Bronson Meydi and Luana Silva Win Their Nation’s First World Junior Titles

Bronson Meydi and Luana Silva Win Their Nation’s First World Junior Titles Bronson gets Indonesia’s first world title and Luana becomes Brazil’s first woman with a WSL World Junior Title. August Howell January 19, 2025 A little less than a decade ago, the collective surf media began to hear whispers of a little-known 11-year-old doing jaw-dropping surfing in a remote corner of Indonesia. Don’t forget this name, they said. Well, Bronson Meydi’s name, talent and profile have grown leaps and bounds since then. He’s not just one of the best surfers for his age (20), he’s one of the best in the world. Sometimes, those young super talents live up to the hype. Yesterday, Bronson clinched Indonesia’s first event WSL World Junior Championships by eviscerating a righthand wave in the Philippines. Bronson is a quiet and humble guy by nature, but his win, the first WSL world title won by an Indonesian, will ring loud and clear for years to come. Born and raised in Sumbawa with Lakey Peak in his backyard, Bronson was effectively adopted by Rizal Tandjung, a pillar of Indonesian surfing. Rizal recognized the kid’s raw talent but knew that in order to succeed he’d need more guidance, resources and education. So Bronson spread his wings and moved in with Rizal’s family in Bali. He’s been flying ever since. “This feels so amazing, and I’m still a bit in shock,” Bronson said after being chaired up Urbiztondo Beach. “To do this for Indonesia feels so special. I’m super proud to bring this trophy home. It’s been an amazing week here in the Philippines. I always love my time here, and it just got a whole lot more special.” The Future of Indonesian Surfing Is in Good Hands with Bronson Meydi Though the waves at Monaliza Point dropped considerably compared to the start of the event, the men’s final was a high-scoring affair between Bronson and Australia’s Winter Vincent. The latter was stellar all event and posted a 17.84 in the final with proper power and flair. But it was all about Meydi in the end, who cemented his result by stomping two consecutive off-axis full-rotation airs. He barely pumped in between the two moves and earned a 10-point score for his trouble. An 18.80 heat total has the crowd going wild for Bronson. “I knew I would have to go big against Winter,” he said. “He has been the guy to beat all week, and his surfing is amazing. I want to congratulate him on making the final and having such a great performance here. I’m just super happy with this and look forward to celebrating with all my friends and family who support me so much.” Bronson Meydi of Indonesia surfs in the Final of the 2024 World Junior Championships on January 18, 2025 at San Juan, La Union, Philippines. Minutes later, the women’s division had a historic finish as well, with Luana Silva becoming the first Brazilian woman to win the WSL World Junior Title. Though Luana is just 20 years old, she’s had a lot of high-level competition experience. She surfed for Brazil in the 2024 Paris Olympics and has qualified for the Championship Tour twice. This latest result, however, she claimed as her best. “This feels so good,” she said. “I have no words for this. I’ve been going through a bit of a rough time, I recently lost a good childhood friend of mine. I think she sent me that last wave, and this one is definitely for her. This is for her and her family, which feels so good.” Luana Silva of Brazil after winning the Final of the 2024 World Junior Championships on January 18, 2025 at San Juan, La Union, Philippines. Luana leaned on her experience to get past Japan’s Kana Nakashio in the final. Trailing in the waning minute, she caught a wave at the buzzer and hit the lip twice to take the lead. A 12.23 may not be eye-catching stats, but it got the job done for Luana. “I grinded through all of my heats,” she said. “I never really found a great wave and surfed scrappy heats, but I guess I did a good enough job in each heat to get through and get the job done. I’m just so happy right now.” Congrats to Bronson and Luana. We’ll see you both in the 2025 Challenger Series.