Sébastien Comet
Published on
At just 14 years old, Tya Zebrowski, a member of the Soorts-Hossegor club, was on the brink, last October, of achieving a dream she had set out to accomplish. During the Brazilian leg of the Challenger Series, the equivalent of the second division of world surfing, the young prodigy qualified for the Championship Tour, the sport’s global elite.
A symbol of a new generation
This milestone is not surprising considering her background, as she has been immersed in surfing since childhood. The French Surfing Federation describes the surfer as a symbol of a new generation that is “technical, confident, unburdened, comfortable in both big conditions and competitive formats.” She also embodies a certain idea of French surfing, blending the demands of European high-level competition with the deep oceanic culture of the South Pacific.
At just 11 years old, she already stood on the podium at the French Open Championships in Biarritz (2023), before progressing to the European WSL circuit with wins in Newquay, Pantin, and Anglet, followed by a fourth continental victory that crowned her as the WSL QS European Champion 2024/2025.
A first at Bells Beach
She also competed for Team France, winning a silver medal at the 2024 ISA Junior World Championships in El Salvador, before claiming the Challenger Series title on the day after her birthday.
This Wednesday 1 April 2026 marks the start of her first stage of the Championship Tour, taking place at Bells Beach, Australia. She is the youngest competitor at this level, competing against both men and women.
Four other French surfers are also in the WSL competition this year: Kauli Vaast and Marco Mignot in the men’s category, and Vahine Fierro in the women’s category, alongside Tya Zebrowski.
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