Volkswagen Amarok King of the Whip Delivers an Unforgettable Evening of Freestyle Motocross Intense battles in both the Best Whip and Best Trick contests at the 2025 Volkswagen Amarok King of the Whip saw the USA’s Wyatt Fontenot crowned the new King of the Whip, while Australia’s Pat Bowden successfully defended both of his Best Trick titles. The action unfolded in front of a sold-out crowd at Montecasino, Johannesburg.
The event was presented by LW Magin association with Monster Energy, Yamaha, Garmin, Motul, GoPro, Fox Racing, PlayTSOGO and Estrella Cerveza.
Top Freestyle Motocross and Motocross riders took to the ramps to compete in the Best Whip and Best Trick contests, all vying for a share of the R250 000 prize purse. The 2025 rider lineup featured 21 South African competitors and nine international athletes: Julien Vanstippen (Belgium), Wyatt Fontenot (USA), Pat Bowden (Australia) Genki “Wanky” Watanabe (Japan), Vicki Golden (USA), Ry Hazell (Australia), Marc Pinyol (Spain), Julien Mannon (France) and Stav Orland (Uganda).
King of the Whip Delivers
Event organiser Ryan van der Spuy said “Seeing what we achieved this year is something I’m extremely proud of. I can confidently say that King of the Whip has grown into one of the world’s premier Freestyle Motocross events. The caliber of international athletes who come out to South Africa to compete against our local stars was insane. The action was non-stop from start to finish, with energy building all the way through to the final and prize giving.
A huge thank you to everyone involved and for helping turn this vision into reality, and most importantly to our riders who put it all on the line – this event is for you and for the sport. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
The Best Whip contest kicked off the day with riders going head-to-head across four qualifying rounds, each battling for a spot in the next stage. Judges assessed amplitude, style, and variation as they narrowed the competitors down to the 16 rider semi-final. From there, eight riders were eliminated, leaving the top eight to advance into the highly anticipated Finals.
Before the King of the Whip could be crowned, the spotlight shifted to the FMX riders as they showcased their skills in the Best Trick Right-Side-Up and Upside-Down competitions, where each rider had three chances to take to the ramps and pull off the best trick possible. Defending champion, Pat Bowden dominated both categories, reaffirming his status as the undisputed King of the Tricks.
Right-Side-Up
Bowden claimed the top spot in the Right-Side-Up category with his electrifying Christ Air Stage Dive (No-Hander Lander). Genki Watanabe unveiled his new trick, The Octopus — a whipped-out seat-grab Indy to Airplane — earning him a well-deserved second place, while Julien Vanstippen followed in third with a whipped-out Airplane to Seat Grab.
In the Upside-Down category, Bowden once again dominated, this time with his show-stealing Rowedova Backflip to One-Hander Lander. Marc Pinyol, who won the 2023 Best Trick contest with his iconic California Roll Body Varial, brought the trick back for 2025 to secure the runner-up position. Julien Vanstippen completed the podium with a powerful Backflip Tsunami.
Pat Bowden, winner of the Best Trick contests stated “It means a lot to me, honestly. I was lying in a hospital bed in Russia six weeks ago, and I didn’t honestly think that I would be here, obviously the first place feels good, but what really means the most to me is the fact that I’m even here right now. Just so grateful for Ryan (van der Spuy), for putting this event on, everyone who supports it, the hospitality here is absolutely crazy. This is definitely a world class event. I was here last year, and he somehow manages to step this thing up year after the year, so I think the future looks bright. It will be interesting to see where this event goes.”
Monster Energy’s Rig Riot
Before the evening’s main event, the Best Whip Final, fans were treated to Monster Energy’s Rig Riot – a spectacular laser and light show that transformed Montecasino’s façade into a breathtaking display, marking a first-of-its-kind experience in South Africa.
As riders got ready to send it into the final the tempo intensified, enhanced by pyrotechnics and a crowd brimming with anticipation. Riders left nothing on the table as they attempted to dethrone reigning champion Julien Vanstippen.
The Final delivered a fiercely contested showdown between Julien Vanstippen and the two Stark Varg riders Wyatt Fontenot and Ry Hazell. Vicki Golden, the event’s first female competitor, was also in the mix along with Genki Watanabe, Stav Olrand, Ryan Adler and Trent Valsecchi.
Outstanding performance
With each jump the whips got bigger and crazier. In the end, Fontenot rose above the pack to claim the crown from Vanstippen. Hazell delivered an outstanding performance to secure third place, with Stav Orland and Vicki Golden rounding out the top five.
Best Whip winner Wyatt Fontenot said “It’s amazing. The guys out here pushed me to the fullest. Julien (Vanstippen) has always been a big inspiration to me, and to be able to ride with him and compete with him is crazy. South Africa has sickest crowd I’ve ever seen. Since I’ve landed, I’ve had the coolest people around me. South Africa, I’m definitely coming back. Nicest people out here.”
Ryan Adler delivered an impressive performance throughout the day, advancing from the qualifying rounds to the semi-finals and ultimately earning his place in the Final. On his opening jump of the last round, he unleashed one of his biggest whips of the event but suffered a heavy crash. Despite returning to a badly damaged bike, Adler managed to get it patched up well enough to make another attempt before the Final wrapped.
His determination, spirit, and unwavering energy throughout the competition earned him the newly introduced Ricky Raaff Award—presented in honour of the late Ricky Raaff.
A wise man once said that property prices are linked to the quality of the cycling trials in the area!
A little background info:
The St Francis MTB Track evolved over the years, but was always “to the lighthouse and back” route from the village, via the reserve at the end of Santareme. In 2020, we found a route through the Thatch farm (just north of St Francis Field), and this dramatically improved it to a circular route, which cyclists far prefer.
We also forged better alliances with Foster and Kromme Enviro, enabling us to utilise some of their routes, notably the Bruces section, giving cyclists a wonderful front row view of the sea.
Since 2020, we have raised (and spent!) about R1 m on the maintenance and expansion of the route to its current 27km length.
Reduce Tar
The aim has been to reduce the amount of tar and to improve the riding experience.
But trail building is not cheap! About R100,000 per km!
Fortunately, in addition to our membership fees, we have had some very generous donors.
Another reason why our track is so essential is that some of our old informal routes are no longer accessible, eg the old circular route via the property owned by Eskom behind the Links.
A recent innovation has been a track alongside the road to Humansdorp, making that route much safer and more pleasant.
Club Rides
Our club holds rides every Thursday evening, plus many Saturday and weekend and longer rides, some far afield.
We are fortunate to have an excellent cycling shop where Arno can provide information on cycling routes (and sell or rent you a bike, too!).
So perhaps you now agree that the St Francis Cycling Club is worth supporting, so …
Join us on Wednesday, 17 December, for a rocking Rock Quiz, for only R120, at the Links, starting at 7 pm. Bookings at the Links reception on 042 200 4500.
On a personal note, after six years as treasurer, I am pleased that young Brian Truscott is taking over from 1 January, a keener cyclist and a better accountant!
It has been a pleasure working with Greg West, the backbone of the club, and Tyrone Kindness, our very fine track builder (and his very fine team!)
With the festive season already underway, Kouga Local Municipality has its beach safety teams fully in place. Approximately 50 trained lifeguards are on duty across the region, providing a visible presence at busy swimming areas and offering assistance as needed. Their role remains essential. They help keep the coastline safe, allowing residents and visitors to relax, swim, and enjoy their holiday time.
Jeffreys Bay Main Beach, a Blue Flag beach, has twelve lifeguards on duty from 1 November 2025 through to 30 April 2026. Cape St Francis Beach, also a Blue Flag beach, is currently staffed by eight lifeguards, who will remain on duty until 28 February 2026. These periods cover both the early summer build-up and the busiest stretch of the season.
Across the rest of the coastline, lifeguards are monitoring Aston Bay Beach, Pellsrus Beach, Paradise Beach, Kabeljous Beach, Kabeljous Lagoon, St Francis Beach, Granny’s Pool and the Paradise Beach Lagoon. Their duty period runs from 1 December 2025 to 13 January 2026, aligning with the weeks when families and holidaymakers fill the beaches from early morning to late afternoon.
Keeping Beachgoers Safe
Kouga Municipality encourages all beachgoers to follow safety signage, stay within designated swimming zones and always listen to lifeguard instructions. Swimming between the flags is the simplest way to reduce risk. Conditions can shift quickly along this coastline, and the lifeguards are trained to identify hazards such as strong currents, shifting sandbanks and sudden wave surges.
Parents and guardians are also reminded to keep a close eye on children even in shallow water. By working with lifeguard teams and paying attention to conditions, everyone can help ensure a safe, enjoyable summer along the Kouga coast.
On Thursday, 18 December 2025, the newly renovated St Francis Links Clubhouse will come alive with energy and community spirit as it hosts Rotary Showcase 2025. This fundraising evening is built around a simple purpose. The aim is to help Hospice Nurses continue their vital work with cancer patients by raising funds for a much-needed vehicle. Money raised will also support Rotary’s many other beneficiaries who rely on ongoing assistance. From healthcare to education, early childhood development to environmental care, community support ensures these programmes remain strong.
This special evening is made possible through the generosity of local businesses, professionals, artists and residents who donated prizes, many of them without hesitation. Their commitment reflects the spirit of St Francis, a place where people show up, give back and stand together when help is needed. Their contributions have created an event that will celebrate community while supporting those who need it most.
With the dynamic Gino Fabri as entertainer and MC, guests can look forward to the excitement of the spin and win wheel and the chance to bid on exceptional prizes. The total prize value exceeds R200 000, a testament to the willingness of our community to step forward and make a difference. Throughout the evening, guests will see exactly why events like this matter.
Prizes and Highlights
Some of the standout prizes include weekend getaways at top game lodges and wine farms, one or two-night stays at St Francis Links Villas and Adrift B&B, 2026 Wine on Water tickets and a beautiful outdoor patio furniture set. There are also ceramic artworks by Martin Haines and Julia K Ceramics, an original painting by Shelley Offerman and a rare photograph of surfer Griffin Colapinto with dolphins by Pierre Tostee, offered with WSL permission. Additional prizes from Rack and Paddle and fine wine selections round out the list.
Join us for an evening filled with fun, laughter and purpose. Your ticket, your bid and your presence all matter. Be part of the story and the impact as our community chooses compassion.
Our AGMs are scheduled for December, and all members are encouraged to attend.
St Francis Property Owners Association AGM
Venue: St Francis Links
Date: Monday, 15 December
Time: 15:30 – 16:30
Form of Vote / Proxy
This Form of Vote / Proxy is for use by members of the SFPO Association and relates to the AGM of the SFPO Association that will take place at St Francis Links on Monday, 15 December 2025, from 15:30 to 16:30
All members of the St Francis Property Owners NPC are welcome to attend the Non-Profit Company AGM. If you are unable to make it, you may appoint a proxy to represent you.
Form Of Vote / Proxy This Form of Vote / Proxy is for use by members of the SFPO NPC and relates to the AGM of the SFPO NPC that will take place on Monday, 15 December 2025, at 17:00 at St Francis Links.
Groyne 6, the 1st Groyne to be constructed as per the groyne construction plan, is completed to 240 metres, and the round-head at the end of the groyne is also complete. However, the contractor is still busy laying rock on the groyne top, and the groyne remains a construction site. The contractors have indicated that this groyne will be finished by 10 December.
Work has commenced on Groyne 5, the 2nd Groyne to be constructed per the groyne construction plan. This groyne is already at 50 metres of the 200 metre construction plan. The entire area will remain a construction site until 10 December. The contractors, WBHO Construction, will go on leave on 11 December and return to the site on 7 January 2026.
During the holiday break, from 11 December to 6 January, the revetment road and beach access will be open to the public, but the groynes will remain closed for public access. The public is reminded that use of the revetment road and beach access is at their own risk, and the SFPO and/or the SFPO NPC shall not be responsible for any injury of any nature.
Jet ski users and fishing boats entering and exiting the mouth of the Kromme River are urged to exercise caution around the groynes, especially at night.
St Francis Tourism Christmas Lights Event
St Francis Tourism is hosting the Christmas Lights on the Canals event on 17 December at 17h30 at the Small Craft Harbour.
Christmas Lights on the Canals takes place on 17 December at 17h30, and St Francis Tourism would love canal homeowners to help create a magical festive route for everyone to enjoy. If you’re able, please light up your home or canal frontage with Christmas lights or simple festive decorations.
Every contribution enhances the experience for families and visitors making their way through the canals by boat and from the harbour. Your participation plays a big part in keeping this a tradition our community can look forward to each year.
Kromme River Welcomes Holiday-Makers
The Kromme Joint River Committee welcomes all visitors and locals to the Kromme River and trusts that everyone will enjoy all that the River has to offer over the December/January festive period. As widely published and advertised, the Long Term Coastal Protection Scheme (LTCPS) has commenced and continues to make steady progress.
The first groyne at the Kromme River mouth will be completed before the start of the holiday season, while the second and third Groynes, as indicated in the official construction plan, are scheduled for completion next year.
Dredging and sand pumping will begin in December.
Since the commencement of the LTCPS, dredging has been allowed in two heavily silted areas of the River. The first area is known as the S-Bend or Drift, and the second is the area under the bridge on the R330 road.
However, due to ongoing silting in the River, it is essential to note that the navigable channels remain extremely narrow and shallow in places, especially at low tide. Special care must therefore be taken when cruising up or down the River.
The River Mouth and the exit to the sea are still changing, and care must be taken when exiting from Ski Canal to the River Mouth and sea, or when cruising down the River and exiting through the Mouth to the sea. There are strong currents present at and near the Mouth, and it is advisable not to engage in swimming activity in the Mouth and basin area.
Red and Green Buoys
The red and green buoys in the River and at the Mouth indicate the navigable channel, but they are only a guide for safe traversing of the River. It is important to note that when cruising upriver from the sea, the green buoys should be on the right-hand side of the craft.
Cruising down the River towards the sea, the red buoys should be on the right-hand side of the craft. The map below, which is handed out with every application for a River permit, shows the various travel zones on the River, and additional copies are available at the Harbour Office. The guidelines indicated on the map must be adhered to at all times.
It needs to be pointed out again that the Geelhout River is a conservancy area, and a “NO WAKE ZONE” is applicable on the entire length of this River. Jet boats are also not allowed to use this River or any part thereof.
Please adhere to the relevant signs in place. For the safety of all River users, it is necessary to implement specific changes again during the busy holiday season. The number of boats has increased, as has the number of kite surfers, windsurfers, foil surfers, and paddlers in the Mouth and basin area.
No Wake Zones
It has therefore been decided that the stretch of the River from the “pink house” on the hill on the Jeffreys Bay side of the Mouth all the way to Ski Canal will be a “NO WAKE ZONE” for all motorised craft. Similarly, from the end of Ski Canal to the “pink house”, a “NO WAKE ZONE” will also apply. Please strictly adhere to the signs in place on both sides.
Jet skis will not be allowed to enter the River past a sign in place indicating “NO JET SKIS BEYOND THIS POINT”. All jet skis must turn right immediately from the end of Ski Canal towards the sea, and a “NO WAKE ZONE” will apply from the end of Ski Canal to the Spit, whereafter speed may be increased.
Likewise, when jet skis return from the sea, the “NO WAKE ZONE” will apply from the end of the Spit to Ski Canal before turning left immediately into Ski Canal. Boats exiting or entering the Mouth will also have to obey this particular “NO WAKE ZONE”. Blue and Yellow buoys are placed in the Mouth and basin area to indicate a safe area for non-motorised activities, and motorised craft are not to enter these zones.
This area will be available for swimming and similar activities, with a beach where families can congregate with their children. Please obey the signs in place, and the map below shows the relevant “NO WAKE ZONES” applicable to motorised craft and jet skis, as well as the safe area for non-motorised activities and swimming.
The River Patrol Officers
River Patrol Officers will again be on duty during the holiday season, ensuring everyone can enjoy their well-deserved break safely and responsibly. All River users are requested to treat them with respect, as they are there for your own safety and to assist when needed.
Please note that the River Patrol Officers have the right, under the relevant Municipal Bye-Laws, to issue warnings and/or fines, and that the fines will include a date to appear in Court if the fine is not paid by the due date.
River users are also requested to please refrain from playing loud music and making unnecessary noise, as this is causing a disturbance to homeowners along the River.
NB: Please remember the following:
The skipper’s licence must be available on the craft at all times.
A copy of the COF must be available on the craft at all times.
Skiing and tubing may only take place within the demarcated Ski Zone area.
Tubing in particular may only take place in a straight line.
Cautionary signs on the River must be taken note of and adhered to, whilst speeding in these areas must be avoided.
“Scurfing” is not allowed on the River as this causes severe erosion of the River banks.
Refrain from unruly behaviour and/or disturbance.
Jet skis are not allowed on the River and have to exit from Ski Canal directly to the sea.
Jetskis are not allowed to go beyond the sign at the end of the Spit.
The above are just some of the bye-laws and rules applicable for use of the River and are in place to ensure the safety of River users for maximum enjoyment and holiday fun. We wish everyone a happy and blessed festive season and a prosperous 2026.
Membership Renewals
It’s also a good time to renew your SFPO membership for the 2025–26 year. Annual voluntary membership costs R600, or R375 for pensioners. You can renew online via Payfast at stfrancispropertyowners.com/membership
Your support helps fund projects such as the Long-Term Coast Protection Scheme, kerbstone signage, walkways, and other coastal protection initiatives that keep St Francis Bay moving forward.
SFPO Association Contact:
Lyn Aitken – Administration Manager
Phone: 042 294 0594 Email: info@sfpo.co.za Office Address: 9 Philippa Place, St Francis Bay.
Christmas Carols and Fair Date: 5 December 2025 Time: 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm Venue: St Francis College Organizer: St Francis College
St Francis parkrun Date: 6 December 2025 Time: 8:00 am to 9:30 am Venue: St Francis Links
St Francis Market Date: 6 December 2025 Time: 9:00 am to 1:00 pm Venue: St Francis Market Grounds Organizer: St Francis Market Price: Free Description: Outdoor shopping experience
Giddy-Up for Good, Charity Race Night Date: 6 December 2025 Time: 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm Venue: St Francis Brewery Organizer: St Francis Brewery Price: R400
Meditate Heal Date: 7 December 2025 Time: 7:00 am to 9:00 pm Venue: Shore Road by Pump House Organizer: Silentsoul
The 6312 Amazing Race Date: 7 December 2025 Time: 8:00 am to 2:30 pm Venue: Municipal Car Park Organizer: Rotary Club of St Francis
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