A look at surfing in Ecuador going into the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Championships

By: Mike Cianciulli

Ecuador isn't high on many surfers' South America destinations. It lacks the cold consistency of Chile, the mindlessly long pointbreaks of Peru and the crazy nightlife and dependable beachbreaks of Brazil. But believe it: this craggy Equatorial country is actually holding damn fine surf.

The International Surfing Association chose Ecuador to host the 2004 World Surfing Games, and after two consecutive years competing in Europe, the best junior surfers in the world are headed back to South America.

Upwards of 30 countries will converge on Salinas, Ecuador next week for the 2009 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Champs, often deemed the Olympics of Surfing.


"It's a great country with warm people, hot waves and weather," said ISA President Fernando Aguerre about why the ISA chose Ecuador again. "This is proof that surfing in that region is maturing in a great way. Twenty years ago, countries like Ecuador would not be considered surfing countries."

The contest is being held from March 28th to April 5th at Playa de las FAE (FAE meaning Ecuadorian Air Force in Spanish). The military base offers a long, peeling lefthander and a punchy beachbreak for the double-area contest site.

"The left we're going to be surfing looks really rippable and I got some great boards," said USA Team goofyfoot Evan Geiselman. "The southwest swell coming looks good for Ecuador too. We're psyched."

Over the years, this weeklong event has produced countless pro surfers that have gone from the ISA medal podium to worldwide acclaim. Two-time ASP Women's World Champion Stephanie Gilmore was a back-to-back ISA gold medalist. ASP World Tour athletes Jordy Smith, Jeremy Flores, and Ben Dunn represented their countries in the ISA singlet. Innovative aerialists like Julian Wilson and Owen Wright have donned ISA gold. And if history follows suit, look for big futures from some of this year's competitors; guys like Nat Young, Garrett Parkes and Kolohe Andino will surely dig into Salinas' rippable surf.

But the ISA World Juniors is more than an individual event. Countries compete for Olympic-recognized medals and national pride. Teams expected to compete this year include Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Great Britain, Guatemala, Hawaii, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Tahiti, United States of America, Venezuela and Ecuador.

Recent results of the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships:

Overall Team Ratings Gold Medalists
2003 - Durban - Gold Medal: Brazilian team
2004 - Papenoo - Gold Medal: Australian team
2005 - Huntington Beach - Gold Medal: Hawaiian team
2006 - Maresias - Gold Medal: Australian team
2007 - Costa de Caparica - Gold Medal: Australian team
2008 - Seignosse - Gold Medal: Australian team

Gold Medalists of the Under 18 Boys division
2003 - Durban - Ben Dunn (AUS)
2004 - Papenoo - James Wood (AUS)
2005 - Huntington Beach - Jefferson Silva (BRA)
2006 - Maresias - Julian Wilson (AUS)
2007 - Costa de Caparica - Jadson André (BRA)
2008 - Seignosse - Alejo Muniz (BRA)

Gold Medalists of the Under 16 Boys division
2003 - Durban - Jordy Smith (ZAF)
2004 - Papenoo - Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
2005 - Huntington Beach - Tonino Benson (HAW)
2006 - Maresias - Owen Wright (AUS)
2007 - Costa de Caparica - Garrett Parkes (AUS)
2008 - Seignosse - Tamaroa McComb (TAH)

Gold Medalists of the Under 18 Girls division
2003 - Durban - Jessie Miley-Dyer (AUS)
2004 - Papenoo - Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
2005 - Huntington Beach - Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
2006 - Maresias - Pauline Ado (FRA)
2007 - Costa de Caparica - Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
2008 - Seignosse - Laura Enever (AUS)