USA Surfing Names Team to Defend ISA World Junior Surfing Champion Title

Back Left to Right: Taro Watanabe, Levi Slawson, Owen Moss, Kade Matson, Cole Houshmand, Taj Lindblad, Jett Schilling *not pictured Ryan Huckabee Middle Left to Right: Olivia Pessanha, Kirra Pinkerton, Makena Burke, Samantha Sibley, Alyssa Spencer Front Left to Right: Caitlin Simmers, Zoe Benedetto, Sawyer Lindblad

 San Clemente, Calif. (October 10, 2018) – USA Surfing is stoked to announce the 12-member team that will defend Team USA’s International Surfing Association (ISA) World Junior Surfing Championship title in Huntington Beach on Oct. 27. After a two-day mini camp and surf offs that mimicked ISA World Championship conditions, six young women and six young men emerged as the best ready to take on the world’s best. 
 
“This is an extremely talented and experienced team,” head coach Joey Buran said. “I am very proud of the work they put in and the level of performance they gave this week. Each athlete knows they are part of a truly special experience and must be ready to meet the immense challenge of giving their all to fulfill the goal of repeating a team gold medal.”
 
2018 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship team members

Boys 
*Team Captain - Cole Houshmand
Under 18
Cole Houshmand, San Clemente, Calif.
Taro Watanabe, Malibu, Calif.
Taj Lindblad, San Clemente, Calif.
Under 16
Kade Matson, San Clemente, Calif.
Jett Schilling, San Clemente, Calif.
Levi Slawson, Encinitas, Calif.
*1st alternate Owen Moss, Wilmington, N.C.
*2nd alternate Ryan Huckabee, Flagler Beach, Fla.
 
Girls
*Team Captain - Kirra Pinkerton
Under 18 
Kirra Pinkerton, San Clemente, Calif. 
Alyssa Spencer, Carlsbad, Calif.
Makena Burke, Ventura, Calif.
Under 16
Samantha Sibley, San Clemente, Calif.
Caitlin Simmers, Oceanside, Calif.
Sawyer Lindblad, San Clemente, Calif.
*1st alternate Zoe Benedetto, Palm City, Fla.
​*2nd alternate Olivia Pessanha, San Diego, Calif.

The World Junior Surfing Championship is the largest junior surfing competition in the world.USA Surfing’s team won team gold in 2017 in Hyuga, Japan, where 306 surfers competed from a record-breaking 41 nations across all continents of the globe. Even greater numbers and talent are expected in Huntington Beach this year, providing an exciting preview of Olympic surfing.
 
The next three weeks leading up to ISA World Junior Surfing Championships in Huntington Beach includes several exciting final preparations including:
 
October 22: Team training and orientation to a competition that will include 362 surfers from 44 nations
 
October 25:  Scrimmage with Team Japan at Huntington Beach's 9th Street - a cultural exchange and celebration of surfing's 2020 Olympic debut in Japan 
 
October 27:  10:00 am Opening Ceremony and Parade of Nations down Main Street Huntington Beach; Event starts at 3:00 p.m.  
 
October 27 – November 4: ISA World Junior Surfing Championship competition. Event starts on the 27th at 3:00 pm following the Opening Ceremony and Parade of Nations
 
Contact: Becky Fleischauer, 302-588-0671, becky (at) usasurfing (dot) org
USA Surfing is the National Governing Body for surfing in the United States, recognized by the International Surfing Association (ISA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). USA Surfing’s mission is to promote and grow the sport of surfing and support United States athletes of all backgrounds to achieve sustained competitive excellence in Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American competition. USA Surfing will oversee and support America’s Olympic team as surfing makes its debut in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and surfing and stand-up paddleboarding athletes compete in the 2019 Pan American Games.