Ghiretti dazzles with big win at Oceania Youth Wave Titles

Gnarabup’s Jake Ghiretti (18) delivered a jaw-dropping performance to take the U21 Pro Junior Men win at the first youth event of the 2025 World Windsurfing Wave Tour calendar.

The Jaffle Shack Oceania Youth Wave Titles held in Geraldton is the first youth event of the World Windsurfing Tour Calendar and is a prestigious 5 star event.

Ghiretti wowed the crowd with consecutive, well-controlled aerials and high forward loops.

Early in the final, he landed three aerials and executed a perfectly stalled forward loop, setting the tone for a standout run.

As the competition progressed, Ghiretti shifted his focus more towards entertaining the spectators, pulling off even bigger and more daring loops.

“I feel really good winning,” a thrilled Ghiretti remarked.

“This competition is one of the most important ones because it sets me up for the year on tour. It’s always good to start with a win so I get the best seeding in the early events.

“I’m going to do the 4-star Margaret River Wavesailing Classic in February next and then I’ll go to Chile, Fiji and Hawaii to do the world tour.

“I want to win the U21 division, but I’ll also be happy with a top three finish. I’m realistic about my chances in the Pro Men and I don’t really know where I’m at, so it’ll be good to see where I’m at and get used to competing against the pros.”

Latvia’s Valters Videnieks (20), who was competing in this event for the second consecutive year, landed a perfect back loop and attacked the lip to finish his second place, his best result to date.

Busselton’s Santina Pillonel drew on her wave riding experience from Margaret River and was ecstatic to sneak into third place in both the U18 and U21 Girls divisions.

She battled hard in the U21s to finish ahead of nineteen year-old Isabel Ele from Norway, who had threatened to shake up the leaders with an impressive display of forward loops and snaps during the day.

However, she wasn’t able to match the aggressive wave riding of 16-year-old Sarah Kenyon from Geraldton and 17 year old Jaiay Marns-Morris from Perth.

In the U18 finals, fifteen year-old Tyler Wallrodt from Albany used a no-holds-bar approach to earn a confident victory ohead of the effortlessly stylish Ben Illet (17) from Perth.

Disaster struck Wallrodt in one of his early heats when he snapped a boom, but with help from fellow competitor Ghiretti, he was quickly back on the water to power through his heats.

Reflecting on his fearless approach, Wallrodt said “I sort of just see and do. The bigger I go, the easier the smaller stuff gets.

“Going for a big back loop and bailing gives me more confidence and I’m not scared to go big anymore. It definitely helps having mates around doing big forward and back loops. It gets you frothing.”

Illet finished second in the U18s in 2024, but spent the morning of the competition in hospital for x-rays on a toe injury sustained during training the previous day.

Despite missing the first round and limping around the beach upon arrival, the adrenalin of the competition seemed to overtake any pain and he was still able to perform close to his usual standard.

Eleven-year-old Isaac Gill from Perth delivered a standout performance to claim third place, becoming the youngest competitor to make the podium.

Despite having never sailed at Sunset Beach before and facing eight teenage competitors, Gill’s excellent wave selection allowed him to outperform much older rivals.

A key to his success?

Annual training camps in Geraldton and his meticulous study of the break before competing.

“I was just watching where the best waves are and choosing to go to those waves that look the best and are peeling,” Gill said.

The event serves as a key stepping stone for Australia’s top young windsurfers as they embark on their quests for the World Wave Title.

The Australian leg will finish in February with a 4-star Margaret River Wavesailing Classic and competitors will then progress to Chile and Fiji.

“It’s incredible to see the progression of the youth since starting this competition three years ago,” Organiser Jane Seman said.

“We have some amazing local talent who have a real chance on the World Tour.

“Plus it’s just great to see all the friendships that have formed. I can’t wait to see them all perform at Margaret River in February.”

FINAL RESULTS

U18 Girls

U21 Pro Junior Women

U18 Boys

U21 Pro Junior Men