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.

“We both had good starts with bigger scores, and then it just kind of went really grovelly,” Huppatz continued. “I went a couple under priority hoping it would be something, give me any section, and it didn’t really work out and I was getting a bit rattled, but it’s not over until it’s over. Then that last wave gave me one good section at the start and it fired me up. I don’t know what I was really turning on, but I just got the score, can’t believe it.”

Sierra Kerr’s (AUS) runner-up finish was notably impressive after the 18-year-old spent close to six months away from competitive surfing due to illness. Having discovered she has Lyme disease, Kerr has been both recovering and learning how to manage her diagnosis. Kerr also began the competition battling an unrelated sickness, putting on highlight performances regardless to defeat fellow Stab High victor Skai Suitt (HAW), Challenger Series competitor Reid Van Wagoner (USA), CT Rookie Bella Kenworthy(USA), and Olympian Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) in an exceptional run to the Final.

“It’s my first time competing properly, like first time doing two heats in a day since this comp last year,” Kerr said. “I’m just grateful to be here and couldn’t have picked anyone better to have the Final with than Isla [Huppatz], it was super fun. Stoked for her and congrats everyone.”

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