“We are the champions!” Photo: Jersson Barboza // ISA
The 2025 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Surfing Games have come to a close. A host of international competitors descended on La Bocana for nine days, with finals day taking place in powerful four-to-six-foot peaks. In the end, Team Australia ended up taking top honors.
Individual titles went to Australia’s Dane Henry (who could be the next great Aussie world title hope) and Spain’s Janire Gonzalez-Etxabarri. The wins marked the first-ever WSG gold for Spain, and an ultra-rare ISA junior-ISA open gold medal sweep for Henry.
“That is a crazy club to be a part of,” said Henry of the accomplishment. “The whole time I had belief in myself that I could do it. My surfing’s been feeling spot on. I really wanted to shine in the final and I’m glad that I got the opportunity to do that. Competing against guys like Kauli Vaast, Morgan [Cibilic] and Douglas [Silva], you’ve got to pull out the best. I have a really special connection with this place and this competition now. I felt in my element, which definitely pushed me through and helped me get the win.”
Henry’s win was bolstered by bronze finishes from Morgan Cibilic and Sally Fitzgibbons, which cemented the team victory for Australia. The finishes for the rest of Team Australia were Ellie Harrison in fifth, Milla Brown in 11th before her withdrawal due to injury, and Callum Robson in 19th. This is the sixth WSG team medal for Australia, breaking a 14-year drought since the last win.
Rounding out the finalists were Peru in second, Spain in third, and France in fourth.
