World's talented windsurfers headed for country WA's wind capital | Breaking News & Latest Australia Updates

World's talented windsurfers headed for country WA's wind capital — ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt Topic:Windsurfing World junior number one Sarah Kenyon during a local windsurfing competition earlier this year.(Supplied: Two...

ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt

Topic:Windsurfing

World junior number one Sarah Kenyon during a local windsurfing competition earlier this year.(Supplied: Two Goat Media)

Geraldton in WA's Midwest will host the Junior World Windsurfing Wave grand final in January next year.

It is the first time the event will be held outside Europe.

Local competitors, including world number one Sarah Kenyon, expect it will give them a "home ground" advantage.

Some of the world's best young windsurfers are set to hit the waves on one of the windiest stretches of the West Australian coastline.

Geraldton, 400 kilometres north of Perth, will host the World Wave grand final of the Junior World Windsurfing Championships in January — the first time the event will be held outside Europe.

Competitors from around the world will take to the waves from January 10–18.

World Wave Tour director Simeon Glasson said it was a landmark moment for the sport.

"Bringing the grand final to Western Australia reflects our global vision for youth windsurfing and highlights Geraldton's world-class wind and wave conditions," he said.

Western Australia had seven junior windsurfers who finished in the world's top 10 rankings in 2024.

Coronation Beach is internationally renowned as a windsurfing destination.(ABC News: Jessica Hayes)

Geraldton Windsurfing Club president Peter Kenyon said securing the event was a huge coup for the town.

"It's amazing; to wrestle it from the European circuit is a big achievement in itself," he said.

"In the past couple of years, we've actually had a real increase in events in Geraldton.

"It's really great to help the local community and windsurfing community to display what we've got."

Depending on conditions, heats will be held across Sunset Beach, Spot X (Oakajee), or Coronation Beach.

With the cost of travelling to Europe to compete, Mr Kenyon said the event being held locally would be a huge boost for home-grown competitors.

"Having the under-18 world titles in Geraldton allows the Australian kids to compete," he said.

"The event quite often has been in Europe, and the cost of travel to Europe is quite expensive, and for most of us, that is outside our budget.

"It's showcasing the local talent in Geraldton and it gives our juniors an opportunity to compete without having to travel overseas."

Sarah Kenyon says knowing the local conditions will be an advantage.(Supplied: Fish Bowl Diaries via Sarah Kenyon)

Mr Kenyon's daughter, Sarah, followed her father and family friends into the sport and is ranked number one in junior girls on the World Wave Tour.

Sarah said it would be a special moment to compete at home.

"It means a lot to me," she said.

"I get to compete somewhere where I've been training so much and just to use those conditions to my advantage is pretty cool as well."

Sarah Kenyon is excited about the world grand finals coming to her home town.(Supplied: Fish Bowl Diaries via Sarah Kenyon)

Much like a football or a cricket team might experience a home-field advantage at their regular ground, Sarah said riding her home waves would be a big boost too.

"I just know where to position myself and everything like that," she said.

"And also, just because we have such great waves it will be so cool to make the most of them."

Geraldton and surrounds are known for wind, which causes trees to grow like this.(ABC Open contributor Lisa Davis)

Topic:State of Origin

Topic:AFL

Topic:State of Origin

Topic:Tennis

Topic:Tennis

LIVE

BREAKING

Topic:Courts

Topic:Sexual Offences

Analysis by Norman Swan

Topic:Community and Society

European Union

Geraldton

Regional Communities

Sport

Windsurfing

Topic:Interest Rates

Topic:Interest Rates

Topic:Courts

Topic:Sexual Offences

Analysis by Norman Swan

Topic:State and Territory Government

Topic:Windsurfing

Topic:Police

Topic:Fishing and Aquaculture Industry