Sierra Kerr Photo: Tommy Pierucki
Australia’s rising star, Sierra Kerr (AUS), made her statement as one to watch with her 2023 World Junior Championships win after already having the reputation of one of the best emerging talents in the world. This marks the first-ever Challenger Series win for Kerr, the daughter of former CT icon and pioneer Josh Kerr (AUS), and catapults her to No. 1 on the 2026 rankings toward CT qualification dreams. Kerr joins a running list of Australian former US Open of Surfing champs, including eight-time WSL Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), two-time WSL Champion Tyler Wright (AUS), and more. The 19-year-old has battled her way back to amazing results, including a runner-up at the recent World Junior Championships and besting CT icon Johanne Defay (FRA) in the Semifinals, following months away from competition after her diagnosis of Lyme disease with neurological and GI involvement, as she continues to prove she’s one of the top CT qualification threats.
Sierra Kerr Photo: Megan Youngblood
“I’m almost numb to winning this right now. It’s been the hardest year ever and I never would’ve expected to be back here, winning this event. There were a lot of times where I didn’t know what the future would hold,” said Kerr. “A lot of times that no one saw the tears, the pain, the not being able to get out of bed. Now, I’m just getting chaired up at the most prestigious event in the world, and I’m just so grateful. Just keep getting to tomorrow. No matter if you’re going backward at that time, just keep getting to tomorrow. There’s always a chance that tomorrow will be better, and it’s better right now. Thank you to my family, my mom and dad, who have been there for me at my worst, and sharing this with them is incredible.”
Isla Huppatz Photo: Megan Youngblood
A rematch of the 2025 World Junior Championships held earlier this year set the stage for a monumental Final between Isla Huppatz (AUS) and Sierra Kerr (AUS), both in their first-ever Challenger Series Final. The all-Australian bout tested Huppatz and Kerr’s patience, as a heat restart followed 10 minutes without scoring opportunities. Kerr broke the silence to get the Final underway with a minimal score before she found another opportunity to capitalize on an early lead, showcasing her forehand precision and finishing the wave strong right on the sand in front of the Finals Day crowd to post a 4.50 (out of a possible 10). Then, Kerr reinforced her lead under priority to leave Huppatz in a combination situation, meaning she needed two new scores to catch Kerr, after another forehand opportunity earned a 6.50.
Fireworks ensued with Huppatz’s patience paying off to showcase her forehand attack and post the heat’s best of a 7.33, before a quick back-up took her to the lead. But, Kerr wasn’t done, and opened up once more on the first section to collect a 6.00 and overtake the lead, where she held firm until the very end to claim her first US Open of Surfing title.
Lexus US Open of Surfing Women’s Final Results:
1 – Sierra Kerr (AUS) 12.50
2 – Isla Huppatz (AUS) 11.90
Lexus US Open of Surfing Women’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Sierra Kerr (AUS) 11.57 DEF. Johanne Defay (FRA) 9.70
HEAT 2: Isla Huppatz (AUS) 12.67 DEF. Sophie McCulloch (AUS) 11.40
