Cape Town, South Africa – 17 September 2026 – The South African Junior Surfing Team returns home from El Salvador after proudly representing the country at the 2026 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Junior Surfing Championship, held at La Bocana and El Sunzal from 4–13 September.
After nine days of international competition against 420 of the world’s leading junior surfers from 56 national teams, South Africa finished an impressive 13th overall in the team rankings with 3,600 points. Australia claimed the Team Gold Medal ahead of the United States, Brazil and Peru.
But for Surfing South Africa, this campaign was about far more than a final position on a leaderboard.
From the moment the team departed Cape Town International Airport wearing their South African colours to the final day of competition in El Salvador, these young athletes represented their country with pride, honour, courage and tremendous team spirit.
They supported one another through the highs and lows of international competition, embraced the privilege of wearing the Protea and conducted themselves as outstanding ambassadors for South African surfing.
We could not be prouder of them.
South Africa produced several excellent performances across the four divisions, led by Emily Jenkinson, who finished equal 13th in the U18 Girls, and Ben Esterhuyse, who also secured an equal 13th-place finish in the U16 Boys.
In the U18 Girls, Taylor Emslie finished equal 25th and Camilla Heuer equal 37th. In the U18 Boys, Josh Malherbe finished equal 37th, while Rory Dace and Matthew Canning finished equal 55th.
In the U16 divisions, Emma Schermbrucker and Maya Malherbe finished equal 37th in the Girls, with Leah Lepront equal 49th. Alongside Esterhuyse’s 13th place in the Boys, Carl Wiersma and Melokuhle Zotshana both finished equal 49th.
Every athlete contributed valuable points towards South Africa’s 13th-place team finish, placing the country firmly amongst a highly competitive international field.
Surfing South Africa extends an enormous and heartfelt thank you to Team Manager Penny Stemmet and Coaches Greg Emslie and Llewellyn Whittaker for their outstanding leadership, guidance and commitment throughout the campaign.
Managing a national junior team on the other side of the world carries enormous responsibility. From international travel and logistics to competition preparation, athlete wellbeing, heat strategy, recovery and the inevitable challenges that arise during a major international championship, the management team carried that responsibility with professionalism and care.
Their work began long before the team boarded the flight to El Salvador.
Months of preparation went into ensuring the athletes were ready for the demands of an ISA World Championship, including high-performance camps, heat simulation, tactical preparation, mental-performance work and detailed preparation for the waves and conditions at La Bocana and El Sunzal.
Penny, Greg and Llewellyn – thank you for looking after our young athletes, for believing in them, for guiding them through every high and low, and for creating an environment in which they could proudly represent South Africa.
Your contribution to this team has been invaluable.
To Rory Dace, Matthew Canning, Josh Malherbe, Emily Jenkinson, Taylor Emslie, Camilla Heuer, Ben Esterhuyse, Carl Wiersma, Melokuhle Zotshana, Leah Lepront, Emma Schermbrucker and Maya Malherbe – congratulations.
You earned the opportunity to wear the South African colours on the world stage, and you did so with pride.
International competition is unforgiving. There are incredible victories, difficult losses, pressure, nerves and moments that test an athlete’s character just as much as their surfing ability.
Through it all, this team stood together.
The results are important, but so too are the experiences, friendships and lessons these athletes bring home with them. Each athlete now returns to South Africa with greater international experience and a better understanding of what it takes to compete against the world’s best.
SSA also extends its deepest gratitude to the parents and families who made this journey possible.
Behind every young athlete representing South Africa are years of early mornings, long drives, flights, surfboards, coaching, competition entries, financial commitment and countless hours standing on beaches supporting their dreams.
The sacrifices made by families in getting these young surfers to this level cannot be overstated.
Thank you for trusting Surfing South Africa and our management team with your children and for supporting them throughout this journey.
Our appreciation also extends to the athletes’ personal coaches, clubs, districts, sponsors and supporters, as well as everyone who contributed to the team’s preparation and helped make the campaign possible.
As the team arrives back on South African soil, they return with far more than competition results.
They return as young athletes who have walked in a Parade of Nations behind the South African flag, competed against the world’s best, experienced the pressure of an ISA World Championship and proudly worn the Protea thousands of kilometres from home.
They represented Surfing South Africa and their country with pride and honour, and for that, we are immensely proud.
To the entire team: Welcome home. Well done. Hold your heads high. You represented us beautifully.
The journey does not end here. Take what you have learned, take the friendships and memories with you, and continue building towards what comes next.
One Team. One Country. One Protea.
ENDS
Issued by:
Surfing South Africa
17 September 2026
Official championship results are available from the International Surfing Association – 2026 World Junior Championship.
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