Some of the world’s best junior windsurfers have arrived in Geraldton, Western Australia, as preparations begin for the Junior World Wave Championship Grand Final, the first time the prestigious event has ever been hosted in Australia.
International attention is firmly on Geraldton, with elite youth competitors from Japan, Europe and Australia converging on the region to train ahead of the title showdown.
Team Japan has sent three of its top youth athletes, including Asia’s number one junior girl, Natsuki Wakasa (17) and Asia’s number one junior boy, Ryoma Sugi (16). Sugi is no stranger to world titles, having claimed the U15 World Wave Championship in 2023.
Sugi headed up to Geraldton on Tuesday, saying,
“I’m really happy and excited to be in Geraldton. It’s an honour to compete in the World Grand Final and I’m grateful for this opportunity. Becoming world champion would be a dream come true and would motivate me to keep improving and pushing myself. It’s fun to learn from each other and share the stoke for windsurfing together.”
In the boys’ division, Sugi faces strong competition from Europe’s top-ranked junior Javier Escribano (16) and Australia’s number one junior Tyler Wallrodt (17) in what is shaping up to be a highly competitive field.
The girls’ division will see Australia’s top-ranked junior Sarah Kenyon (17) competing on home waters in Geraldton, where she is considered a favourite. However, she will face fierce opposition from the hard-charging Japanese girls, Wakasa and Nozome Sakai, as well as upcoming Perth riders, such as Ines Callenaere (13 years) and Thura Van Essen (15 years).
“I’m pretty excited because I’m getting to meet the new generation of young windsurfing girls and I get to make friends with them,” says an enthusiastic Kenyon. “The competition encourages me because there are more girls and they are trying new things and that makes me want to try new things too.”
Geraldton is renowned globally for its consistent wind and powerful waves, with forecasts predicting ideal competition conditions throughout the event window. Competition heats will be run on windy afternoons from 10–18 January 2026, with potential locations including Sunset Beach, Coronation Beach and Oakajee River Mouth.
In addition to the world championship, a Junior Windsurf Training Camp will run alongside the event and is open to all youth aged 8 to 20 years, catering to beginners through to elite-level sailors. Participants will receive coaching from some of the sport’s top athletes, including 2025 U21 World Champion Jake Ghiretti from Margaret River.
The event marks a major milestone for Australian windsurfing and cements Geraldton’s reputation as one of the world’s premier wave-sailing destinations. The event is supported by City of Greater Geraldton and the State Government of Western Australia through Tourism WA and Royalties for Regions.
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KEY FACTS
📍 Location: Geraldton, Western Australia
📅 Event Dates: January 10–18, 2026
🏄♂️ Event: Junior Windsurfing Wave World Grand Final
🌍 Global Reach: Competitors from Europe, Japan, Sydney, New Caledonia and more
💯 Double Points Grand Final – the World Windsurfing Wave Tour decider
🎓 Eligibility: Under 18 as of December 31, 2025
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
- Top Juniors from Australia, Japan and Europe arrived and training in Geraldton
- Heats held at Sunset Beach, Coronation Beach or Oakajee’s ‘Spot X’
- Runs alongside a 10 day windsurfing festival in Geraldton:
- Jaffle Shack Oceania Youth Wave Titles (U13, U15, U18 and U21 12-18th January)
- Junior Windsurf Camp (beginner to advanced coaching from 12-18th January)
- Wave Rally (a fun wave race event from 9-11th January)
MEDIA CONTACTS
📞 Jane Seman / 0408 909 643
📧 jane@thinktribe.com.au
📸 High-res images and 🎥 Drone video Dropbox Media Folder
🔗 Visit: International Windsurfing Tour
Visit: Instagram @oceaniayouthtitles
Visit: Facebook – Oceania Youth Titles