South Africa participates in the International Surfing Association World Junior Championships

A group of teenage surfers from across South Africa have flown to El Salvador in South America to take part in the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Junior Championships.

Among them are youngsters from KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape.

The team arrived in South America last week for one of the most prestigious tournaments on the world surf calendar and will take on the world's best from May 27 to June 5.

The tournament opens the surf world up to the future of the sport as 500 contestants from 45 nations compete.

The 18th edition of the ISA junior world champs will take place at the La Bocana and El Sunzal in El Salvador, according to ISA.

The first day of the competition started on Sunday. The 12 South Africans sent to represent their country are Sarah Scott, Indiephile Osinachi, Adriel Wolmarans, Aimee Du Preez, Gemma Hanafrey, Zia Hendricks, Daniel Emslie, Connor Slijpen, Luke Thompson, Nate Colby, Ntokozo Mapumulo and Luc Lepront.

The coach of SA’s world junior team is Tasha Mentasti, who is considered to be a pioneer in women’s surfing.

Mentasti was the first woman in the world to coach a national junior surfing team.

“The waves of change have started and I am grateful for this incredible opportunity,” Mentasti was quoted as saying on GSport, as reported by Pretoria News, a partner of TV BRICS.

Photo: Pretoria News