Junior Irukandjis team arrive in Brazil for 2023 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL (November 23rd, 2023): The junior Irukandjis team has arrived in Brazil for the 2023 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship.

Keira Buckpitt and Lennix Smith have been named captains of the team as they prepare to take on the world’s best junior surfers at Macumba Beach.

17-year-old Buckpitt is hoping to make it into the top five this year after finishing ninth in El Salvador.

“The team is looking very strong. Everyone’s looking good.”

18-year-old Smith will be competing at the event for the first time after an injury setback forced him to withdraw from last year’s competition.

“To be able to experience the culture and going over as a team and being in that environment with everyone should be really good and pretty special. We couldn’t have a better team. I think we all should do well. Everyone is really talented.”

The Championship is set to kick off with an Opening Ceremony at Macumba Beach on Friday morning (local time) before the potential start of the surf contest in the afternoon.

For more information, visit the ISA event website HERE.

About the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship:
The best junior surfers from every part of the globe will contend for medals in this prestigious event that has proved itself as a direct pathway to the Olympic Games, with Stephanie Gilmore among past ISA World Junior Champions.

2023 Junior Irukandjis team:

U18 Girls
Coco Cairns (Tewantin, QLD)
Jahly Stokes (Buddina, QLD)
Keira Buckpitt (Culburra Beach) *Junior Irukandjis team Captain

U18 Boys
Harley Walters (Angourie, NSW)
Lennix Smith (Barrack Point, NSW) *Junior Irukandjis team Captain
Willis Droomer (Jan Juc, VIC)

U16 Girls
Isla Huppatz (Bilinga, QLD)
Milla Brown (Newport, NSW)
Sierra Kerr (Bilinga, QLD)

U16 Boys
Kash Brown (Cronulla, NSW)
Rico Haybittle (Palm Beach, QLD)
Fletcher Kelleher (Freshwater, NSW)