Monday 20 January, La Union – Philippines:  Congratulations to Bronson Meydi for winning the WSL World Junior Championships at Mona Lisa Point in La Union, Philippines on the 18th of January 2025!  

This is the first time for an Indonesian competitor to win a WSL World Championship, marking a historic event in the history of Indonesian surfing development, following Rio Waida’s participation in the Olympics and also joining the WSL World Championship Tour. It’s a testament to the commitment of the Asian Surf Co and the PSOI in their long years of effort to provide a pathway and platform for professional surfing in Indonesia.

At the beginning of the event, Meydi faced elimination after coming in last place in the first heat of the first round of the event,  which was held on the 13th of January.  The winner of that heat was Ryan Huckabee of the USA, who advanced straight into the Round of 16, second place was Noah Arkfeld from the Philippines, and Meydi ended up in third.  Meydi had chosen to wait patiently for the best scoring opportunities, but in the end his highest wave scored only a 5.63 (out of a possible 10 points) as he never was in position to get the best waves of the heat.

However, in the Elimination Round and up against Luke Swanson of Hawaii, Meydi found redemption.  With the sideshore winds kicking in, Meydi got off to a quick start, warming up with a pair of medium scores, then kicking into his aerial game…. posting first a 6.67 for a single air, then earning the day’s highest single wave score of 8.67 for his two turn combo and two aerial maneuvers to advance into the Round of 16.  

 

 “It felt really good for sure (getting the Round of 16 heat win), especially getting the cleaner waves, as it was super tricky out there, a lot of bumpy ones that you don’t really know if you should go on,” said Meydi  “Stoked I got a couple of good turns on that wave, and got an 8, so that won the heat for me…Now I’m ready, let’s go, get another one, let’s go!”

And go he did!  In the Quarterfinals, Meydi made it look easy by pulling off lofty and stylish aerials that impressed the both the commentators and the judges, earning a heat total of 17.73 (out of a possible 20 points) for an 8.90 and an 8.83 on his best two waves to take out Kai Odriozola (Basque Country) and get a spot in the Semifinals. “He has a crazy make rate,” said commentator Paul Evans. “He makes it look so smooth and easy, like a cat in terms of how light he is on his feet.”

On Finals Day, Meydi was up against a tough competitor in Lennix Smith in Semifinal 2, who jumped into the lead and scored an excellent 8.17  to apply some serious pressure.  But Meydi rose to the challenge and soon boosted a lofty aerial with a smooth landing, and put up a powerful turn in a critical oncoming section to end the waves and earn an almost perfect 9.0 (out of a possible 10 points).  Together with his second best score of a 7.80, his heat total of 16.80 put him on top into the Final, where he would met up with Winter Vincent from Australia. Vincent had also been a standout on his side of the draw during the entire event, so it was indeed the best of the best meeting up in the Final.

In arguably the most exciting and nailbiting final ever, these two young competitors put on show that will certainly go down in the history books…with the most memorable two minutes being when Meydi took off and launched a lofty aerial with a clean landing, riding out then launching another just as massive to earn a perfect 10 point score from the judging panel, then right behind him came Vincent Winter, completing two clean and smooth aerials for a 9.07 score!  

The crowd on the beach went crazy…then silence as the judging panel deliberated.  The scores came out and Vincent was still in the lead with just under 20 minutes left in the 35 minute final.  Until at the 11 minute mark, Meydi sped down the line and boosted again, this time with an Alley Oop, riding out cleanly then smashing the lip to complete the wave for an 8.80.  

Vincent fought back fiercely, having a 9.07 and an 8.77 which would normally have won most any other final, but needing a 9.74 to win was just too much with the time remaining.

Such an impressive performance by the kid from Lakey Peak, Sumbawa…whose natural talent and ability to pull off amazing maneuver was never in question, but has now shown that he is without question committed to progressing as a competitive surfer with goals to reach the World Championship Tour.

“This is definitely a dream come true,’ said Meydi after receiving his trophy.  “It was my goal and I’m so stoked to make it happen.  I don’t even know what to say right now…but it feels so good!

“I knew Winter was the one to beat this contest…he was surfing so well, so I knew it was going to be tough.  In the final I got a really good start and it kept me in rhythm for the next waves, so I’m super stoked to have taken it out.”

“The whole time I was trying not to think too much and to have fun…coz when I think too much it usually doesn’t go well for me…like on the first day coming in last in my heat.  After that I just had to reset and focus on having fun, and do the kind of surfing I do every day…and in the end it paid off.”

“I only really started doing junior comps when I was about 18, so I was a bit late to the competition scene. I still have a lot to learn…I’m not trying to do airs only, trying to focus on different stuff…hopefully I can get that locked down too…that would be pretty good.  My next goal is to join Rio on the World Tour as the second Indonesian surfer to reach that level…so looking forward to doing the Challenger Series now.”

With consistent performances like this and his commitment to his goals, we’re sure to be seeing a lot more of Bronson Medyi in the water and on the podium hoisting trophies.  Congratulations Bronson!