After a year of targeted preparation and growth following their 2024 championship debut, the small Caribbean island nation of Saint Lucia is set to make its second appearance on one of surfing’s most prestigious global stages next month. The Saint Lucia Surfing Association (SLSA) has officially announced its three-person roster that will compete at the International Surfing Association (ISA) World Junior Championship, hosted this year at the iconic Surf City surf breaks of El Salvador.
Running from September 4 to 13, the 2025 championship will bring together more than 400 of the world’s top young surfers, all aged 17 and under, representing over 50 nations across the globe. Athletes will test their skills across two distinct venues: La Bocana and El Sunzal, two of El Salvador’s most renowned surf spots that regularly host elite international surfing competitions. Competitors will travel from surfing powerhouses including Australia and South Africa, as well as fellow Caribbean nations, to contest age-group titles.
The Saint Lucian delegation is built around a tight-knit core of young talent. Sebastian Rambally-Ambler will captain the squad, competing in the Under-18 division. His brother Daniel Rambally-Ambler will pull double duty, entering both the Under-16 and Under-18 categories, while William Verity rounds out the roster as the third competitor in the Under-18 division.
This year’s tournament marks only the second time Saint Lucia has fielded a team at the global junior surfing championship. The nation made its debut at the 2024 event held in Peru, where Sebastian and Daniel Rambally-Ambler competed but were eliminated following the preliminary round. Rather than stepping back from the challenge, the SLSA doubled down on investment in its young athletes, launching an intensive development program to help the team raise their competitive level ahead of the 2025 event.
Beyond consistent training at their home surf breaks, the team has traveled across the Americas to train at some of the hemisphere’s top surfing destinations to gain experience in varying conditions. They have logged training sessions at Oz Surf School in Jacó, Costa Rica, at Peru’s famed Tubos break in Lima, and at the legendary Trestles complex in Southern California. Under new head coach Brett Prinz, the program has expanded beyond in-water practice to add structured physical conditioning, in-depth video performance analysis, and focused skill-specific training to refine the athletes’ competitive edge.
For the Saint Lucian surfing community, the team’s journey to El Salvador carries far more meaning than just a shot at a medal. Shaid Rambally, president of the SLSA and the team’s manager for the championship, framed the participation as a milestone for the growth of the sport on the island. “This journey represents more than competition; it is a celebration of perseverance, teamwork and the continued growth of surfing in Saint Lucia,” he said.
Rambally added that the association is deeply proud of the young team that will carry the nation’s flag into the competition against the world’s best junior surfers. “We are incredibly proud of our national team and wish them the very best as they compete against the world’s top junior surfers while flying the Saint Lucian flag with pride,” he said. “Thank you to our coaches, families, sponsors, supporters and the entire surfing community for helping make this journey possible. Together, we continue to build the future of surfing in Saint Lucia.”
The team’s motto, “Small Island. Big Dreams. One Team.” sums up the nation’s approach to its second appearance on the global junior surfing stage, reflecting the ambition of a small community working to build a lasting legacy in the sport.