Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro Set For Strong June Showcase

by SFT | Jun 9, 2026 | St Francis, Surf Editorial

The Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro is shaping up to be one of the standout surfing events of the South African winter. It has strong sponsor support and an increasingly competitive field. There is growing anticipation ahead of the 19 to 21 June event window.

The event features both a World Surf League Qualifying Series (QS) 2,000 and a WSL Junior Qualifying Series (JQS),. This brings together established competitors and emerging talent at the iconic right-hand point break of Victoria Bay.

Entries have surged for this year’s event, resulting in one of the largest fields assembled for a competition of this ranking at Victoria Bay. Thus among the strongest turnouts for a QS 2,000 event nationwide. The exceptional response from both QS and JQS competitors reflects the growing stature of the event and the value of the rankings points on offer.

International Entries: Brazilian ISA Medallist

One of the latest high-profile entries is Brazilian surfer Ryan Coelho, a former ISA World Surfing Games medallist. His participation adds further international depth to an already impressive field. His inclusion strengthens the quality of the draw and underlines the event’s appeal to surfers looking for valuable contest experience.

“The new QS season gets underway with an exceptionally strong field, setting the stage for an intense battle for early rankings points,” said Luqmaan Bruce, WSL Tour Manager – Africa.

“With Africa’s top surfers and international contenders in the draw, Victoria Bay will provide the first indication of who is poised to emerge as a leading force on the regional tour.”

The event has also attracted exceptional support from the business community. There have been a number of new sponsors coming on board in recent weeks. Their involvement has enhanced the event offering. It reflects a strong vote of confidence in both the competition and the wider value that surfing events bring to coastal communities.

Additional Sponsors

Sponsors for this WSL event include: Rip Curl South Africa, George Municipality, George Tourism, Bilt International, Sir Fruit, Bliz Eyewear, Betify, Harcourts, The Royal St Andrews Hotel, The Pottery, Yeti and Red Bull.

The level of sponsor engagement has been particularly encouraging. It signals a willingness among partners to invest in events that deliver sporting excellence, tourism exposure, and authentic connections with the surfing community.

The Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro has already generated significant exposure for Victoria Bay and the Garden Route through event coverage, social media, and digital channels.

The stage is set for an exciting three days of competition at one of South Africa’s most celebrated surfing venues.

The contest is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa.

Watch Live

The Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro will be broadcast live on WorldSurfLeague.com and on the free WSL app. Thus bringing all the action from Victoria Bay to a global audience.

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Media Information

Complimentary high-resolution images are available for media outlets.

For Rip Curl South Africa media enquiries and photo requests, please contact:

Craig Jarvis
Truth Collective
e. craig@truthcollective.co.za
t. 082 376 4443

For World Surf League Africa media enquiries, please contact:

Bianca van Aardt
WSL EMEA Communications Manager
e. bvanaardt@worldsurfleague.com
t. +27 82 773 5407

ENDS