The New Zealand Junior Surfing Team are two days deep into their ten-day campaign at the World Junior Surfing Championship in El Salvador with the Central American nation turning on the waves and conditions for another edition of the event.
Eight of the twelve Kiwi team members have been in action to date with Raglan surfer and first-time participant Van Camenzind opening his campaign with a comfortable win in the Under 18 Boys Division.
Surfing to a 13.0 point heat total, Camenzind relished the chance to surf some chunky waves in the 1.5m – 2.0 range at the La Bocana arena.
“I felt at home on the lefts and stuck to my heat strategy,” said Camenzind.
“I’ve noticed the level of surfing is a massive step up from back home, I’ve also noticed and felt the nerves you have to deal with when surfing your heats over here too but the waves are pumping and conditions look mint for the next few days, so I am pumped for the next rounds,” he added.
Camenzind was joined by Alexis Owen (Dun) advancing out of the first round on the opening day of the event. Teammate Sev Tolhurst (Piha) succumbed to the nonstop set waves and fell short of progression with just the one decent scoring ride. Tolhurst will contest the repechage round where he will aim to join back up with his teammates, the event this year being straight knock out from Round 2.
In her third international campaign, Poppy Arkle (Piha) dealt with early nerves to advance in a low scoring but comfortable heat in the Under 18 Girls Division.
“I was super nervous going into my heat, there’s never a heat where I’m not nervous because I put so much pressure on myself,” said Arkle.
“It was quite tricky because my whole heat had so many sets, but the start of this campaign has gone smoothly. The whole team has been lovely, and we’re having a great time over here”.
“This year, there’s only one repechage round, so that means my next round is my last one if I get knocked out. That doesn’t change my mindset though. I always want to win, I always want to get through, and yeah, this comp is going to be a good one. I can feel it,” added Arkle.
Jesse Frazerhurst (Auck) got the Under 16 Boys members off to a good start with a heat win while his two counterparts will have to wait until Day 3 to open their campaign.
Frazerhurst surfed to a 10.0 point heat total for the win despite getting a slow start.
“I got smoked by a big set at the start putting me out of position so surfed an 11-minute heat. The plan was to find the runners with wall and surf solid, and I got there in the end,” said Frazerhurst who is a first-time team member.
“The experience has been amazing, spirits are high, looking forward to the upcoming days,” he added.
Zara Owen (Dun), Alani Morse (Rag) and Lola Groube (Pau) all advanced out of the first round of the Under 16 Girls Division and will have a day off before their next round.
The team’s youngest member, Dunedin’s 13-year-old battled the nerves surfing in front of all the teams and spectators and she felt that came through in her surfing despite progressing through her heat at roughly the same time as her brother Alexis on the other podium.
“I can’t wait for him to be with me for my next heat” said the youngster.
The 2026 edition of the event comprises 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.
Day 3 Schedule (Tuesday 8th September NZT)
Tower 1 (La Bocana) – Full broadcast
Under 18 Girls Round 1
3:20am – Heat 26 – Poppy Entwisle (NZL), Zoe Ruiz ((CRC), Aneta Kucharska (POL), Darlyn Ramirez (GUA)
4:40am – Heat 30 – Kyra Wallis (NZL), Rirava Clark (TAH), Kaja Przeciechowska (POL), Jirapat Chulaskontha (THA)
Tower 2 (El Sunzal) – Single camera broadcast
Under 16 Boys Round 1
2:00am – Heat 26 – Sol Fritchley (NZL), Amets Garai (CRC), Dario Vargas Stenberg (SWE), Jhoifre Vargas (VEN)
3:20am – Heat 30 – Zeke Pragert (NZL), Tauirai Henriou Oopa (TAH), Noah Melger (SWE), Pakal Poo (Mex)
Under 18 Boys Repechage Round 1
8:20am – Heat 13 – Emerson Martinez (ESA), Sebastian Ambler (LCA), Sev Tolhurst (NZL), Oscar Hernandez (COL)
**Potentially more heats to be added subject to progressions.
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.
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