SEASIDE REEF, San Diego, Calif., USA (Tuesday, December 13, 2022) - Today, the World Surf League (WSL) announced the dates and location of the 2022 Sambazon World Junior Championships Hosted by Best Western. The competition will take place at Seaside Reef in San Diego, Calif, with a competition window from January 9 to January 15, 2023. The 2022 World Junior Championships will host the world's best up-and-coming surfers aged 20-and-under will compete for the 2022 men's and women's World Junior Champion Title.
Regional qualifying events around the world over this past year have determined the Junior Championship fields and the best Pro Junior surfers will gather in San Diego to determine who will be crowned the 2022 World Junior Champions. This will be the first Championships since 2019. Points from the 2021 World Juniors events have rolled over to 2022, giving surfers who missed out last season another opportunity to qualify.
"We're excited to see the return of this event as it provides a platform for elevating the next generation of the world's best surfers, and is the first step towards joining the Challenger Series and Championship Tour," said Jessi Miley-Dyer, WSL SVP of Tours and Head of Competition. "These young men and women are already making their presence known and are raising the bar for the future of competitive surfing. We look forward to kicking off the new year by celebrating the next generation."
"Surfing is ingrained in our culture and part of our destination's identity," said Mark Neville, CEO of Sports San Diego. "We couldn't be more excited to welcome the next generation of elite surfers to the beaches of San Diego for the World Junior Championships in January. We are confident that the participants, families, spectators, and organizers of the event will love everything that San Diego has to offer."
The men's and the women's fields will each feature 24 surfers, comprised of two regional qualifiers from each of WSL's seven regions and 10 wildcards selected by the WSL Tours and Competition team. The World Junior Champions decided by this competition will secure spots on the 2023 Challenger Series, giving them the opportunity to further showcase their talent on a global stage.
2022 Women's World Junior Championships Regional Qualifiers
Gemma Hanafey (RSA)
Louise Lepront (RSA)
Anon Matsuoka (JPN)
Nanaho Tsuzuki (JPN)
Ellie Harrison (AUS)
Sierra Kerr (AUS)
Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK)
Aelan Vaast (FRA)
Puamakamae DeSoto (HAW)
Eweleiula Wong (HAW)
Sol Aguirre (PER)
Laura Raupp (BRA)
Sawyer Lindblad (USA)
Rubiana Brownell (CRC)
Event Wildcards
Alyssa Spencer (USA)
Sara Wakita (JPN)
Zahli Kelly (AUS)
Luana Silva (BRA)
Kirra Pinkerton (USA)
Erin Brooks (CAN)
Daniella Rosas (PER)
Rachel Presti (DEU)
Francisca Veselko (PRT)
Ella McCaffray (USA)
2022 Men's World Junior Championships Regional Qualifiers
Tide Lee Ireland (RSA)
Luke Thompson (RSA)
Kian Martin (SWE)
Tenshi Iwami (JPN)
Marlon Harrison (AUS)
Lennox Chell (AUS)
Bitor Garitaonandia (EUK)
Noa Dupouy (FRA)
Eli Hanneman (HAW)
Jackson Bunch (HAW)
Cauã Costa (BRA)
Ryan Kainalo (BRA)
Alan Cleland (MEX)
Tommy Coleman (USA)
Event Wildcards
Jett Schilling (USA)
Adur Amatriain (EUK)
Kauli Vaast (FRA)
Kade Matson (USA)
Oscar Berry (AUS)
Brodi Sale (HAW)
Joel Vaughan (AUS)
Taro Watanabe (USA)
Jarvis Earle (AUS)
Levi Slawson (USA)
WATCH LIVE The World Junior Championships Hosted by Best Western will open on January 9 and hold a competition window through January 15, 2023. Once called ON, the event will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com, WSL's YouTube channel, and the free WSL app. Also, check local listings for coverage from the WSL's broadcast partners.
The WSL World Junior Championships are proudly supported by Best Western, Sports San Diego, Board and Brew, and Pura Vida.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.