An outstanding bronze medal finish by New Zealand’s Alani Morse has led the Junior Surfing Team to eighth overall at the 2026 ISA World Junior Surfing Championships completed in El Salvador this morning (Monday NZT).
Morse dedicated the win to her late Nan who passed away two weeks before she departed for El Salvador.
“She was my biggest supporter and my best friend. She inspired me to chase my dreams and gave me such a drive to go as far as I could in this event. I could feel her cheering me on this whole event” said Morse post final.
The podium result is the best in 19 years by a Kiwi surfer with the team placing also the best since the event was held in New Zealand in 2010.
“Honestly, I don’t think it’s gonna settle in for a few days. I’ve been mentally visualizing this moment for months, planning every step of the way from travelling to El Salvador to the closing ceremony. It’s hard not to think it’s just me daydreaming. I’ve always dreamed of being an ISA medallist, so it just doesn’t seem real yet,” added Morse of her performance.
In the final, she finished with an 8.37-point total, held in messy 1.0m waves that were impacted by onshore winds in the afternoon. It was a low scoring affair, Morse stuck the lefthanders on the La Bocana podium which served her well in the semifinals earlier in the day.
The shifty peaks made big scores challenging but Alani kept up pace until the dying stages of the heat when she eventually needed a 7.97 point ride for victory after Australian surfer Lucy Darragh stormed away with the gold medal.
“I didn’t really get the chance to fire up in the final like my semis but I definitely believe that I was capable of getting the win through the final. At the end of the day the waves just didn’t come and it just wasn’t in my favour. I was ok with that and I was just so freaking happy to be in the final and have a shot at the win anyway.”
Darragh finished in first ahead of Zoe Panettiere (USA) in second with Tahitian surfer Takihei Ellacott finishing in fourth.
Morse missed her flight to Brazil this evening after making it through to today’s final and is now on rescheduled to fly before competing at an international QS6000 event which starts in less than 24 hours.
“Of course it was extremely worth it,” said Morse about missing the flight. “I am just celebrating as I go and heading to Brazil is a bit of a celebration in itself. I am competing only a day after I arrive so there won’t be much rest. That’s just the life of an athlete but I think I’ll just be running off excitement and adrenaline for the next few days,” said Morse.
Earlier in the day it was Morse and Ellacott that upset the highly touted Australian Talia Tebb in the semifinals to advance for a shot at the title.
On the penultimate day of the event, Alexis Owen surfed to equal tenth in the Under 18 Boys Division after two heats on the day while Pauanui surfer Lola Groube exited the event in 19th overall in the Under 16 Girls Division.
The 2026 edition of the event comprised 474 surfers from 56 countries across the four divisions.
El Salvador is no stranger to the event having hosted the World Junior Championships on several occasions before it skipped down to Peru for the 2025 edition at which the team placed tenth overall. El Salvador will also be the venue for the first major Olympic qualification opportunity for our top surfers in May next year.
Full results can be viewed on the ISA website here.
New Zealand Junior Surfing Team Results
Team Results
1st – Australia, 8,078
2nd – USA, 6,048
3rd – Brazil, 5,430
4th – Peru, 5,293
5th – Japan, 5,035
6th – Hawaii, 5,012
7th – Spain, 4,625
8th – New Zealand, 4,542
9th – France, 4,416
10th – Portugal, 4,095
Under 18 Boys
Alexis Owen (Dun) – 10th
Sev Tolhurst (Piha) – 37th
Van Camenzind (Rag) – 55th
Under 18 Girls
Poppy Arkle (Piha) – 13th
Kyra Wallis (Piha) – 25th
Poppy Entwisle (Tara) – 73rd
Under 16 Boys
Sol Fritchley (Mnt) – 19th
Jesse Frazerhurst (Auck) – 25th
Zeke Pragert (Piha) – 25th
Under 16 Girls
Alani Morse (Rag) – 3rd
Lola Groube (Pau) – 19th
Zara Owen (Dun) – 25th
About International Surfing Association (ISA)
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for surfing, bodyboarding, SUP and surfing. It was originally founded as the International Surfing Federation in 1964 and has been running world championships since 1964, and the Junior World Championships since 1980.
Further Information
For further information on the New Zealand Junior Surfing Team please contact Surfing New Zealand’s Ben Kennings on 021 2278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz.
Imagery
High resolution action images of team members will be available to media free of charge upon request.
Follow Surfing New Zealand
Follow Surfing New Zealand via all social media platforms – @surfingnz.
Surfing New Zealand is proudly partnered by:
Sport NZ
ACC
Sun Bum
Ends