<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Team Japan made junior surfing history and earned their first-ever Team Gold Medal at the<strong> 2018 VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship</strong> presented by Visit Huntington Beach. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Led by the individual Gold Medal performance by Boys U-18 competitor <strong>Keanu Kamiyama</strong> and four additional individual medals, Team Japan pushed ahead of Silver Medal Team USA to take the Junior Team World Title by a margin of 132 points. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Japan's first-ever Junior Gold Medal performance comes shortly after a historic first Gold Medal for Team Japan in the World Surfing Games that took place in September in Tahara, Japan. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The exceptional performances by Team Japan across both open and junior divisions is a testimony to the extraordinary growth of Surfing in Japan since the sport's inclusion in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Team Australia earned the Bronze Medal and Team Hawaii the Copper Medal.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Team Japan's Gold Medal depended on the Boys U-18 final heat of the day featuring two Japanese athletes,<strong> Keanu Kamiyama</strong> and <strong>Joh Azuchi</strong>, and USA's <strong>Cole Houshmand</strong>. Kamiyama and Azuchi shined in a closely-surfed heat and took the Gold and Silver Medals to lead Japan to the Gold. Houshmand earned the Copper, resulting in Team USA falling to the Silver Medal position. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Germany's <strong>Rachel Presti</strong> made history in the Girls U-18 Division and earned the first-ever ISA medal for Germany across any discipline.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The final day of competition at Huntington Beach Pier saw the Main Event Final, Repechage Final and Grand Final take place across Boys and Girls U-16 and U-18 Divisions. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Girls U-16 Grand Final kicked off with a bang as USA's 13-year-old<strong> Caitlin Simmers</strong> posted the highest wave score of the day with 9.17. The Japanese duo <strong>Shino Matsuda </strong>and <strong>Sara Wakita</strong> were never able to catch Simmers after her blazing start, finishing with the Silver and Bronze Medals, respectively. Spain's Lucía Machado earned the Copper. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"It feels so good," said Simmers. "Team USA is really supportive. It's an honor to be a part of the team. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"This is my biggest win. Since Surfing is in the Olympics, that is a new goal for me to strive for."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Australia's <strong>Grayson Hinrichs</strong> put on a show in the Boys U-18 Final. He jumped out to an early lead with a solid 7.5 and then waited until the dying minutes of the heat to earn his highest score of 8.6 to take the Gold Medal. USA's <strong>Kade Matson</strong> and<strong> Levi Slawson</strong> respectively earned the Silver and Bronze Medals. Japan's <strong>Riaru Ito</strong> finished with the Copper. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"This is the best feeling of my life," said Hinrichs. "I've never dreamed of this happening. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"It's the biggest boost of confidence to think that all the top surfers have won this event, and now I have done it too."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Germany's <strong>Rachel Presti</strong> continued her standout performance throughout the whole event and earned the Gold in the Girls U-18. Hawaii's<strong> Keala Tomoda Bannert </strong>earned the top performance for Team Hawaii with the Silver Medal, followed by Japan's <strong>Minami Nonaka </strong>with the Bronze. Summer Macedo's efforts to earn her second ISA Junior Gold came to an end despite great performances in the event, earning the Copper Medal. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"I am really happy to take it home for Germany," said Presti. "This first Gold for Germany means a lot. I want to encourage other people in Germany to surf and bring it to a global stage."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Boys U-18 Final capped off the day, where Japan's Kamiyama paved the path to the Gold Medal for his team. Japan's <strong>Joh Azuchi</strong>, the 2017 Boys U-16 Gold Medalist, followed his teammate Kamiyama with the Silver Medal in an emotional display of team camaraderie. South Africa's <strong>Luke John Slijpen</strong> earned the Bronze and USA's<strong> Cole Houshmand </strong>the Copper. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"I am amazingly happy!" said Kamiyama. "For anyone in Japan who surfs, they now know that Japanese surfers are capable of a Gold Medal."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"The words that I have right now are thank you," said<strong> ISA President Fernando Aguerre</strong>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Thank you to our Title Sponsor Vissla for believing in the power of Junior Surfing and thank you to Visit Huntington Beach for opening their arms for these over 1,000 visitors from around the world. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"We had an amazing nine days of sun, no wind, and great waves. It was incredible. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"This was a historic VISSLA ISA Juniors. We have 44 countries represented, almost a quarter of the world, and we had the first edition to feature a gender equality format for boys and girls.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Keep an eye out for these young athletes in the lead up to the Tokyo 2020 Games, because we could very well see them surfing on the world's greatest stage in sport." </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>VISSLA Founder and CEO Paul Naude</strong> said:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"It was an incredible week with many inspiring performances. I think the future of surfing is in great hands. It's amazing to see countries that over the years come back to compete and continually advance. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"A huge thank you to the people of Huntington Beach for sharing your break with us."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>President and CEO of Visit Huntington Beach Kelly Miller</strong> said:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"We promised great surf and sun, and we got it. We said that you would meet new friends and that you would have memories surfing at this historical pier, and you got it. We hope to see you again soon in Huntington Beach."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Team Ranking</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Gold - Japan</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Silver - USA</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bronze - Australia</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Copper - Hawaii</div><div style="text-align: justify;">5 - France</div><div style="text-align: justify;">6 - Spain</div><div style="text-align: justify;">7 - Brazil</div><div style="text-align: justify;">8 - South Africa</div><div style="text-align: justify;">9 - Germany</div><div style="text-align: justify;">10 - Portugal</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">To view the full team rankings, <strong><a href="http://isasurf.org/juniors/2018/pdf/WJSC_2018_teams_points_final.pdf" target="_blank">click here</a></strong>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Girls U-16</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Gold - Caitlin Simmers (USA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Silver - Shino Matsuda (JPN)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bronze - Sara Wakita (JPN)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Copper - Lucía Machado (ESP)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Boys U-16</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Gold - Grayson Hinrichs (AUS)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Silver - Kade Matson (USA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bronze - Levi Slawson (USA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Copper - Riaru Ito (JPN)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Girls U-18</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Gold - Rachel Presti (GER)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Silver - Keala Tomoda Bannert (HAW)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bronze - Minami Nonaka (JPN)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Copper - Summer Macedo (HAW)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Boys U-18</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Gold - Keanu Kamiyama (JPN)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Silver - Joh Azuchi (JPN)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bronze - Luke John Slijpen (RSA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Copper - Cole Houshmand (USA)</div><div><br /></div>