The Rising Stars of Australia Have Perfect Start to Youth World Wave Tour
Two of Australia’s most promising young wavesailors, Jake Ghiretti (18) and Sarah Kenyon (16) delivered jaw-dropping performances to take the U21 Pro Junior wins at the first youth event of the 2025 World Windsurfing Wave Tour calendar. The Jaffle Shack Oceania Youth Wave Titles were held at the long, peeling left handers of Sunset Beach in Geraldton, Australia in January.
Ghiretti wowed the crowd with consecutive, well-controlled aerials and high forward loops. Early in the final, he landed three aerials and executed a perfectly stalled forward loop, setting the tone for a standout run. As the competition progressed, Ghiretti shifted his focus more towards entertaining the spectators, pulling off even bigger and more daring loops. A thrilled Ghiretti remarked:
“I feel really good winning. This competition is one of the most important ones because it will set me up for the year on tour.”
I going to do the 4-star Margaret River Wavesailing Classic in February next and then I’ll go to Chile, Fiji and Hawaii to do the world tour. I want to win the U21 division, but I’ll also be happy with a top three finish. I’m realistic about my chances in the Pro Men and I don’t really know where I’m at, so it’ll be good to see where I’m at and get used to competing against the pros.”
Latvia’s Valters Videnieks (20), who was competing in this event for the second consecutive year, landed a perfect back loop and attacked the lip to finish his second place, his best result to date.
He was ecstatic to finish ahead of last year’s winner, Oliver Desforges (19) from Perth, Australia who rode with power and aggression, but lacked consistency to pull all the moves he wanted.
In the girls, Geraldton’s rising star, 16-year-old Sarah Kenyon, delivered a dominant performance to claim victory in both the U18 and U21 Pro Junior Women’s divisions. Kenyon’s aggressive wave riding earned some of the loudest cheers of the day, as she attacked the lip and executed sharp, tight snaps.
An elated Kenyon said:
“I’m pretty stoked to win because I’ve been training really hard. Sunset Beach is such a nice peeling wave. It lets us push our comfort zones a bit. It’s my favourite waveriding spot in Geraldton. It’s so close to my home and there’s a nice grassy area to rig on, with showers and good shade. It made such a perfect spot for the competition.”
Finishing runner up in both divisions was Junior Windsurfing LT class world champion, seventeen year-old Jaiya Marns-Morris from Perth. Known for her signature powerful turns, Marns-Morris executed them effortlessly, despite dedicating much of her windsurfing time to flat-water training for Olympic Class racing.
Busselton’s Santina Pillonel drew on her wave riding experience from Margaret River and was relieved to sneak into third place in both divisions. She had to fend off nineteen year-old Isabel Ele from Norway, who had threatened to shake up the leaders with an impressive display of forward loops and snaps during the day. But the Australians fought harder for the podium.
In the U18 finals, fifteen year-old Tyler Wallrodt from Albany, Western Australia used a no-holds-bar approach to earn a confident victory ohead of the effortlessly stylish Ben Illet (17) from Perth. Disaster struck Wallrodt in one of his early heats when he snapped a boom, but with help from fellow competitor Ghiretti, he was quickly back on the water to power through his heats. Reflecting on his fearless approach, Wallrodt says,
“I sort of just see and do. The bigger I go, the easier the smaller stuff gets. Going for a big back loop and bailing gives me more confidence and I’m not scared to go big anymore. It definitely helps having mates around doing big forward and back loops. It gets you frothing.”.
Illet finished second in the U18s in 2024, but spent the morning of the competition in hospital for x-rays on a toe injury sustained during training the previous day. Despite missing the first round and limping around the beach upon arrival, the adrenalin of the competition seemed to overtake any pain and he was still able to perform close to his usual standard.
Eleven-year-old Isaac Gill from Perth delivered a standout performance to claim third place, becoming the youngest competitor to make the podium. Despite having never sailed at Sunset Beach before and facing eight teenage competitors, Gill's excellent wave selection allowed him to outperform much older rivals. A key to his success? Annual training camps in Geraldton and his meticulous study of the break before competing.
“I was just watching where the best waves are and choosing to go to those waves that look the best and are peeling,” Gill said.
This prestigious 5 star event will serve as an important stepping stone for Australia's top young windsurfers as they embark on their quests for the youth World Wave Title. The Australian leg will finish in February with a 4 star Margaret River Wavesailing Classic and competitors will then progress to Chile and Fiji. Organiser Jane Seman says,
“It’s incredible to see the progression of the Australian youth since starting this competition three years ago. We have some amazing local talent who have a real chance on the World Tour. Plus it’s just great to see all the friendships that have formed. I can’t wait to see them all perform at Margaret River in February.”
FINAL RESULTS
U18 Girls
Sarah Kenyon
Jaiya Marns-Morris
Santina Pillonel
Tania Holldack
Ines Callenaere / Thura Van Essen
U21 Pro Junior Women
Sarah Kenyon
Jaiya Marns-Morris
Santina Pillonel
Isabel Ele
Tania Holldack / Laila Kenyon
U18 Boys
Tyler Wallrodt
Ben Ilett
Isaac Gill
River Fitzhardinge
Josh Ledger / Igor Panagushin
Dylan Szandtner
Eric van de Veire
Max Ford
U21 Pro Junior Men
Jake Ghiretti
Valters Videnieks
Oliver Desforges
Tyler Wallrodt
Ben Ilett / Josh Ledger
Aiden Grove
Ben Ryan
Jeremy Fox
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