EPIC CONDITIONS IN GERALDTON FOR THE 2026 OCEANIA JUNIOR WORLD WAVE GRAND FINAL
EPIC CONDITIONS IN GERALDTON FOR THE 2026 OCEANIA JUNIOR WORLD WAVE GRAND FINAL
EPIC CONDITIONS IN GERALDTON FOR THE 2026 OCEANIA JUNIOR WORLD WAVE GRAND FINAL
The action has been coming thick and fast in Geraldton, Western Australia at the Junior World Wave Grand Final. The main competition took place at The Spot on Tuesday, where Javier Escribano won the Under 18 Boys event and in doing so was also crowned world champion. In the Girls Under 18’s Japanese rider Natsuki Wakasa took the victory ahead of local rider Sarah Kenyon in second.
Escribano and Kenyon Crowned Junior World Windsurfing Wave Champions in Geraldton
Geraldton, Western Australia
The future of windsurfing was on full display this week as Spain’s Javier Escribano Toribio and Australia’s Sarah Kenyon were crowned 2025 Junior World Windsurfing Wave Champions at the World Junior Grand Final in Geraldton.
Sixteen-year-old Escribano Toribio, from Tarifa, Spain, delivered a commanding performance to claim both the U18 Grand Final event victory and the U18 World Championship title, capping off an outstanding international campaign.
“It feels amazing…I don’t even have the words,” Escribano said. “I’ve worked for years for that trophy. I came here with my dad and had to miss school classes for this, but it was all worth it. I’m so happy to be here and to win.”
Escribano set the tone early in the final, landing a perfect back loop and a huge push loop, before shifting focus to composed wave riding to secure the title. It was clear that he has enjoyed Geraldton’s conditions and atmosphere.
“Geraldton and The Spot are perfect places to windsurf,” he said. “The atmosphere is so good with all the kids everywhere and everyone happy all the time. I made a lot of friends here and I’m super happy to win the world title.”
Japan’s Ryoma Sugi finished runner-up in the U18 division before returning to the water to claim an impressive victory in the U21 Boys Final. A relaxed and confident Sugi thrilled spectators with precise forward and backward rotating loops and sharp snaps in the waves.
“That was so fun,” Sugi said. “I didn’t feel as much pressure in the U21, so I could relax and just enjoy it. I’m really happy to win that division.”
Australia’s top-ranked junior boy, Tyler Wallrodt (Albany), completed an exceptional event with third-place finishes in both the U18 and U21 divisions, showcasing massive forward loops and stylish wave riding.
“To compete against the best in the world my age and still finish third in the world is pretty unreal,” Wallrodt said. “It’s definitely motivated me to push harder, but making friends with people from all around the world has been the biggest highlight.”
Also impressing was a focused 12-year-old Isaac Gill (Perth), who demonstrated exciting future potential by reaching the U18 Boys Final with loops and wave riding well beyond his years.
In the Junior Girls, Geraldton local Sarah Kenyon was crowned 2025 Junior Girls World Wave Champion, sealing the prestigious title in front of a home crowd. The 17-year-old finished second in the Grand Final to Japan’s Natsuki Wakasa (16), but her result was enough to secure the overall world title thanks to two crucial event wins earlier in the season.
Kenyon concluded the season with 37,000 points out of a possible 40,000, finishing just 115 points ahead of Wakasa in the final world rankings.
“It feels so good to win the title here in Geraldton, where all my friends and family are,” Kenyon said. “Becoming World Champion has been a goal of mine for a long time, and I’ve trained really hard to get there.”
Kenyon’s campaign was built on aggressive, surf-style wave riding, using her local knowledge to select and attack the best waves with multiple powerful snaps. In the final, however, Wakasa’s consistency — combining clean forward loops with strong wave riding…earned her the event win.
Japan continued its strong showing with Nozome Sakai claiming third place, while 13-year-old Ines Callenaere (Perth) finished fourth.
Kenyon returned to the water determined in the U21 Girls Final, lifting her performance to claim victory. Wakasa finished second, with Germany’s Helena Derya Lale completing the podium in third.
The event capped off a thrilling week of elite junior windsurfing in Geraldton, highlighting the next generation of global talent and celebrating a home-grown world champion on Australian waters.
The event was supported by the City of Greater Geraldton, with funding assistance from the Western Australian State Government through Royalties for Regions.
U18 Girls Grand Final Results
- Natsuki Wakasa, Japan
- Sarah Kenyon, Geraldton
- Nozomi Sakai, Japan
- Ines Callenaere, Perth
U21 Girls Grand Final Results
- Sarah Kenyon, Geraldton
- Natsuki Wakasa, Japan
- Helena Derya Lale, Germany
- Ines Callenaere, Perth
U18 Boys Grand Final Results
- Javier Escribano Toribio, Spain
- Ryoma Sugi, Japan
- Tyler Wallrodt, Albany
- Isaac Gill, Perth
U21 Boys Grand Final Results
- Ryoma Sugi, Japan
- Javier Escribano Toribio, Spain
- Tyler Wallrodt, Albany
- Jake Ghiretti, Margaret River
U18 Girls Final World Rankings for 2025
- Sarah Kenyon
- Natsuki Wakasa
- Sol Degrieck
U18 Boys Final World Rankings for 2025
- Javier Escribano Toribio
- Ryoma Sugi
- Tyler Wallrodt
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