Raglan surfers Van Camenzind and Alani Morse have successfully opened their campaigns at the 2026 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in El Salvador.
Competing at the event for the first time, Van secured a comfortable win in his opening heat of the Under 18 Boys division.
He posted a 13.0-point heat total in powerful 1.5m to 2m waves at the La Bocana competition arena.
“I felt at home on the lefts and stuck to my heat strategy,” Van said.
“I’ve noticed the level of surfing is a massive step up from back home. I’ve also noticed and felt the nerves you have to deal with when surfing your heats over here too, but the waves are pumping and conditions look mint for the next few days, so I am pumped for the next rounds.”
Fellow Raglan surfer Alani Morse also progressed from her opening heat in the Under 16 Girls division. She advanced alongside New Zealand teammates Zara Owen of Dunedin and Lola Groube of Pauanui and will have a day off before returning to the water.
Eight of the 12 members of the New Zealand Junior Surfing Team competed across the opening two days, with six advancing from their first-round heats.
Under 18 surfer Alexis Owen and Under 16 competitor Jesse Frazerhurst were among the other Kiwi heat winners, while Poppy Arkle also advanced in the Under 18 Girls division. Sev Tolhurst will contest the repechage after missing direct progression from his opening heat.
This year’s championship has attracted 474 surfers from 56 countries competing across four divisions.
Full results and the live broadcast are available through the ISA website.
