The Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro QS 2,000 and Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro Junior delivered another day of high-quality surfing at Victoria Bay on Saturday, with clean two-to-four-foot waves and light winds providing ideal conditions on International Surfing Day.
With the men’s Round of 16 and women’s Quarterfinals completed in the QS 2,000, and the Pro Junior semifinalists decided, the stage is now set for an exciting Finals Day on Sunday.
Sarah Baum Returns In Style
Top seed Sarah Baum made a successful return to Victoria Bay, drawing on fond memories from her junior surfing days as she powered through both the Round of 16 and Quarterfinals.
Baum looked comfortable from the outset, finding the best waves of each heat and posting one of the strongest performances of the day. Her quarterfinal total of 13.67 secured a place in the semifinals and reinforced her status as one of the favourites heading into the final day.
Defending champion Natasha van Greunen also advanced after a dramatic finish to her quarterfinal encounter with Morocco’s Ninon Mattei. Needing a score in the closing moments, Van Greunen used priority wisely and found the wave she needed to move through to the semifinals.
The final women’s heat of the day produced another tight battle. Zoë Steyn remained patient as conditions slowed and was rewarded with one of the better set waves of the heat. Her strong backhand surfing earned a semifinal berth ahead of Anastasia Venter.
Prestwich Leads Strong Men’s Charge
The men’s Round of 16 produced some of the best surfing of the event so far.
Slade Prestwich posted the highest single-wave score of the competition, earning a 9.00-point ride for a series of powerful turns linked together with trademark flow and speed. His performance secured a convincing victory and a place in the quarterfinals.
Morocco’s Teva Bouchgua continued his impressive start to the season. Surfing Victoria Bay for the first time, Bouchgua adapted quickly to the long right-hand point break and advanced comfortably through his Round of 16 heat.
One of the standout matchups of the day saw Adin Masencamp and Luke van Wyk exchange the lead several times in a closely contested battle. Masencamp eventually emerged victorious with a heat total of 13.84 to secure his place in the quarterfinals.
The men’s quarterfinal lineup now features a mix of experienced campaigners and rising stars, setting up an intriguing Finals Day showdown.
Junior Semifinalists Confirmed
The Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro Junior continued to showcase the next generation of South African surfing talent.
Top seed Louise Lepront advanced comfortably and will now face her younger sister Leah Lepront in one of the most anticipated semifinal matchups of the event. Leah secured her place after winning her quarterfinal heat ahead of Camilla Heuer.
Anastasia Venter enjoyed a remarkable day of competition. After advancing deep into the QS 2,000 draw, she carried that momentum into the Pro Junior division. Venter stayed active throughout her heat, building scores steadily before sealing victory with a strong final-wave performance.
In the boys’ division, Nate Colby demonstrated patience and composure as the swell began to ease during the afternoon. After waiting through a long lull, Colby found the wave he needed and posted an excellent 8.17 to secure victory.
Levi Epenetos also booked his place in the semifinals after one of the strongest performances of the day. Improving with nearly every ride, Epenetos finished with an outstanding 8.67-point wave score to take the win and continue his charge toward the title.
International Surfing Day Celebrated At Victoria Bay
Saturday’s competition coincided with International Surfing Day, creating a fitting backdrop for a memorable day at one of South Africa’s most iconic point breaks.
Competitors, spectators and organisers enjoyed excellent weather, quality surf and a vibrant atmosphere throughout the day. The combination of world-class waves and strong performances highlighted why Victoria Bay remains one of the country’s most beloved surfing venues.
With titles, ranking points and valuable momentum all on the line, attention now turns to Finals Day as the Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro QS 2,000 and Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro Junior draw to a close.
The event concludes on Sunday at Victoria Bay, George.
With just days to go until the Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro QS 2,000 and Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro Junior, the forecast is shaping up beautifully for three days of high-performance surfing at one of South Africa’s most iconic point breaks.
Current forecasts indicate consistent surf in the two-to-three-foot range throughout the event window. This is accompanied by light and variable winds. While not expected to be a giant swell event, the conditions look ideally suited to showcase the best surfers in the country, along with the international entries.
Mechanical Right-Hander
For seasoned competitors, Victoria Bay’s long, mechanical right-hander often produces some of its best surfing when conditions are clean rather than oversized. The forecast is expected to provide plenty of opportunity for surfers to demonstrate the kind of speed, power, flow and high-risk surfing that judges reward.
While the forecast currently looks favourable, organisers will continue to monitor conditions throughout the week. Should surf heights drop significantly, nearby Herold’s Bay remains available as a backup venue. The picturesque beachbreak, is located just around the corner from Victoria Bay. It has a long history of producing quality competition conditions when required.
Opening Function
The countdown for the Rip Vic Bay Surf Pro begins on Thursday evening with the official opening function at The Pottery in George. Starting at 6 pm on 18 June, the gathering will bring together competitors, sponsors, partners and event officials ahead of three days of competition at Victoria Bay.
The Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro QS 2,000 and Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro Junior are supported by George Municipality, George Tourism, The Pottery and Sir Fruit. Also, Bliz Eyewear, Bilt Surfboards International, Betify, Yeti, Red Bull, The Royal St Andrews Hotel and Harcourts South Africa.
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Watch Live
The Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro will be broadcast live on WorldSurfLeague.com and on the free WSL app. This will bring all the action from Victoria Bay to a global audience.
Media Information
Complimentary high-resolution images are available for media outlets.
Rip Curl South Africa media enquiries and photo requests, please contact:
With just one week to go until the Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro QS 2,000 and Rip Curl Vic Bay Pro Junior, excitement is building along the Garden Route.
While the surfers will take centre stage when competition gets underway, events of this calibre do not happen on their own. Instead, they rely on strong partnerships, shared vision and a collective commitment to growing surfing in South Africa.
As the countdown begins, the organisers would like to acknowledge and thank the partners helping bring this year’s event to life.
A sincere thank you goes to George Tourism and George Municipality for their continued support of surfing, tourism and major events in the region. Their backing helps position Victoria Bay as one of South Africa’s premier surf destinations while showcasing everything the Garden Route has to offer.
In addition, we extend our appreciation to The Pottery, Sir Fruit, Bliz Eyewear, Bilt International, Betify, Yeti, Red Bull, The Royal St Andrews Hotel and Harcourts South Africa for supporting this year’s event.
VICTORIA BAY, Photo by Kody McGregor/World Surf League)
Surfing And Coastal Living Go Hand In Hand
This year, the event proudly welcomes Harcourts South Africa as a supporting sponsor.
The partnership reflects the close connection between surfing, coastal living and the thriving communities that surround South Africa’s most desirable beachfront destinations. Victoria Bay remains one of the country’s hidden gems, while the wider Garden Route continues to attract visitors, homeowners and investors from around the world.
As a result, the partnership between Harcourts and the Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro feels like a natural fit.
Big Prizes Raise The Stakes
The Royal St Andrews Hotel has added even more excitement by contributing a four-night stay during the 2027 Port Alfred Easter Festival.
Importantly, the prize creates a direct link between Victoria Bay and the Easter Festival, where the Royal St Andrews Hotel Rip Curl Cup QS 4,000 is already confirmed for Easter 2027.
Meanwhile, Bliz Eyewear has strengthened the prize pool with premium eyewear products that will be awarded to the winners of both the QS 2,000 and Pro Junior divisions.
However, that is only the beginning.
Leading surfboard manufacturer Bilt International will also award two premium surfboards during the event.
Rewarding Breakout Performances
Bilt International manufactures boards for some of the world’s most respected surf brands, including Channel Islands Surfboards, …Lost Surfboards by Mayhem, Chilli Surfboards and its own Bilt Surfboards range.
Two boards from these world-class brands will be awarded for standout performances during the Rip Curl Vic Bay Pro Junior.
The awards recognise surfers who rise to the occasion, exceed expectations and make a lasting impression when it matters most.
Ultimately, the support from sponsors and partners creates opportunities for athletes, delivers valuable exposure for Victoria Bay and the Garden Route, and helps drive the continued growth of competitive surfing in South Africa.
With the contest window now just days away, all signs point towards another memorable week of surfing at one of South Africa’s most iconic point breaks.
Brad Peens from the Down The Line Surf YouTube channel captured some magic at Bruce’s Beauties, aptly named ‘Vintage Bruce’s At Its Best’ with Jack Erlank, Slayde Shooter, the Hill brothers, and a crew of local surfers making the most of an all-time window.
A clean south swell, light winds and perfectly timed tides combined to light up the point, serving up long walls and plenty of opportunities. The conditions aligned, the surfers were on it, and Brad was there to document a memorable day at one of the Eastern Cape’s most rippable waves.
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.
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.
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.
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 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:
There were moments in the taxi when I thought he was going to die, here, in a taxi on a nondescript road in rural Indonesia.
The rain hammered against the windscreen as we raced through rural Indonesia on the island of Sumbawa towards the nearest hospital. Scooters appeared from nowhere. Cows wandered across the road. The driver overtook lumbering cattle trucks on blind corners. Every minute felt important.
In the back seat, a badly injured surfer drifted in and out of awareness while his wife held him upright and spoke to him constantly.
Earlier that afternoon, the day had started perfectly.
The waves were firing. Surfers filled the lineup. Then suddenly there was shouting in the channel.
Trouble In The Channel
A surfer had suffered a heavy blow to the head and spent a significant amount of time underwater before being rescued and brought to shore.
When he arrived on the beach he was conscious, but only just.
He seemed confused. He struggled to answer simple questions. Most concerning of all, he repeatedly complained that he could not breathe properly.
As often happens in remote places, plenty of people wanted to help. Advice arrived from every direction. Everyone meant well. Very few people knew exactly what to do.
The priority seemed obvious.
Keep him calm.
Help him breathe.
Get him to a hospital.
Eventually, the transport arrived.
It took several of us to carry him into the vehicle. His wife climbed in beside him. I climbed in as well with these two strangers, for support.
Nobody else seemed particularly enthusiastic about an hour-long taxi ride through rural Sumbawa to the very rudimentary RSUD Dompu (Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah Dompu), the public hospital serving the Dompu region of Sumbawa.
One Long Hour
The next hour felt considerably longer than sixty minutes.
We spoke to him the entire way, and we encouraged him. We reassured him, and we counted down the kilometres, asking simple questions to keep his mind working.
Whenever he replied, everybody relaxed slightly.
Whenever he fell silent, the anxiety returned.
Eventually, we arrived.
The hospital was crowded, chaotic and operating under pressure. Nevertheless, doctors and nurses immediately got to work.
Tests followed.
Treatment followed.
Then the seriousness of the situation became clear.
Blood Oxygen Saturation
Doctors discovered a significant head wound. They found fluid in his lungs. Most alarming of all, his blood oxygen saturation had fallen to around 67 per cent, a figure frighteningly low by any standard.
For a while, nobody offered predictions.
Fortunately, the oxygen levels slowly climbed. His condition stabilised. The immediate danger passed.
By the following day, he was able to stand. Soon afterwards, he was walking like Robocop.
The surfer recovered.
His wife got her husband back.
The doctors did their job.
After all the stress, uncertainty, panic, tropical downpours, overloaded cattle trucks, a serious head injury, oxygen levels of 67 percent and an hour-long race to the hospital, I learned one thing.
A developing rural corner of an Indonesian island, populated by farmers and fishermen, crossed daily by overloaded cattle trucks, hammered by tropical rain, floods and landslides, and corruption, still has better roads than St Francis Bay.
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