Event Standout Isla Huppatz Wins First World Junior Title

The standout surfer all week, Isla Huppatz (AUS) carried her incredible form all the way through to the biggest win of her career. The 18-year-old reigning Australia/Oceania Junior Champion defeated 2023 World Junior Champion Sierra Kerr (AUS) in the Final, joining Kerr in a strong legacy of Australian World Junior Champions that includes Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Laura Enever (AUS), and Isabella Nichols (AUS). Huppatz launched her campaign with the highest single-wave score of the event, a 9.00, in the Opening Round, where she also defeated Kerr in a non-elimination heat. The Victorian-raised Gold Coast resident went on to earn or equal the highest numbers across her remaining appearances, right up until the Final.

“I can’t believe it, to be honest, this is crazy,” Huppatz said. “Oh my gosh, when it was counting down, like 5 seconds to go, I was like there’s no waves coming, I started to tear up. I couldn’t believe it, it just hit me all at once. Sierra [Kerr]’s one of my best mates, so she was so stoked for me. I’m so glad I got to share a Final with her. Obviously it was super grovelly, but we both still got some so it was sick.”

The two Australian regular-footers, Kerr and Huppatz, advanced to the Final after defeating goofy-footers Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW) and Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) in tight Semifinal match-ups. The Final opened with Huppatz winning a key exchange, earning a 7.17 to a 6.50 from Kerr. Huppatz was nonetheless left chasing a score for the majority of the 40-minute Final, with Kerr steadily increasing her back-up score. As the clock entered the final five minutes, Huppatz finally found a wave that allowed her to unleash the exciting critical hits that had delivered her success throughout the event, earning a 5.50 and the win.

2025 World Junior Championships Women’s Final Result:
1 – Isla Huppatz (AUS) 12.67
2 – Sierra Kerr (AUS) 12.17

2025 World Junior Championships Women’s Semifinal Result:
HEAT 1: Isla Huppatz (AUS) 9.83 DEF. Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW) 7.73
HEAT 2: Sierra Kerr (AUS) 11.66 DEF. Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) 8.43