<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This week, the ISA held its fourth annual Continental Youth Athlete Development Program (YADP) in Fiji. The initiative, supported by Olympic Solidarity, is focused on empowering young athletes and their coaches from developing nations throughout the world. Held previously in the Americas, Africa, and Asia, this year’s YADP focused on youth from the Oceania region.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Designed to build skills and long-term development strategies for future Olympians with limited access to high-performance resources, the program welcomed 15 surfers from eight nations, all under the age of 18. Throughout the week, interactive coaching was combined with training exercises in order to help athletes maximize their skill sets both in and out of the water.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This year’s edition was led by Olympian and former Championship Tour surfer <strong>Michel Bourez</strong> (FRA), alongside ISA Coaching Expert<strong> Lee Ryan</strong> of New Zealand. The program covered a wide range of topics, including an in-depth overview of judging, venue analysis, mental preparation, competition rules, contest strategy, motivational goals, technical video analysis and more. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Alongside the coaches, ISA Athlete Ambassadors and Olympians <strong>Saffi Vette </strong>(NZL) and <strong>Leilani McGonagle</strong> (CRC), who is also a member of the ISA Athletes’ Commission, served as mentors and coaches for the attendees throughout the program.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The program was hosted in collaboration with the Oceania Surfing Federation and Fiji Surfing Association, whose president <strong>Hannah Bennett</strong> (FJI) provided support. Training for coaches from Oceania was also included to enable long-term youth athlete development to continue in the future.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>ISA President, Fernando Aguerre</strong> said:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Initiatives like our Youth Athlete Development Program represent the heart of what the ISA stands for, creating opportunities for surfers around the world to reach their full potential. When we see these talented young surfers from across Oceania learning alongside experienced judges, coaches, and Olympians, we’re not just witnessing their development, we’re watching the future of our sport take shape.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“These programs do more than develop athletes, they develop dreams. Some of these young surfers will go on to represent their nations at the highest levels, and for many of them, that journey begins right here in the beautiful waves of Fiji."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Athletes:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Tanuguatoa Aupiu - American Samoa</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Julia Kostelnik - American Samoa</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Kenneth alexander - Guam</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hazel Wilson - Guam</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Taumero Bineka - Kiribati</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Nakau Nakibwebwe - Kiribati</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Dezley Mackay - Nauru</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Keipson Jimwereiy - Nauru</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Keilani Clark - Papua New Guinea</div><div style="text-align: justify;">John Yafi Muser - Papua New Guinea</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Leia Falega Viliamu - Samoa</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mavis Narisa Lynn Gardiner - Samoa</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sacha Ferry - Vanuatu</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Emily Taleo - Vanuatu </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Havana kurop - Fiji</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Coaches:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Steve Kostelnik - American Samoa </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lesi Navuwai - Fiji</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Shane Pier - Guam</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Nicholas Mcdermott - Kiribati</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Jane Short - Nauru</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Shane Clark - Papua New Guinea </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Keith Martin - Samoa</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Benjamin Johnson - Vanuatu</div>