Bronson Meydi And Luana Silva Win World Junior Championships
After a week of competing in waves between three to six feet at Monaliza Point in The Philippines, Indonesia's Bronson Meydi and Brazil's Luana Silva have taken first place in the men's and women's World Junior Championships.
It's Indonesia'a first world title in any WSL division and Brazil's first Women's world title. Aside from first place trophies, both surfers have booked themselves a spot on this year's Challenger Series.
Silva and Meydi (WSL/Cate Miers)
On his way to the championships, Meydi won all three qualifying events. He then built all the way through the draw to face event favourite Winter Vincent in the Final. Vincent got out of the gates quickly, racking a 17.84 total, yet when Meydi scored a perfect 10 for two tail-high air reverses, the Australian was vulnerable. A back up score from Meydi that went excellent sealed the deal leaving Vincent chasing a near-perfect wave that never came.
Bronson Meydi (WSL/Cate Miers)
“I knew I would have to go big against Winter [Vincent],” Meydi said. “He has been the guy to beat all week, and his surfing is amazing. I want to congratulate him on making the Final and having such a great performance here. I’m just super happy with this and look forward to celebrating with all my friends and family who support me so much.”
Though the Women's Final had fewer waves ridden the result hung in the balance for most the heat. A late wave by Japan's Kana Nakashio appeared enough, yet with seconds left ex-Championship Tour surfer Luana Silva scraped into one last wave that was the highest-scoring of the Final, and was also enough to take the win.
“I grinded through all of my heats,” Silva continued. “I never really found a great wave and surfed scrappy heats, but I guess I did a good enough job in each heat to get through and get the job done. I’m just so happy right now.”
Luana Silva (WSL/Cate Miers)
2024 World Junior Championships Women's Final Result:
1 - Luana Silva (BRA) 12.23
2 - Kana Nakashio (JPN) 11.67
2024 World Junior Championships Men's Final Result:
1 - Bronson Meydi (INA) 18.80
2 - Winter Vincent (AUS) 17.84
2024 World Junior Championships Women's Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Luana Silva (BRA) 12.50 DEF. Rosie Smart (AUS) 8.94
HEAT 2: Kana Nakashio (JPN) 14.43 DEF. Arena Rodriguez (PER) 7.40
2024 World Junior Championships Men's Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Winter Vincent (AUS) 17.16 DEF. Dylan Donegan Dos Santos (ESP) 11.43
HEAT 2: Bronson Meydi (INA) 16.80 DEF. Lennix Smith (AUS) 15.44
Comments
I watched the final with bronson and winter. Winter Vincent has a fair bit of Jordy Smith in his turns. Very similar style, especially when blowing his tail out. Bronson seems like a cool guy. No screaming and splashing or thanking God after his win. Very calm and composed and respectful.
The scoring in the final was weird though. Bronson got a 7 for a small air on a small wave. Then he came out and did 2 airs that were twice as good on sections twice as big. It made the 7 look like a 4.5 at best. It's a shame winter didn't win, he was the most consistent performer of the event, just couldn't match Bronson s airs in the final. Bronson the well deserved winner.
I wonder if that final is a good example of why judges should wait until two waves have been surfed before they score anything. By giving Bronson that 7, they left no room for separation of scores for the rest of the heat.
The World Juniors is an early warning system for CT aspirants and you'd have to think both Bronson and Winter have what it takes to make it. Winter, however, has the big turns that can turn a rookie year into a long career. Big body, particularly through his torso, so he's not just tall and long of limb. His commitment to deep bottom turns was a contrast against others who sought lateral speed on the lumpy walls.
No doubt Bronson's air game can get him there, yet like compatriot Rio Waida is finding out now, he will have to firmly capitalise when the conditions suit lighter frames because the CT favours the horse not the jockey.
Na . A jockey went back to back 2022 2023 . Though he has gone horse / dad bod now just through age mostly .
Slater too small jockey size too has had success.
Owen wright and jordy more horse size … can count their world titles on zero hands buddy .
"A vast majority of surfers are built like sea turtles—short as hell. Most of the women are barely over 5 feet; many of the men are barely over 5’5″—with wide torsos and really short legs and arms with wide hands like flippers, and long, rubbery spines that seem to have too many vertebrae. Extremely low center of gravity. The Brazilian pros are practically Oompa Loompas—they weigh little more than the chicks, and it does nothing but magical things for their wave ability." - Cintra Wilson, 1999
Many a serious word said in jest, but this century the average height on tour has gone up a lot, largely due to the style of surfing - more full face carves - and also the waves being ridden on the CT. More horses, less jockeys.
Jordy Smith: 6 ft, 3 in (1.90 meters)
Kade Matson: 6 ft, 3 in (1.90 meters)
Cole Houshmand: 6 ft, 3 in (1.90 meters)
John John Florence: 6 ft, 2 in (1.87 meters)
Connor O'Leary: 6 ft, 1 in (1.85 meters)
Frederico Morais: 6 ft, 1 in (1.85 meters)
Ian Gentil: 6 ft, 1 in (1.85 meters)
Ramzi Boukhiam: 6 ft, 1 in (1.85 meters)
Ryan Callinan: 6 ft, 1 in (1.85 meters)
Yago Dora: 6 ft, 0 in (1.82 meters)
Jake Marshall: 6 ft, 0 in (1.82 meters)
Griffin Colapinto: 5 ft, 11 in (1.80 meters)
Gabriel Medina: 5 ft, 11 in (1.80 meters)
Ethan Ewing: 5 ft, 11 in (1.80 meters)
Jack Robinson: 5 ft, 11 in (1.80 meters)
Crosby Colapinto: 5 ft, 11 in (1.80 meters)
Kanoa Igarashi: 5 ft, 11 in (1.80 meters)
Callum Robson: 5 ft, 11 in (1.80 meters)
Leonardo Fioravanti: 5 ft, 11 in (1.80 meters)
Liam O'Brien: 5 ft, 11 in (1.80 meters)
Matthew McGillivray: 5 ft, 11 in (1.80 meters)
Jacob Willcox: 5 ft, 11 in (1.80 meters)
João Chianca: 5 ft, 11 in (1.80 meters)
haha, soz,, i couldn't read on past " vast majority of surfers built like sea turtles"...You look at any line up amateur or pro and can immediately see that is a nonsense comment. Made me laugh though in it's ridiculous. But it meant I wasn't gonna waste any time reading more.
So perhaps you missed that it was written in 1999?
When pro surfers were shorter though it's obviously not the case anymore.
https://images.app.goo.gl/7KqPXsqXyJChbvwP6
I would take many of these measurements with a grain of salt. These people have never been measured (height or weight) by the WSL. They are purely based on speculation, hearsay, and inaccurate self-reporting. Ryan Callinan can't be 1.85 and Ethan 1.80 looking at the above photo.
I find that a lot of height/weight measurements among athletes are exaggerated
a) due to the absence of a reliable measuring facility.
B) who doesnt like to add a few cm's and kg's when self reporting their dimensions?
C) everyone looks bigger on a screen... its the same as watching NRL. A lot of the players arent as tall as you think. E.g. Jason taumalolo is listed as 6'3. Not even close. He'd be lucky to be over 6'. But because commentators like Andrew Johns like to exaggerate (and are oddly fascinated with) how big everyone is, incorrect information keeps getting repeated and taken as gospel. It also doesn't help that most people don't have the time, or interest, or conceptual understanding of height to validate these claims.
Why the WSL can't just measure everyone before the first event is beyond me. It's so simple and would help a lot of us make informed choices about board measurements if we knew the exact height and weight of the people riding them. I understand there would be sensitivities about weight, particularly among women, but if the WSL won't measure their athletes reliably, why list the data at all?
Interesting points Tail High, I agree with it all, but I have an honest question. Apart from the God thanking business (which I can personally see why many, including me, can't understand), what is wrong with celebrating, claiming, splashing or screaming when surfers do well? Should surfers celebrate as reservedly as if they are playing Bridge at a gentlemen's club in South Kensington? Or with the enthusiasm of an accountant letting me know I got some tax back? This thing of being calm, reserved and collected is soooo boring IMHO. Think iconic Bolt, Jordan and Ronaldo celebrations. Or skateboarders after an amazing run! Or almost any sport! Enthusiasm, excitement, catharsis, frustration and happiness! As a fan, I find it fun to watch!
Not too say JJF, EW or JW's seemingly indifference is not good in their own ways, but to expect a lord-like behavior in a sport like surfing seems puzzling to me. Almost fake to the sport (unless you are a longboarder who's more in contact with Mother Earth surfing with an open button shirt and no leash in Byron).
One may say claims are biasing the judges. It's the judges job to filter that, otherwise they shouldn't even be there judging.
Very good point re: iconic celebrations (I enjoyed Italo's backflip off the podium a few years ago). I'd say that the vast majority of people agree with that. I guess I was making the point that Bronson didn't totally lose it. I thought that showed maturity, humility, and composure which I respected. That attitude should serve him well on the CS this year.
Winters surfing was better but Bronsons airs were next level.......great final and Bronson a deserved winner....as for the girls its a shame Sierra Kerr got knocked out cause her surfing is better than Luanas .....but she blew it by trying to be too clever in out hassling her opponent......
I would say that world juniors are not always predictive of sustained success on the CT. If we look at who's doing well on tour now, only Ethan Ewing and Gabriel Medina have ever won a world junior title. By contrast:
- John John
- Jack Robinson
- Griffin
- Italo
- Yago
- Filipe
- Kanoa have never won one. I would also point out the number of surfers who have won world junior titles but either haven't qualified for the CT or failed to live up to the hype:
- Jack Freestone x2
- Pablo Paulino x2
- Pedro Henrique
- Maxime Huscenot
- Kai Barger
- Vasco Ribeiro
- Lucas Silveira
- Fin McGill
- Mateus Herdy
- Lucas Vincente
What that list of names tells me is that more often than not, winning a world junior title is irrelevant to future competitive success. It tells me that someone did well across five heats over 2 or three days in conditions not generally comparable to CT waves. It's really a crapshoot. I'm not as interested in who wins as I am in the actual surfing being done. The name on the trophy doesn't mean anything unless you can see the surfing translating to CT venues. For winter I can see that happening. For Bronson, less likely but not unrealistic. For most of the other competitors in the recent event, absolutely not.
Can’t argue against much there. Well put.
Agree,
In advance add Luana to that lower list. After seeing her on tour last yr, can’t say she has any style that progresses modern womens surfing. Especially when you compare her to Caity and sienna who are younger.
+1
well said.
The waves were pretty good two years ago, I think, when Francisca Veselko won (and Levi Slawson? not sure). Both haven’t made the tour yet but they are still young and there time might come. Levi destroyed everyone on the QS one year but couldn’t repeat the success on the CS yet.
All in all they are both now world champs & there aren't to many people can lay claim to that. Congrats to both & good luck in your future endeavours, wether that be chasing CT glory or free surfing your way to a successful career.
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