Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro Adds New Prizes And Partner Activations
Premium surfboards from Bilt International, a four-night stay from The Royal St Andrews Hotel, prizes from Bliz Eyewear, support from Harcourts, and an official opening function at The Pottery add further momentum to the Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro and Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro Junior.
VICTORIA BAY, SOUTH AFRICA – The countdown to the 2026 Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro continues, with event organisers confirming a range of prizes, partner activations and event activities ahead of competition getting underway in June.
These events will once again bring South Africa’s top surfers to Victoria Bay as they compete for valuable World Surf League ranking points, prize money and national recognition.
Challenger Series competitor Louise Lepront from Scottburgh at Vic Bay
The event has proudly welcomed Harcourts as a supporting sponsor. The partnership reflects the strong connection between surfing, coastal lifestyles and the communities that continue to thrive around South Africa’s premier beachfront destinations. Victoria Bay and the Garden Route remain among South Africa’s most sought-after coastal regions, creating a natural alignment between the event and one of the country’s leading property brands.
Prizes Add Extra Incentive
Supporting sponsor The Royal St Andrews Hotel has contributed a four-night stay at the iconic Port Alfred Hotel during the 2027 Port Alfred Easter Festival. The prize creates a connection between the Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro and the Easter Festival, where the Royal St Andrews Hotel Rip Curl Cup QS 4,000 is confirmed to take place over Easter 2027.
Bliz Eyewear has further strengthened the prize offering, with premium eyewear products set to be awarded to the winners of both the QS 2,000 and the Pro Junior events.
Adding further incentive for competitors, leading surfboard manufacturer Bilt International will award two premium surfboards during the event.
Bilt International manufactures surfboards for some of the world’s most respected brands, including Channel Islands Surfboards, …Lost Surfboards by Mayhem, Chilli Surfboards and its own Bilt Surfboards range.
Two boards from these brands will be awarded for various breakout performances during the tournament. The awards are designed to recognise surfers who seize their opportunity, exceed expectations and make their mark during the event.
Opening Function For The Vic Bay Surf Pro At The Pottery
Competition weekend will begin with the official event opening function at The Pottery in George on Thursday, 18 June at 18:00.
Hosted by The Pottery, one of the event’s supporting sponsors, the relaxed meet-and-greet gathering will bring together competitors, sponsors, officials and invited guests ahead of the opening day of competition.
With world-class waves, valuable ranking points, prize money and a growing list of prizes and partner activations, the contest continues to strengthen its reputation as one of the flagship events on the World Surf League Africa calendar.
Watch Live
The event will be broadcast live on WorldSurfLeague.com and on the free WSL app, bringing all the action from Victoria Bay to a global audience.
Media Information
Complimentary high-resolution images are available for media outlets.
For Rip Curl South Africa media enquiries and photo requests, please contact:
Victoria Bay – The 2026 Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro is shaping into one of the strongest early-season World Surf League events in recent years, with an impressive international contingent confirmed alongside many of South Africa’s top surfers ahead of the June tournament at Victoria Bay.
Presented by Rip Curl in partnership with the World Surf League Africa, the event will feature the Men’s and Women’s QS 2,000 contest, alongside the Pro Junior tournament, officially launching the 2026/2027 South African Qualifying Series season.
“The Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro is an important event for the African region and continues to build real momentum for professional surfing in South Africa,” said Graham Stapelberg, WSL President: Africa Region and WSL President: Tours and Competition.
“There is genuine energy around the sport right now, with strong talent emerging and more high-quality events creating opportunities for surfers to progress through the regional pathway. Rip Curl’s ongoing commitment to competitive surfing in South Africa has played a valuable role in that growth, and Victoria Bay remains one of the country’s premier high-performance venues.”
International Talent Heads To Vic Bay
Morocco will once again arrive with strong momentum following standout performances at the Port Alfred Easter Festival earlier this year.
The Royal St Andrews Hotel Rip Curl Cup Rip Port Alfred 2026 Qualifying Series winners Lilias Tebbai and Teva Bouchgua have both entered the Vic Bay event, alongside fellow Moroccan surfers Ayman Gougali and Ninon Mattei.
International depth also includes Hina-Maria Conradi from Reunion Island, while experienced Australian campaigner Philippa Anderson adds significant experience and firepower to the women’s division.
The event has also attracted many of South Africa’s leading surfers across both the QS and Pro Junior divisions. This includes the likes of Adin Masencamp, Connor Slijpen, and Teva Bouchgua, while the women’s field features Sarah Baum alongside Louise Lepront and Jessie van Niekerk.
In the junior men’s division, surfers to watch include Levi Epenetos, Ben Esterhuyse, and Kai Hall, while the junior girls’ division carries another strong field led by Leah Lepront, Emily Jenkinson, and Anastasia Venter.
Rip Curl South Africa Team Locked In
The Rip Curl South Africa team will also be strongly represented at Victoria Bay, with a talented mix of established competitors and next-generation surfers entered into the event.
The team includes Jack Erlank, Rylan Jarvis, Loghann Tilsley, Louise Lepront, Max Kauffman, and Ben Esterhuyse.
Strong Sponsor And Industry Support
The event has attracted significant support from both the public and private sectors, reflecting the growing momentum around competitive surfing and coastal lifestyle events in South Africa.
Support from George Municipality and George Tourism continues to strengthen Victoria Bay’s positioning as one of the country’s premier surf and tourism destinations.
A strong lineup of commercial partners has further boosted confidence around the event, with leading lifestyle and industry brands including YETI, Bilt Surfboards, Bliz Eyewear, Sir Fruit, Red Bull, and Betify aligning themselves with the event.
Hospitality partner Royal St Andrews Hotel and local supporter The Pottery further strengthen the community and lifestyle element surrounding the tournament.
The level of support around the event reflects broader positive momentum within South African surfing, with growing enthusiasm from athletes, brands, tourism stakeholders, and audiences ahead of the new Africa Qualifying Series season.
Strong Early-Season Momentum
With international surfers, established South African campaigners, and some of the country’s best junior talent all converging on Victoria Bay, the 2026 Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro is already generating strong anticipation ahead of the opening heats.
The event is expected to deliver high-performance surfing, valuable early-season rankings points, and a strong showcase for African surfing at one of South Africa’s most consistent high-performance waves.
Watch Live
The Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro will be broadcast live on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app.
Media Information
Complimentary high-resolution images are available for media outlets.
For Rip Curl South Africa media enquiries and photo requests, please contact:
The 2026 Rip Curl Vic Bay Pro is already building strong momentum ahead of its return to Victoria Bay in June, with growing interest from surfers, sponsors, and the broader surfing community ahead of the opening heats.
The event will feature the Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro Men’s and Women’s World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 2,000 event, alongside the Rip Curl Vic Bay Pro Junior Men’s and Women’s WSL Junior Tour contest.
Presented by Rip Curl South Africa in partnership with the World Surf League, the event marks the official start of the 2026/2027 Africa Qualifying Series season and is expected to attract many of the country’s leading surfers to the Garden Route for valuable early-season rankings points and prize money.
Cooper Smith (Photo by Kody McGregor/World Surf League)
There has been a noticeable sense of anticipation around the return of a major surfing event to Victoria Bay, one of the country’s most respected high-performance right-hand pointbreaks.
For many within South African surfing, Vic Bay remains one of the most iconic contest venues on the coastline, and the return of a QS-level event to the bay has generated strong support around the event.
Support from George Tourism and George Municipality has helped strengthen the platform around the event, while a respected group of partners and sponsors have aligned behind the series.
The latest brands to come on board are Sir Fruit and Betify, adding further momentum to the event.
Connor Slijpen (Photo by Kody McGregor/World Surf League)
Rip Curl Looking Ahead
Rip Curl South Africa CEO Stuart Daykin said the response to the Vic Bay event had been hugely encouraging.
“There’s a really good feeling around this event already,” said Daykin. “Vic Bay has always held a special place in South African surfing, and the response from the surfing community, our partners, and the broader public has been incredible to watch. There’s been a strong sense of excitement around the return of a major event to this coastline, and that energy has carried through everything leading up to the contest.
“This contest is also part of a much bigger picture for us. We have some very exciting long-term plans taking shape for Rip Curl events and competitive surfing in South Africa, and Vic Bay feels like an important step forward in that journey. The level of support already coming into this event gives us a lot of confidence about where things are heading.”
Important Start To The Season
With a strong field expected across both QS and Pro Junior divisions, the Rip Curl Vic Bay Pro is set to play an important role in launching the new South African competitive surfing season.
As winter begins to settle onto the Garden Route coastline and the first major swells start to line up across Victoria Bay, the stage is set for the return of one of South Africa’s classic surf event locations.
Media Information
Complimentary high-resolution images are available for media outlets.
For Rip Curl South Africa media enquiries and photo requests, please contact:
Rip Curl South Africa is proud to announce the Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro Men’s and Women’s WSL QS 2,000 events, as well as the Rip Curl Vic Bay Pro Junior Men’s and Women’s WJR 1,000 events at Victoria Bay in June. These events will form the official start of the 2026/2027 Africa Qualifying Series.
Rip Curl South Africa and the World Surf League (WSL) Africa will host the 2026 Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro, with support from George Municipality and George Tourism.
Additional sponsors include Bliz Eyewear, Bilt International, Yeti, The Pottery in George, and the Royal St Andrews Hotel in Port Alfred. These tournaments will attract the top surfers in the country as they bid for points, qualification and prize money.
What
The Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro will feature a WSL Africa Qualifying Series (QS) 2,000 event for men and women, alongside a Pro Junior tournament for men and women.
The event marks the official start of the 2026/2027 WSL Africa Qualifying Series season.
When
The contest takes place from June 19-21, 2026, a prime window period for excellent surf at this premier right-hand point break.
Where
The event will run at Victoria Bay on the Garden Route, one of South Africa’s most recognised high-performance surf breaks.
The Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro continues the momentum generated by the recent Rip Curl contests in Port Alfred, where both events reached maximum capacity and enjoyed excellent surf conditions throughout the competition period.
The addition of the Pro Junior divisions and a dedicated broadcast across the full event window will further increase exposure for the surfers, the event, and the Garden Route region.
WSL Africa Regional Director Tasha Mentasti said the event continues to play an important role in the regional surfing calendar.
“WSL Africa is excited to return to the iconic Garden Route for the 2026 Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro, marking our second consecutive year hosting this event in one of South Africa’s most celebrated surf destinations,” said Mentasti.
“As the official start of the 2026/2027 Africa Qualifying Series, the Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro plays a key role in setting the tone for the season ahead.
“Thanks to the investment and support from Rip Curl South Africa, we’ve been able to elevate the event further this year by adding a Pro Junior division and delivering a dedicated broadcast across the full duration of the competition.
“This not only enhances opportunities for emerging talent but also significantly increases the visibility of the event and the region.
“It is particularly rewarding to work alongside partners who understand the broader impact of these regional qualifiers.
“Events like the Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro bring meaningful economic and social benefits to small coastal towns, especially during the quieter winter months, while continuing to grow the sport at both a grassroots and professional level.”
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Complimentary high-resolution images are available for media outlets.
For Rip Curl media enquiries and photo requests, please get in touch with Craig Jarvis:
e. craig@truthcollective.co.za
t. 082 376 4443
The year opened at full pace. Deadlines stacked up. Messages came in waves. Each day ran tight, with little space between one task and the next. Then Indonesia introduced a different tempo through jam karet.
You can’t fight time, and you won’t beat it. Arguing with it gets you nowhere. It just keeps moving, steady and indifferent. We have already lost friends and loved ones to time this year, and time is linear. There’s no going back.
That realisation has been sitting with me here, watching time march forward and the days move on. The sun rises, and we walk around, and we surf, and we eat things, and then the sun sets. Accepting time for what it is feels like one of the keys to finding a bit of calm. Stop pushing against it, and things begin to settle.
It is inexorable and impassive, yet in yielding to its rhythm rather than resisting it, the day begins to carry you with a quieter, more deliberate ease.
Time That Stretches
Jam karet translates as “rubber time.” In practice, it means that schedules hold lightly. A ten o’clock start might drift. A plan adjusts as the day unfolds. At first, that approach feels slightly off balance. The instinct is to check the time, to measure, to manage.
However, the longer the days unfold here, the clearer it becomes that everything still happens. It simply happens with less pressure.
Ferry Times and Perspective
Ferry schedules offer a perfect example. A departure listed on paper suggests precision. In reality, timing varies with conditions, loading, and the day’s general rhythm. The ferry leaves when it is ready. Everyone seems to understand this, and the system continues to work.
That small adjustment carries through into everything else. Waiting becomes part of the process rather than a disruption. As a result, the day still flows, feels less fragmented and more continuous.
A Useful Reset
Sitting in a warung with my son, waiting for a meal that arrives when it is ready, the value of this approach becomes clear. The gaps in the day start to feel constructive. Conversations stretch. Meals take their time. The need to optimise every hour fades.
This shift has helped ease the pace after a busy start to the year. The mind settles. Focus returns in a quieter, steadier way. There is still structure, but it feels more flexible and far easier to carry.
A Different Kind of Efficiency
Jam karet does not remove productivity. It reframes it. The day still moves forward, just without constant urgency. That change brings a sense of balance that is easy to appreciate and worth holding onto long after the ferry finally leaves.
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