by SFT | Oct 1, 2025 | Notes From The Editor, St Francis, Surf News, Surfing South Africa
Surf season has finally landed, which means the beaches are busy, the car parks are full, and everyone suddenly has a board under their arm. It’s like herding kittens, actually. It kicked off with the Seal Point Boardriders Club Championships, which as usual was half serious sporting contest and half family picnic with beer. The usual mix of groms, dads, and local legends took to the water to argue about priorities: wave scores, sunscreen, or whose dog ate the boerewors rolls. Even The Editor got a third in his division (the judges must have been high..)
GromSearch
Hot on its heels comes the Rip Curl GromSearch, also at Seal Point. Four events around the country and this is the big finale. Nothing says “surfing destiny” quite like a 12-year-old working on a combo situation before breakfast. The winners in the U16 divisions get their golden ticket to the International Final in Europe, which is basically a free pass to surf better waves than the rest of us for a while (‘that part of Europe’ fires at this time of the year).
And because surf season has no brakes, the SA Junior Champs at J-Bay fire up immediately afterwards. Yes, The Point will be overrun by kids who still need lifts from their moms. It’s the one event where you’ll see future WSL stars sitting in the lineup next to someone who had to borrow wax. Parents will cheer, judges will frown, coaches will gesticulate, someone will wail, and there will be wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth, all in the name of fun.
Groms shredding
So here we are: October, peak surf season. Groms shredding, parents pacing, locals complaining vociferously about crowds. Still, everyone wins, except for the non-competitive surfing family who booked that house on the Point for a chilled weekend and didn’t check the contest calendar beforehand.
Maybe go and check out the groynes. (low tide…)
read more: Rip Curl GromSearch Finale Set for Seal Point, 3–5 October
by SFT | Oct 1, 2025 | Photo Of The Day
The most amazing spiderweb is our photo of the day
by Craig Jarvis | Oct 1, 2025 | Notes From The Editor, St Francis
photo © Chris Scott
—
The calendar says it’s spring. The air suggests it’s still winter. October 1st in St Francis Bay is less a clean turning of the season than an awkward shuffle, the kind where nobody is quite sure whether to pack away the jackets or light the fire.
The mornings remain pretty dark, cold, and windy enough to discourage even those few ‘enthusiastic’ joggers. But by midday, people have convinced themselves it’s warm enough for shorts, and the hardware stores report a sudden spike in sales of fertiliser and pool chemicals. Seasonal optimism, St Francis style.
Some residents take no chances: board shorts with a beanie. A practical compromise that says, “Legs are ready for summer, but head doesn’t believe it.” It’s not fashionable, but it’s a uniform of belief, summer is on the way, even if the wind is cutting in sideways.
The beaches begin to fill again. Surfers debate wetsuit thickness like it’s geopolitics: 4/3 or 3/2? Booties or bravado? Nobody wins, except the wetsuit companies.
Everyone claims to be tired of winter, but winter had its perks, didn’t it? Quieter beaches, not full pubs, and traffic that meant waiting behind exactly one bakkie at the stop street. October threatens all of that with its slow trickle of hopeful holidaymakers and the “just down for the weekend” crowd.
And yet, despite the grumbling, there’s no denying that it feels better. The days stretch longer. The ocean looks a shade more welcoming. The sky carries just enough promise that someone, somewhere, is already lighting the first braai of the season at 3:30 p.m. unnecessarily early, but symbolically important.
We have a small window before the holiday makers start arriving, and an even smaller window before every tradesperson in the village becomes too busy to answer their phone. Make the most of it. October is a great month in St Francis Bay
by SFT | Oct 1, 2025 | St Francis
Shining The Light On The Best In Eastern Cape Tourism
The stars of Eastern Cape tourism were celebrated in style at the inaugural Eastern Cape Tourism Awards, held at Mentors Country Estate in Jeffreys Bay on 27 September 2025.
Hosted in partnership with Kouga Local Municipality, the awards recognised outstanding businesses, organisations and individuals who continue to position the Eastern Cape as a premier tourism destination.
:
• Best Hotel & Resort: Courtyard Hotel Gqeberha
• Best Guesthouse and B&B: The Sands @ St Francis Bay
• Best Backpacker / Self-Catering: Tube & Axe Backpackers & Lodge
• Best Lodge Stay: Kuzuko Lodge
• Digital Tourism Influencer of the Year: The Real Travel Guy
• Sustainable Tourism Award: Stormsriver Adventures
• Outstanding Culinary Experience & Restaurants: Awehness Travel
• Ultimate Adventure Attraction: Face Adrenalin Bloukrans Bungy
• Exceptional Safari & Game Park Experience: Pumba Private Game Reserve
• Tour Operator of the Year: Awehness Travel
• Unique Agri-Tourism Experience: Pabala Private Nature Reserve
• Iconic Cultural & Heritage Experience: Tsitsikamma Indigenous Tours
• Premier Conference & Events Venue: The Boardwalk International Convention Centre
• Events & Conference Organiser of the Year: Boast Events
• Future Leaders in Tourism: Zibonele Mdletshe
Congratulations to all the winners and finalists for making the Eastern Cape proud.
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