A standout performance from SIC Mui´s next generation at ISA Worlds Surf City, El Salvador
Getting to the start line was a victory in itself. With less than two months to prepare, qualify, and organize travel to El Salvador, SIC Maui athletes had to overcome both logistical and competitive challenges before even stepping onto the water. Riders Ethan and Eliott Bry (FRA), David Leao (Brazil), Soryn Preston (USA) and Jojo Karst (GER) secured their spots and arrived ready. Their effort paid off with standout results at the 2025 ISA World SUP Championships:
- Eliott Bry – Gold, Junior Technical Race
- Ethan Bry – Double Silver, Men’s Distance & Sprint
- Soryn Preston – Bronze, Junior Technical Race + Top 8 in Women’s Final
A Golden Start for the Juniors
The Technical Races kicked off the event and SIC Maui’s juniors came out strong.
Eliott Bry delivered a breakout performance in the Junior Boys Technical Race, combining sharp paddling with smart wave selection. The 17-year-old from Crozon Waterman Club pulled away after the first lap and held his lead with calm confidence to secure gold, his first international title. “I can’t believe it right now — it was incredible,” Bry said. “The conditions were amazing with big waves. It was one of the best technical races I’ve ever done, and the level was so high. Just incredible.”
In the Junior Girls Technical Race, Soryn Preston (USA) impressed with her surf skills and solid tactical choices, earning bronze in a tight finish. She held her line under pressure and secured her place on the podium.
Soryn’s workload stood out. She competed in every division she was eligible for — Junior and Women’s — something few athletes attempted. Despite the added fatigue, she backed up her junior result with a Top 8 in the Women’s Final, showing real grit and versatility.
In the Men’s Technical Final, Ethan Bry stayed with the lead group early, navigating the shifting surf with patience. A series of mid-race waves shook up the rankings, but Ethan held steady and finished 6th, a solid result in unpredictable conditions.
Jojo Karst (GER) also put in a strong effort, finishing in the Top 8 of the Junior Girls field.
Ethan Bry Takes Silver in the Distance Race
The distance race was where Ethan truly shined. The 9 km course mixed ocean bumps with a demanding shore break finish — conditions that reward strong surf reading and consistency.
Ethan stayed in the lead pack behind early leader Shuri Araki (JPN). A smart line on the second lap helped him break free from the chasers and settle into second place. In the closing stretch, Italy’s Nicolò Ricco surged, but Ethan held his position and secured silver with a composed finish.
This race demonstrated the key qualities of elite distance paddling: strategy, stamina, and calm under pressure.
Sprint Silver Rounds Out Bry’s Podium Week
The Sprint Final capped off the event — and earned Ethan his second silver.
Stepping in for Arthur Arutkin at the last minute, Ethan burst off the start and rounded the first buoy in a tight battle with Cantoral (ESP) and Ricco (ITA). A well-timed bump gave him just enough glide to lock into second, a position he held until crossing the line. A clean beach run sealed the result and capped a remarkable championship for the young French rider.
Nations Ranking: France on the Podium Powered by SIC Maui Athletes
France finished second in the overall nation rankings, behind Spain and ahead of Japan and Brazil, helped by the points earned by Ethan and Eliott Bry.
David Leao also delivered for Brazil, earning copper and contributing to Brazil’s fourth-place finish.
Conditions That Tested Everything — and RST Delivered
This year’s Worlds in El Salvador brought some of the most technically challenging conditions in recent memory. Long ocean stretches, heavy surf zones, and constantly shifting formats demanded versatile gear and athletes’ skill.
The SIC Maui RST once again proved its reliability across all conditions — flatwater, bumps, and heavy surf — reflecting the waterman DNA at the heart of every SIC design.
These World Championships didn’t just produce medals. They highlighted the depth of talent in SIC Maui’s young athletes and reaffirmed the RST as a trusted, all-conditions race board for the world’s best paddlers.
Boys Junior SUP Technical Race
- Gold – Eliott Bry (FRA) – SIC MAUI
- Silver – Ruben Cantoral (ESP)
- Bronze – Nagito Hirata (JPN)
- Copper – Giulio Lazzarini (ITA)
Girls Junior SUP Technical Race
- Gold – Csillag Virág Kocsis (HUN)
- Silver – Ines Blin (FRA)
- Bronze – Soryn Preston (USA) – SIC MAUI
- Copper – Otono Hirata (JPN)
Men’s SUP Distance Race
- Gold – Shuri Araki (JPN)
- Silver – Ethan Bry (FRA) – SIC MAUI
- Bronze – Nicolò Ricco (ITA)
- Copper – Itzel Delgado (PER)
Men’s SUP Sprint Race
- Gold – Christian Andersen (DEN)
- Silver – Ethan Bry (FRA) – SIC MAUI
- Bronze – Sergio Cantoral (ESP)
- Copper – Nicolò Ricco (ITA)