Huppatz wins world junior surfing title

JAN JUC-raised surfer Isla Huppatz has achieved her greatest competitive feat to date, becoming a world junior champion for the first time.

The 18-year reigning Australia/Oceania junior titleholder defeated 2023 world junior champion Sierra Kerr in an incredible final at the World Junior Championships in the Phillipines a fortnight ago.

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 now Gold Coast resident went on to earn or equal the highest numbers across her remaining appearances, right up until the final.

The last heat of the event opened with Huppatz winning a key exchange, earning a 7.17 to a 6.50 from Kerr.

However, Huppatz was left chasing a score for the majority of the 40-minute final, with Kerr steadily putting away strong back-up scores.

Entering 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.

“I can’t believe it, to be honest, this is crazy,” Huppatz said.

“Oh my gosh, when it was counting down, like five 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.”