.png){kind=logo}
When you visit our website, we store cookies on your browser to collect information. The information collected might relate to you, your preferences or your device, and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to and to provide a more personalized web experience. However, you can choose not to allow certain types of cookies, which may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings according to your preference.
These cookies are essential to enable user movement across our website and for providing access to features such as your profile. These cookies cannot be disabled. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information and cannot be used for marketing purposes.
These cookies allow us to analyze visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site and enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers, such as Google Analytics, whose services we have added to our pages. Information collected through these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly and/or we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts or content. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
These cookies are set by a range of social media services that we have added to the site to enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They are capable of tracking your browser across other sites and building up a profile of your interests. This may impact the content and messages you see on other websites you visit. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to use or see these sharing tools.
Kanoa Igarashi to Represent Japan
WSL
LOS ANGELES, California, USA (Monday, February 12, 2018) - The Championship Tour's (CT) Kanoa Igarashi, 20, will represent Japan heading into the 2018 World Surf League (WSL) season. A dual citizen of Japan and the United States, Igarashi decided to change his representing country as he eyes the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, which will include surfing for the first time.
"I am going to be representing Japan this year on the Championship Tour," Igarashi said. "I am proud to surf for Japan. My parents are Japanese, my whole family is Japanese. I have a lot of support and fans over there. We do not have any Japanese surfers on the CT, so it is something for them to cheer for and have that part in the WSL. I am sure they are really excited, and I am looking forward to it. My family is stoked."
With this change, Igarashi becomes the first competitor to officially represent Japan on the WSL CT. In 2016, Igarashi joined the CT as its youngest member (then 17) and has proven to be a leader in the next generation of progressive surfers. Igarashi's career has been decorated with impressive performances as he has ranked in the Top 20 for the past two years. His standout victories include first at the Vans US Open of Surfing in 2017 and a runner-up finish at the Billabong Pipe Masters in 2016.
"I want to be able to compete in the Olympics and represent Japan," continued Igarashi. "I grew up competing for USA and have a lot of support over here, but this is a different part of my career now. The Olympics is the greatest competition in all of sports and it is something that you dream of doing as a kid. I never thought it would be possible as a surfer. It is a really exciting time for surfing. I am going to do my best to represent surfing in the best way possible."
Igarashi will compete under Japan for the first time starting at the CT season kickoff event, the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, in Australia, from March 11 - 22, 2018.
Kanoa Igarashi
A clash of event standouts and CT mainstays Kanoa Igarashi and Jordy Smith went back and forth in their Quarterfinal duel with Igarashi
The current World No. 10 Kanoa Igarashi just found his spark in 2025 with a massive performance over event favorite Ethan Ewing - posting a
The 2023 World Title contender Kanoa Igarashi put on a dominant display of power surfing against proven CT contender Liam O'Brien.
Featuring Jordy Smith, Jackson Bunch, Italo Ferreira, Kanoa Igarashi, Jack Robinson, Vahine Fierro, Caitlin Simmers, Yago Dora, Molly
A clash of CT titans unraveled between Kanoa Igarashi and two-time World Champ Filipe Toledo with Igarashi blasting an excellent 8.00 to
News
Burleigh Heads provided one last day of spectacle to crown Filipe Toledo and Bettylou Sakura Johnson the 2025 Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro
From start to finish, the world's best and elite wildcards delivered absolute stunners leading up to Bettylou Sakura Johnson and Filipe
The Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM conclusion left everyone wanting more after crowning Filipe Toledo and Bettylou Sakura Johnson
A decade in the making led to Filipe Toledo and Julian Wilson in an all out battle for the 2025 Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro title and Toledo
A remarkable run from one of North Shore's established contenders, Bettylou Sakura Johnson put on a class of forehand attack to best CT