The SA Junior Surfing Team would have no say as to where they would finish on the team standings on the final day of the DAKINE ISA World Junior Surfing Champs in Nicaragua. That’s because their final team member Jordan Maree lost out on the penultimate day of competition, meaning their fates would be decided by surfers from teams still left in the event.
When the horn sounded for the end of the Boys Under 18 final, won by Hawaiian Josh Muniz, Team SA would find themselves in sixth spot on the team standings, 336 points above Team Peru and 670 points behind Team Japan. What? Yes, Team Japan put on a great performance in the event to finish above surfing powerhouses like South Africa and Brazil. The good news is that Team SA did finish above New Zealand, after losing to the surfing Kiwis in the annual SA vs NZ challenge prior to the event.
Cape Town’s Jordy Maree put on a great performance in the Under 16 Boys, missing out on a spot in the final day by 3.23pts.
It was a disappointment for the squad as they looked to replicate the performance of the SA Open team, who won the gold medal in Panama a month earlier – but that was a squad filled with experienced competitors, while this was a squad filled largely with young guns still looking to make their mark on international surfing. Their time to shine is still to come and there were some bright sparks amongst the disappointment – most notably from Jordan Maree, who finished 11th overall in the U16 Boys, Diran Zakarian who punted and got tubed all the way to equal 11th in the U18 Boys division, as well as Benji Brand, who finished in 13th in the Under 18’s.
Diran Zakarian was flying all over the beachbreaks of Playa Jiquiliste, finishing in 11th spot overall in the Under 18 Boys division.
These are the final positions of the entire squad:
Under 16 Girls:
Chanelle Botha – 16th
Anoush Zakarian – 31st
Under 16 Boys:
Jordan Maree – 11th
Matt Mcgillivray – 21st
Steff Burrows – 33rd
Shane Sykes – 33rd
Under 18 Girls:
Nicole Pallet – 16th
Gina Smith – 19th
Under 18 Boys:
Diran Zakarian – 11th
Benji Brand – 13th
Dylan Lightfoot – 19th
Josh Smit – 31st
For all the photos, results and video highlights from the 2013 DAKINE ISA World Junior Champs, check out www.isawjsc.com.
Check out the official press release below.
*********************
TEAM AUSTRALIA WINS THE 2013 DAKINE ISA WORLD JUNIOR SURFING CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY BILLABONG IN NICARAGUA
Australia, the 2013 DAKINE ISA World Junior Surfing Games Team Champion, holding the ISA World Junior Team Champion Trophy. Photo: ISA/Michael Tweddle
Team Hawaii takes three Gold Medals: Josh Moniz (Boys Under-18), Tatiana Weston-Webb (Girls Under-18), Mahina Maeda (Girls Under-16). Australia’s Jacob Wilcox wins Boys Under-16.
Following an amazing Final Day of great waves and exciting surfing performances, the 2013 DAKINE ISA World Junior Surfing Championship Presented by Billabong officially closed.
Team Australia is the new ISA World Junior Surfing Championship Gold Medal Team and winners of the Team Champion Trophy.
In the individual divisions, Hawaii’s Josh Moniz won the Boys Under-18, Hawaii’s Tatiana Weston-Webb won the Girls Under-18, Australia’s Jacob Wilcox won the Boys Under-16, and Hawaii’s Mahina Maeda won the Girls Under-16 in the incredible waves at Playa Jiquiliste.
“This is the end of an amazing World Championship. It’s a sad end. Normally we are very happy because it was a very successful event, but it’s sad because it means we have to leave Nicaragua,” remarked ISA President Fernando Aguerre. “We have confirmed what we discovered last year, a surfing paradise. It was in our dreams, a small nation in Latin America full of waves, offshore winds, good people, very accessible, and great prices. Nicaragua has been so good to us that all 500 people that visited will continue to come back here.”
Aguerre continued, “On that note, the 2014 World StandUp Paddle and Paddleboard Championship will be here in Nicaragua in the ocean that gave us all these great waves and in a beautiful lake.”
After a week full of excellent waves and conditions, the final day did not disappoint. The surf was in the waist to chest-high range with perfect offshore winds all day long, providing great waves for the surfers to perform at their highest level.
Jiquiliste beach from the air. Photo: ISA/ Michael Tweddle
The first final in the water was the Girls Under-16, where Hawaii’s Mahina Maeda, posted the best total heat score of the whole event, 19.16, earning the Gold Medal and World Championship.
“I got a six and a five in the beginning of the heat. I got a great start and I was leading the whole heat, it was a great feeling,” said the new Girls Under-16 World Champion. “I knew that I needed a bigger score to build up my heat total. I know these girls are capable of getting big scores. I had the confidence in me, so I came from behind, didn’t hassle with anybody, and got the scores I needed. I’m really proud of myself.”
Mahina Maeda from Team Hawaii. Photo: Michael Tweddle
The Silver Medal went to Tahiti’s Karelle Poppke (13.27), the Bronze to Hwaii’s Dax McGill (10.57) and the Copper to USA’s Frankie Harrer (4.86).
Up next was the Boys Under-16 Grand Final. Australia’s Jacob Wilcox won the Gold, earning 14.90 points, in a very close final against Silver Medalist Leonardo Fioravanti (14.73) from Italy. The Bronze went to Jake Marshall (12.20) from USA and the Copper to Reo Inaba (11.76) from Japan.
“It was a really tight heat,” said the new Boys Under-16 World Champion. “I got a 6.5 on my first wave, then Leonardo (Fioravanti) got an 8, so the pressure was back on me. I needed to get an 8 also. I’m just so happy to win the Final and be a World Champion. It’s been my dream since I was a little kid. I’m so happy. I don’t even know how to describe how I feel now. I’m just so happy, feels like I’m floating. This is my second year competing in a ISA event, and it means a lot to be able to represent my country, Australia.”
Jacob Wilcox from Team Australia. Photo: Michael Tweddle
Hawaii’s Tatiana Weston-Webb, continued her dominance, as demonstrated all week, into the Girls Under-18 Final. With another great performance, Weston-Webb won the Gold Medal.
All the individual Gold Medalists (from left to right): Hawaii’s Mahina Maeda (Girls Under-16), Australia’s Jacob Wilcox (Boys Under-16), Hawaii’s Josh Moniz (Boys Under-18), and Hawaii’s Tatiana Weston-Webb (Girls Under-18). Photos: ISA/ Rommel Gonzales
“Getting the gold here in Nicaragua this year means so much to me; I wanted it so bad,” said the new Girls Under-18 World Champion. “It has been my goal for a really long time, I’m super happy. It was a really long and hard week. Our team stayed focused on being a family during the whole contest, and I think that was our advantage. I’m really psyched to have a Gold Medal; I don’t have any words to describe it.”
Tatiana Weston from Team Hawaii. Photo: Michael Tweddle
The Hawaiian, earning 15.50, defeated Silver Medalist Stephanie Single (AUS,12.10), Bronze Medalist Nikki Veisins (USA, 11.07) and Copper Medalist Chelsea Tuach (BAR, 9.17).
In the Boys Under-18 Final, Hawaii’s Josh Moniz won the Gold after posting two big scores at the beginning of the Final, a 7.00 and 7.43, for a total of 14.43. Australia’s Soli Bailey followed closely, but couldn’t find a wave to advance over Moniz, earning 14.40 and the Silver Medal.
“I was nervous, and I got my two scores in the first five minutes,” said the new Boys Under-18 World Champion. “I thought that Soli was in the lead because he had an 8 and a 6, so I thought that I still needed a big score, but once I heard that I was winning I was watching out for Soli, because he’s a super good surfer. I think he got a six on another wave. I got lucky enough and I won.”
Josh Muniz from Team Hawaii. Photo: Michael Tweddle
Andy Criere, from France, won the Bronze Medal, finishing third with 10.84 and Australia’s Luke Hynd won the Copper Medal placing fourth with 5.70.
The last event of the 2013 DAKINE ISA World Junior Surfing Championship was the exciting ISA Aloha Cup, a tag-team competition, with the participation of the 7 best countries from last year’s ISA World Junior Surfing Championship (Australia, Brazil, France, Hawaii, Japan, Peru and USA) along with the local team, Nicaragua.
It is important to note that Nicaragua was fielding its first ever Junior Team in ISA competition.
After two semifinals where four of the eight teams advance, the Grand Final featured Australia, Japan, Peru and USA. Team Japan won the Gold Medal exhibiting a smart strategy and displaying high-level surfing skills. Japan defeated USA (Silver), Peru (Bronze) and Australia (Copper).
Two special events took place today. First was a presentation from the people of Tola, which is region that includes Playa Jiquiliste, to ISA President Aguerre. Community leaders gathered and delivered a special gift in appreciation of the ISA coming to their city. Part of the presentation was the telling of the traditional story called “La Novia de Tola” or “Tola’s Girlfriend,” which has turned into mythical story about a social scandal between a couple.
The second special event was the “Tola Groms Expression Session.” Team Nicaragua’s Captain, Jackson Obando, who was born and lives in Tola, surfed a 15-minute heat alongside four of Tola’s best young surfers. The local surfers put on a great show for the nearly fifteen hundred local spectators and competitors on the beach.
When the surfing competition concluded, the Closing Ceremony took place to officially close the 2013 DAKINE ISA World Junior Surfing Championship and award the team trophies and individual medals.
Official Results:
Overall Team Results:
1. Australia- 24,256 points and Winner of the ISA World Junior Team Champion Trophy
2. Hawaii- 23,828, Silver Medal
3. USA- 18,870, Bronze Medal
4. France- 18,212, Copper Medal
5. Japan- 16,322
6. South Africa- 15,652
7. Peru- 15,316
8. Brazil- 15,300
9. New England- 12,532
10. Portugal- 12,310
11. Costa Rica- 12,232
12. Venezuela- 10,388
13. Germany- 10,312
14. UK- 9,580
15. Argentina- 9,578
16. Tahiti- 8,700
17. Uruguay- 8,408
18. Puerto Rico- 8,276
19. Ecuador- 8,108
20. Nicaragua- 7,648
21. Panama- 7,168
22. Chile- 6,764
23. El Salvador- 5,184
24. Switzerland- 4,180
25. Italy- 3,440
26. Jamaica- 3,328
27. Mexico- 2,320
28. Barbados- 1,340
29. Ireland- 960
30. Russia- 640
Boys Under-18:
Josh Moniz (HAW), Gold Medal
Soli Bailey (AUS), Silver Medal
Andy Criere (FRA), Bronze Medal
Luke Hynd (AUS), Copper Medal
Girls Under-18:
Tatiana Weston Webb (HAW), Gold Medal
Stephanie Single (AUS), Silver Medal
Nikki Veisins (USA), Bronze Medal
Chelsea Tuach (BAR), Copper Medal
Boys Under-16:
Jacob Wilcox (AUS), Gold Medal
Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA), Silver Medal
Jake Marshall (USA), Bronze Medal
Reo Inaba (JPN), Copper Medal
Girls Under-16:
Mahina Maeda (HAW), Gold Medal
Karelle Poppke (TAH), Silver Medal
Dax McGill (HAW), Bronze Medal
Frankie Harrer (USA), Copper Medal
ISA Aloha Cup:
Japan- 63.77, Gold Medal
USA- 60.73, Silver Medal
Peru- 51.55, Bronze Medal
Australia- 49.08, Copper Medal
For a full list of results visit: http://isawjsc.com/results/
For the full event coverage with daily videos and photo galleries visit: http://www.isawjsc.com/
