The World Surf League World Junior Championships will be located in Kiama for 2017 and 2018.

This event will feature the world’s best surfers aged 18 years and under competing for the prestigious World Junior Title.

Prize money features a men’s money pool of USD$100,000 and a women’s pool of USD$50,000.

Each of the seven WSL regions (Africa, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, Japan, North America and South America) will decide their representatives via their regional Junior Qualifying Series, with the world’s best converging on Kiama from January 3-13.

The opening ceremony will take place at The Pavilion on January 3. The surfing championships will run from January 4-13. 

“It is expected that surfing will take place on six to seven of the 10 days,” a report to Kiama council’s November meeting said.

“On the other three to four days while not surfing, competitors and their families will have the opportunity to tour around the region.

“Tourism operators have the opportunity to organise tours across the region to showcase Kiama.

“These tours would be ticketed and can be promoted through the WSL competitor networks.”

According to council, this event is being promoted at all championships throughout the world.

It will be broadcast live online via the www.worldsurleague.com website, as well as through select linear broadcasters including Fox Sports Australia and ESPN Brasil. According to the report, with the main event site being Bombo Beach, licensing for this event is currently being finalised with Sydney Water and Surfing NSW directly.

Alternative sites have been identified should the event need to move from day to day due to the surf.

Locations identified include Jones Beach and Werri Beach.

“Kiama has the opportunity to develop day tours throughout the region for competitors and their families,” the report said. 

“This event has the potential to put Kiama on the world map from both a surfing point of view as well as for tourism in general.”