Team USA surfers came home with some shiny silver around their necks — and one teammate brought back gold.
The surf team, headquartered in San Clemente, earned silver medals at the 2025 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in Peru, led by a gold medal finish by Huntington Beach High School surf team member Bailey Turner, who has been making waves on the competitive circuit in recent years.
“I’m feeling good, it was really fun,” said Turner, the newly-crowned world champion, who was recognized by the Huntington Beach City Council Tuesday night. “It was super fun with the whole team … being up early every day and being there all day was kind of hard, but it was fun, it was worth it.”
The International Surfing Association contests mirror the Olympic format, allowing athletes to compete not just for individual medals, but also for their country.
“It wasn’t just about you, it was about your whole team,” said the 16-year-old daughter of well-known Huntington Beach surfer Ryan Turner. “Being able to support your team and being there for your team in every heat, that was a really cool part of it.”
Bailey Turner joins world champions and Olympians Caroline Marks and Caitlin Simmers and World Tour surfer Alyssa Spencer as American surfers who have earned gold in the ISA girls’ U16 division.
Her gold medal and several other stand-out performances by teammates, many from Orange County and San Diego, earned USA Surfing its second-place finish.
Florida surfer Lanea Mons also made it to the finals day, finishing 5th in the U18 division.
“I knew this team had high-caliber talent, but we still had to go down there to do the work,” said USA Surfing head coach Ryan Simmons. “The waves were really good. Everyone had to be on their game for every heat. We did insane — two left on finals day and Bailey with the gold.”
The nine-day competition brings together the top young talent from a record 57 countries. Australia took home the gold medal, Brazil the bronze, and Peru the copper.
For Encinitas surfer Dane Libby, 17, it was more than just a surf contest, but a cultural exchange.
“It was a great experience,” he said. “It’s kind of crazy meeting people from different countries, it’s super unique and cool.”
As an 18-year-old, it was San Clemente’s Laird Lavik’s last time surfing in the junior’s event. He had a 9th-place finish in his division, and while he wished he could have done better, he said he was glad to be part of the team supporting the surfers who made it to the finals.
“You don’t really ever get to do a team thing, this was definitely different,” he said.
With the LA28 Olympics coming up — and the competition to be held in Lower Trestles, just a few steps from his home — Lavik said he has a new perspective on the games and what it means to have country pride.
“Having it literally right next to your house is kind of crazy. You think it’s just surfing, but now surfing is an Olympic sport – and you’re right there,” he said. “This is the junior Olympics and the next step is the Olympics. You get a little taste of what it’s like and what to strive for.”
Team USA individual results
Girls U16
1st – Bailey Turner, Huntington Beach
13th – Victoria Duprat, Encinitas
37th – Olivia Storrer, Huntington Beach
Girls U18
5th – Lanea Mons, Jacksonville, FL
10th – Avery McDonald, San Clemente
25th – Kylie Pulcini, Melbourne, FL
Boys U18
7th – Dane Libby, Encinitas
10th – Laird Lavik, San Clemente
28th – Will Deane, Nags Head, NC (team captain)
Boys U16
7th – Makai Castle, Huntington Beach
10th – Brody Price, Santa Cruz
13th – Cash Souter, Avon