner Builds Momentum in Elimination Round
• Elimination Round Sweep for Brazilians Klaussner, Kainalo, Falcao, and Mandelli
• Next Call: Tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. GMT+8 For a Possible 8:05 a.m. Start

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.

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

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.

"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."

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

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.

"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

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.

"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."

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

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.

"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."

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.

"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."

For highlights from today's competition at the WSL World Junior Championships Presented by Purefoods and Magnolia, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

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

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

Women’s Elimination Round Matchups Remaining:

HEAT 7: Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW) vs. Stella Green (AUS)

HEAT 8: Maria Salgado (POR) vs. Catalina Zariquiey (PER)

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

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)