The New Zealand Junior Surfing Team has finished 11th in the event after a huge 9 days of competition.

On the final day of the 2024 ISA World Junior Surfing Championships there was only one surfer remaining in the event – Dunedin’s Alexis Owen, who contested the Under 16 Boys Division.

Owen who had been on form all event long advanced through his matchup overnight to stay in the main event draw and guarantee a finals finish at the event.

Where after a hard fought battle in 2 heats he eventually placed 4th out of 113 surfers earning himself a copper medal and the best placing for a kiwi at a junior event since 2008.

Surfing in Round 6 of the Under 16 boys, he found 6 waves but unfortunately, they didn’t have a lot of scoring potential.

He got off to a good start with a 5.3 however the 2.9 and a handful of 1s and 2s was not enough to get him out of 4th position, with this result he progressed to the final where he would come up against surfers from Spain, England, and Argentina.

In the final heat of the event Spain’s Dylan Donegan seemed unstoppable keeping busy and catching 7 waves to eventually take the win with an 8 and a 7-point ride.

Lucas Skinner of the UK came in a close second with a 7.3 and a 5.6, Thiago Passeri found a 6.8 and a 5.4 to finish 3rd.

Alexis who hails from Dunedin started the heat straight off the buzzer with a 3.17 and then found a 5.9 shortly after taking the lead with 2 powerful backhand turns on a steep clean face, Lucas Skinner found a similar waves but came in under Alexis with Owen retaining the lead in the exchange.

Unfortunately, Donegan found another left and what turned out to be the best waves of the heat scoring an 8.17. 

With time slowly winding down Alexis found a right hander, and on his forehand performed a wrapping carve then a big close out turn earning him a 5.6, unfortunately this wasn’t enough to take the lead and the clock wound down seeing Alexis finish the heat in 4th place.

“The trip has been amazing, and I’m stoked to make the final,” said an ecstatic Owen.

His 2nd time in the New Zealand Junior Team Alexis adds “heading to Brazil last year has really helped me perform, it gave me a lot of confidence and I came here knowing what to expect, it’s a huge event and the first time is so daunting”. I couldn’t have done it without our team, everyone has been so amazing in boosting the energy and raising team spirit, it’s been such a great experience”.

The team finished 11th in the world with Australia taking the win, Hawaii 2nd , France 3rd, Japan 4th Brazil 6th ,Spain 7th, Peru 8th, Argentina 9th  South Africa 10th New Zealand 11th.

Please see below for Individual results

Under 18 Boys
Tai Murphy (Ohope) finished 17th 
Taimana Marupo (Mnt) 41st
Spencer Rowson (Tara) 49th

Under 18 Girls
Poppy Arkle (Piha) 31st
Sophia Brock (Mnt) 37th
Ariana Walker (Mnt) 85th

Under 16 Boys
Alexis Owen (Dun) 4th
Harrison Biddle (WGM) 25th
Benji Lowen (AUS/CHCH) 65th

Under 16 Girls
Alani Morse (Rag) 17th
Lola Groube (Pau) 33rd
Indi lee Ruddell (whng) 41st

You can see full results of the event here
https://isasurf.org/event/2024-surf-city-el-salvador-isa-world-junior-surfing-championship/

About International Surfing Association (ISA)
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for surfing, bodyboarding, SUP and surfriding. 

It was originally founded as the International Surfing Federation in 1964 and has been running world championships since 1964, and the Junior World Championships since 1980.

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