Louise Lepront and Anastasia Venter represent Team South Africa in the women’s draw at the World Surf League 2023 SAMBAZON World Junior Championships from Tuesday, January 9 through 14 January, 2024, at Oceanside Pier in California, the United States of America.
The field will feature the world’s best up-and-coming surfers aged 20-and-under, from each of the WSL’s seven regions, and one woman will emerge victorious, claiming the 2023 World Junior Champion Title.
The women’s fields will each feature 24 surfers, comprised of two regional qualifiers from each of the WSL’s seven regions and 10 wildcards selected by the WSL Tours and Competition team. The 2023 World Junior Champion, to be decided by this competition, will also secure her spot on the 2024 Challenger Series, giving the winner the opportunity to further showcase their talent on a global stage.
“The WSL Africa region has a formidable contingent competing at the 2024 Sambazon World Junior Championships,” said Luqmaan Bruce, WSL Africa Regional Tour Manager.
“The region’s qualifiers seamlessly blend the wealth of experience from seasoned competitors with the budding promise of young talents Anastasia Venter and Louise Lepront.”
Louise Lepront won the 2023 WSL Africa Junior title after taking out the win at the Seal Point Pro Junior presented by RYD and Arakawa Surfboards. The 15-year-old goofy footer is also the under-16 and Open South African Surfing Champion. She will return to compete against the world’s best Pro juniors, after finishing 17th last year.
This will be the first World Junior Championships for rising star Anastasia Venter. The 16-year-old made the move from the Western Cape to Jeffreys Bay and has been coming up the ranks on the WSL Africa junior tour.
A plethora of world-class wildcards including 2024 Championship Tour (CT) rookies and 2023 Challenger Series standouts will all look to upset the competition. Wildcard selections were based on 2023 SAMBAZON World Junior Championships results, Challenger Series rankings, and QS rankings.
The event can be watched LIVE onWorldSurfLeague.com, WSL’s YouTube channel, and the free WSL app.
2023 Women’s World Junior Championships Regional Qualifiers
Louise Lepront (RSA)
Anastasia Venter (RSA)
Kana Nakashio (JPN)
Cocona Kawase (JPN)
Sierra Kerr (AUS)
Keira Buckpitt (AUS)
Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK)
Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK)
Nora Liotta (HAW)
Erin Brooks (CAN)
Isabelle Nalu (BRA)
Kalea Gervasi (PER)
Talia Swindal (USA)
Sawyer Lindblad (USA)
Event Wildcards
Alyssa Spencer (USA)
Sophia Medina (BRA)
Ellie Harrison (AUS)
Bella Kenworthy (USA)
Zoe Benedetto (USA)
Zahli Kelly (AUS)
Sol Aguirre (PER)
Sky Brown (GBR)
Nanaho Tsuzuki (JPN)
Laura Raupp (BRA)
Photo caption: South Africa’s Anastasia Venter in action. The World Surf League (WSL) 2023 SAMBAZON World Junior Championships waiting period opens on Tuesday, January 9 and holds a competition window through 14 January, at 2024 Oceanside Pier, California, United States. The field will feature the world’s best up-and-coming surfers aged 20-and-under, from each of the WSL’s seven regions. One woman will emerge victorious, claiming the 2023 World Junior Champion Title. Photo credit: (c) WSL / McGregor
Original Copy: WSL
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