Qualifying for the WSL CT is no easy feat, regardless of your age. Elite surfers can spend their entire competitive career trying to crack the code that is the Challenger Series. So when 14-year-old Tya Zebrowski became the youngest surfer to ever quality for the CT earlier this month, the rest of the surfing world was put on notice.
Since the French Tahitian prodigy made her debut on the CS 12 months ago, she’s made three finals, won one, and finished third and fifth in the others. Given her style, consistency and ability in big waves, it would be foolish to not expect some big results from her when the CT rolls around next season.
It’s fair to infer that Tya’s parents have a role to play in her hyper-competitive nature. Her father Gary is a Tahitian-born surfer-turned-professional snowboarder and her mum, Caroline, was a French professional snowboarder turned yoga teacher. Add a mix of Tahitian reefs and French beachies into her upbringing and you quickly get a sense of why Tya’s progression is accelerating at light speed and showing no signs of slowing up.
After clinching her 2026 CT in Brazil last week, we caught up with Titi to learn more about her. Check out that conversation below.
How does it feel to be the youngest ever to qualify for the World Tour?
It honestly feels surreal. I’ve dreamt about this since I was little, so to actually make it happen feels kind of crazy. I feel super grateful for everyone who’s helped me and believed in me and really excited to surf against people I’ve looked up to my whole life.
At the start of the season, did you think the goal of qualifying was attainable?
Yes, I knew I could do it. I was confident, I just needed to surf freely and question myself after every event to keep improving. I was lucky to get a good result in the first Challenger, which put me in rhythm right away and gave me confidence that qualifying was possible. My parents never put limits on me, and my brothers and sisters and I were raised to believe in our dreams and never create obstacles or doubts for ourselves.
Do you think your age gives you an advantage? Do you feel less pressure and fear because of your age?
In some ways, yes. Being young helps me stay in the moment and not overthink too much. I don’t have huge expectations, I just want to surf my best and enjoy the experience. Of course there’s still pressure, but I try to turn it into motivation instead of fear.
How much of an influence have your parents had on your surfing?
A huge one. My parents had me young, and they were already completely passionate about surfing, they surfed every day, so I just followed them into the water. When they saw my potential, they knew what it meant to commit to a high-performance path because they were both former professional snowboarders. They’ve always done everything they could to support me while keeping balance in life. They know what it takes to reach the top level.
How much of an influence has snowboarding had on your surfing?
It’s really about having snowboarder parents, they already had a freestyle mindset. Snowboarding has always been ahead of surfing when it comes to airs, and my parents naturally brought that approach into the way they looked at surfing. They were used to falling on hard snow, so for me, falling in the water was never a big deal! Since I was little, I’ve had this idea that it’s fine to push hard, hit big sections, try things, it’s part of learning. They helped me see surfing in a creative, freer way.
Who is your biggest inspiration in surfing?
I’ve always looked up to Carissa Moore and Stephanie Gilmore for their style and mindset. I actually met Carissa when I was eight, in Tahiti, and besides her power and flow, I was really touched by how kind and generous she was. She signed my first board that night, and from that moment, I told myself that one day I wanted to surf a heat with her and, like her, become World Champion. I also watch a lot of the guys — surfers like Gabriel Medina, John John Florence, and Griffin Colapinto — they inspire me a lot too.
What are your goals for the rest of the CS and for your first year on the CT?
Right now, my goal is just to keep learning and improving. I want to understand what works best for me at that level, refine my heat strategy, and get more comfortable in all kinds of waves. For my first CT year, I’d love to make some solid results, but mostly I just want to feel like I belong there and surf with confidence. And enjoy the dream tour!
Which waves are you most looking forward to competing at on the CT?
Definitely Teahupo’o, it’s home for me. I’ve surfed it a lot when I was eight, but now I really want to push myself more and improve my backside barrel riding. I’m also super excited for J Bay and Snapper Rocks because they’re the kind of waves where I can show my flow and style. Just thinking about surfing with the best in the world, with only two or four people in the water, is incredible.
Which waves on the CT do you think most suit your surfing?
I think right-hand point breaks like Snapper and J-Bay really suit my surfing, I love drawing long lines and mixing flow with power. But I also feel at home in reef waves like Teahupo’o. I like that balance between power, instinct, and creativity.
