Winning the 2025 California Pizza Challenge earned Juan Robles of Triple Beam Pizza more than a trophy. It opened the door to a life-changing opportunity to compete at the 2026 Campionato Mondiale della Pizza in Parma, Italy, where the world’s best pizza makers gathered to test their skills on the sport’s biggest stage.
Juan and fellow competitor and USPT Culinary Coach Chef Vitangelo Recchia of Bella Napoli Pizzeria & Restaurant earned an impressive 16th-place finish in the Pizza Due category, placing among the best teams in the world. But for Juan, the experience was about more than rankings. It was about growth, learning, representing where he comes from, and proving that with enough grit and determination, opportunities can take you farther than you ever thought possible.
In this video, Juan reflects on the unforgettable experience of representing California, the United States and his Mexican-American heritage in the prestigious international competition. As a first-generation Mexican American from Lynwood, California, Juan shares how years of hard work, persistence and dedication led him to a moment he once could only imagine.
