San Clemente Talent Shines at 2026 USA Surfing Junior Championships on Olympic Stage

The 2026 USA Surfing Junior Championships concluded on June 20 at Lower Trestles, the future venue for the LA28 Olympic Games, with some of the nation's best young surfers competing in pristine 4- to 6-foot waves. The event drew 250 top surfers aged 10 to 18 from across the United States, all vying for national titles.

San Clemente athletes were particularly successful, capturing several division championships. Charlotte Moschopoulos won the U12 girls division, Moses Hennings took the U14 boys title, Isla Pinto claimed the U14 girls crown, King Nicol secured the U16 boys championship, and Eden Walla earned the U18 girls title.

The junior championships serve as a critical training ground, providing a pathway to international competition and elite-level surfing. Throughout the year, competitors earned their spots through regional and national events.

The swell, described by some as the "swell of the decade," provided consistent, perfectly shaped waves at Lower Trestles, which also hosted the previous weekend's championships in Oceanside. USA Surfing Head Coach Ryan Simmons called the 2026 event the best the organization has ever run, noting the waves were epic all week with 6- to 10-foot faces.

The performance of the surfers was described as radical and dynamic. The championships have been a fixture for over 20 years, where young surfers are scouted by sponsors and transition from amateur to professional.

Current World Surf League competitors from San Clemente, including brothers Crosby and Griffin Colapinto and Cole Houshmand, as well as world champions and Olympic gold medalists Carissa Moore and Caroline Marks, all began their careers at these events. USA Surfing CEO Greg Hulsizer, who has surfed at Lower Trestles for more than 50 years, expressed excitement about the future of the sport, especially with the venue set to host the LA28 Olympics.

He noted that the event gave him tremendous confidence in the next generation of Team USA surfers. The competition followed earlier events in Oceanside, including Para, Longboard, Stand Up Paddle (SUP) Surf, and SUP and Prone Racing disciplines.

The junior surfing action continues with the 2026 NSSA National Explorer Championships in Huntington Beach from June 26 to June 28, with waves expected in the 4- to 6-foot range. The NSSA National Open Championships run from June 29 to July 3, with another pulse of swell anticipated for finals day.