Could 14-Year-Old Tya Zebrowski Win a World Title?
Youngest surfer ever qualifies for the Championship Tour — and surfing’s next-generation prodigy is only just getting started.
At just 14 years old, Tya Zebrowski has achieved what most surfers spend a lifetime chasing. Last week, the French-Tahitian phenom became the youngest surfer in history — and the first French woman ever — to qualify for the World Surf League Championship Tour (CT) after an explosive run through the Challenger Series (CS)
Her rise has been nothing short of breathtaking. In the past year, Zebrowski has reached three finals, including a win in Portugal and two other top-five finishes. A quarterfinal, incredibly, is her worst result.
As CT commentator Jesse Starling told SURFER:
> “You have to be careful not to put too much pressure on a 14-year-old, but after watching her all season, it’s almost impossible not to mention her in the World Title conversation — maybe even as early as next year.”
Born to Compete
Zebrowski’s background reads like the blueprint for a future world champion. Her father, Gary Zebrowski, is a Tahitian-born surfer who finished sixth in the halfpipe at the 2006 Winter Olympics, while her mother, Caroline Béliard, is a former French professional snowboarder turned yoga instructor. The family runs a surf school and yoga retreat in Messanges, just north of Hossegor — one of Europe’s surf capitals.
> “She started surfing young, but it was when she met Carissa Moore at age eight that everything changed,” her father recalled. “From that day, she wanted to be like Carissa — to compete and to win. The World Title has always been the goal.”
Comparisons to Carissa Moore
It’s easy to see why Moore’s name keeps surfacing. The five-time world champion won her first CT event at 16 and her maiden title as a teenager. Like Moore, Zebrowski’s surfing is defined by a smooth, composed flow punctuated by sudden flashes of raw power and aerial innovation.
“She’s developed physically, and the power in her surfing is unbelievable,” said Isobel Nichols, who lost to Zebrowski in the Portugal semifinals last year. “Her progress has blown my mind. Where she takes surfing from here is anyone’s guess.”
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Style Meets Consistency
Zebrowski’s stats speak for themselves. Since her CS debut in Portugal 12 months ago, her performances have reflected both maturity and fearlessness. Her technical precision, competitive calmness, and rapidly evolving aerial game have placed her miles ahead of most peers — and even many seasoned CT veterans.
> “Her decision-making is spot on, and she rarely gets rattled under pressure,” said former CT surfer Joan Duru, who now coaches her. “When you combine that with her talent and focus, there’s no reason to hold her back. She’s young, but she’s ready.”
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Still a Kid — Just One Who Surfs Like a Pro
Despite the spotlight, Zebrowski remains refreshingly grounded. After winning the Portugal Challenger event, she told reporters, laughing:
> “It feels so good! Last year I came second, so I’m so happy to get the win. It means so much to me.”
Between heats, she’s often seen joking around with her three-year-old sister in the athlete area — a small reminder that, at the core, she’s still a 14-year-old kid doing what she loves most.
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History in the Making
Before Zebrowski, Caity Simmers held the record as the youngest CT qualifier, earning her spot at 15 in 2021. Simmers deferred entry to focus on development — a move that paid off when she won the World Title at 18.
Zebrowski, however, shows no intention of waiting. Her sights are already set on the world’s best. With both parents guiding her and a supportive team behind her, she’s poised to dive straight into the CT.
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What’s Next
The 2026 CT season begins in April, giving Zebrowski six months to prepare. For most surfers, that’s not much time to make major progress. But for someone growing, learning, and improving as fast as she is, those months could make all the difference.
She’ll continue competing in select Challenger Series events — including Pipeline — but with the pressure now off, every wave she surfs is pure experience for what’s coming next.
And what’s coming next might just be history.
> A World Title for Tya Zebrowski no longer feels like a matter of if — but when.