Luana Silva wins World Junior Surfing Championship
Brazil's Luana Silva claimed the World Junior Surfing Championship title after a thrilling final against Japan's Kana Nakashio at the World Surf League (WSL) event in San Juan, Philippines, on Saturday (Jan. 18). Silva secured victory with a stunning final wave, earning the highest score as the timer expired, defeating Nakashio, who had been undefeated throughout the tournament. This marks Brazil's 10th world junior title and the first ever won by a woman.
"I'm thrilled to be the first Brazilian champion—it's surreal! I want to thank everyone who supported me. I felt all the positive energy. This victory belongs to Brazil," the Brazilian surfer said in an interview with the WSL.
The small waves at Urbiztondo Beach in San Juan demanded patience and precision from the surfers, resulting in a tightly contested final. With just three minutes remaining, Nakashio capitalized on a solid wave, scoring 6.00 and bringing her total to 11.67, overtaking the Brazilian. At that moment, Luana needed a 5.83 to reclaim the lead. Undeterred, she caught a wave just before the timer expired, delivering a stylish performance that earned her a 6.53 and a total of 12.23, clinching her first junior world title.
Luana Silva became the first South American to win the World Junior title since 2005. The young surfer also represented Brazil at the Paris Olympics alongside Tatiana Weston-Webb, achieving a fifth-place finish.
Winning the World Junior Championship serves as a significant boost for Luana Silva as she sets her sights on joining the world surfing elite, following in the footsteps of Tati Weston-Webb, Brazil's sole female representative on the WSL professional circuit. To achieve her dream, Silva will compete in the Challenger Series starting this June—a WSL competition that grants 10 spots for men and seven for women on the 2026 world tour.
