Australia dominated the 2026 ISA World Junior Surfing Championship. But one California kid put up one heck of a fight.

Jett Maughan, a 17-year-old from Encinitas, claimed the Boys Under-18 world title in El Salvador, delivering a breakout performance that helped Team USA secure the overall silver medal.

The nine-day contest, which wrapped September 13, brought 420 surfers from 56 national teams to the points and peaks of La Bocana and El Sunzal. On Finals Day, three-to-four-foot surf provided the canvas for a showdown against Australia’s seemingly unstoppable juniors. Check out some video highlights from the event below.

Maughan had been putting on a clinic all week. He posted the event’s highest heat total, 16.57, in an earlier round, then launched a backhand air reverse for a 9.00 in the semifinals.

But the final was anything but a runaway.

An 8.43 for powerful rail surfing, backed by a 6.83, gave Maughan a 15.26 total.…