Surfing Australia is excited to announce the four athletes heading to El Salvador to represent Australia at the 2024 ISA World Longboard Championship, from April 18-25, 2024.
Surfing Australia National High Performance Director, Kate Wilcomes, said: "We are excited to announce our Irukandji Longboard team for the 2024 ISA World Longboard Championships. We have a powerhouse team this year, with majority seasoned ISA surfers and we are looking forward to seeing them go for gold in El Salvador."
The Irukandjis team comprises 2023 Australian Champions Kirra Molnar (Noosa Heads, QLD) and Clinton Guest (Bokarina, QLD), along with wildcards Tully White (Allambie Heights, NSW) and Declan Wyton (Manly, NSW), all of whom said they’re honoured to represent their country.
Kirra Molnar who clinched two Australian Title last year and competed on the WSL World Longboard Tour said: "As always, I’m very excited to be representing my country, especially in a sport that is normally very individual. Coming together as a team and supporting each other truly shows the Aussie spirit. I’m looking forward to surfing this wave again as it changes so much in size and shape every day. The community that comes along for the event is also very inspiring to be competing against the best longboarders from countries all over the world."
Clinton Guest, who began surfing at the age of eight in Noosa before moving to the Gold Coast and then back to Bokarina on the Sunshine Coast, said: "Representing Australia is the ultimate honour, representing the Australian longboard community at the ISA games is something I won’t take for granted knowing the surfers who have represented in the past, they have inspired me and now it’s my turn to inspire the next generation. Having the opportunity to show up and perform for your country to win personally and for the team is something unique and special to the ISA World Games. This will be my first time to El Salvador after qualifying with the Australian Title last year. Excited for the challenge and enjoying each step of the experience."
Tully White, who grew up on Sydney’s northern beaches and has been on the WSL longboard tour the past four years, said: "I am proud to represent Australian longboarding on the world stage, we have some incredible surfers here in Australia and I look forward to sharing the passion we have for traditional longboarding at the ISA level. I have competed in the ISA Longboard titles in both Hainan China in 2018 and in Biarritz France in 2019. It was really special to see the talent coming out of little known surf communities across the world and meet new people with the same passion for surfing. I am looking forward to surfing over in El Sunzal again this year, having been there last year for a WSL event. The long right-hand point at El Sunzal is super fun to longboard."
Tully White (at The 2022 WSL Longboard Tour - Manly) photo by/© WSL / Cait Miers
Declan Wyton, who grew up in Sydney's inner-west and now calls Manly home, said: "I am privileged to have been chosen to represent Australia in the upcoming 2024 ISA World Longboard Championship in El Salvador. Australia is renowned worldwide as an iconic surfing nation, and I look forward to demonstrating our country’s exceptional talent and passion for Longboarding on the world stage. I have been privileged to represent Australia in the 2018 and 2019 ISA World Longboard Championships held in Hainan, China and Biarritz, France, respectively. These events, organised by the ISA, brought together longboarders from across the globe, creating an incredible experience. I have had the opportunity to visit El Salvador previously for the 2023 WSL World Longboard Tour. El Salvador is a stunning place with amazing waves, and I am eager to get back there with the team and represent my country."
Declan Wyton - photo by Gary McEvoy
The 2024 World Longboard Championship will follow the record-breaking 2023 edition, also hosted by Surf City El Salvador, where 118 surfers from 33 nations were present to challenge for the world championship in pristine conditions at the world famous El Sunzal point.
ISA President, Fernando Aguerre, said: "El Sunzal is such an amazing wave for longboard. I am looking forward to seeing the world’s best longboarders return in 2024 after such a wonderful event in 2023."
Follow the event via the ISA website and Surfing Australia's social media channels.