The waves were small, but fun. Seal Point Boardriders put on a spirited effort against the hosting club in the Seal Point Boardriders VS JBay Boardriders clash, but at the end of the day, JBay Boardriders hoisted the amazing Stephen Bibb floating trophy to take the win and the bragging rights. The rematch will be held at Seal Point at some point in the future.
Video: Top Surfers, Including Locals, At The Royal St Andrews Hotel Rip Curl Cup – Video by St Francis Filmer Brad Peens Down The Line Surf
Read more: Gallery: St Francis Surfers At The Port Alfred Easter Festival and Spiderman
The St Francis surfers At The Port Alfred Easter Festival, from U12 to the Open Division.
There were two events. Firstly, the Surfing South Africa contest, known as the Rip Curl GromSearch presented by the Royal St Andrews Hotel. These photos were taken by SSA/Kody McGregor
Then there was the Royal St Andrews Hotel Rip Curl Cup, a WSL QS 4,0000 (men) and 2,000 (women) event. These photos were taken by WSL/Kody McGregor
Well done to Slaye Shooter for his win in the Rip Curl GromSearch, and to everyone else who competed so well in the big surf, as well as to Spiderman, who pulled in for the morning.
We have: Summer Harding, Olivia and Slayde Shooter, Jack Erlank, Rory Dace, Rylan Jarvis, Spiderman, Sophia and Luc Jackson
all photos by Kody McGregor
Slayde Shooter (Photo by Kody McGregor/World Surf League)
Rory Dace. (Photo by Kody McGregor/World Surf League)
Rylan Jarvis (Photo by Kody McGregor/World Surf League)
Jack Erlank. (Photo by Kody McGregor/World Surf League)
Olivia Shooter © Kody Mcgregor
Brin Jarvis and friend Jessie Van Niekerk © Kody Mcgregor
Rylan Jarvis © Kody Mcgregor
Olivia Shooter – © Kody Mcgregor
Brin Jarvis © Kody Mcgregor
Rylan Jarvis (Photo by Kody McGregor/World Surf League)
Olivia Shooter © Kody Mcgregor
Rory Dace © Kody Mcgregor
Luc Jackson © Kody Mcgregor
Rory dace © Kody Mcgregor
Summer Harding © Kody Mcgregor
Summer Harding © Kody Mcgregor
Slayde Shooter © Kody Mcgregor
Slayde Shooter © Kody Mcgregor
Sophia Jackson (Photo by Kody McGregor/World Surf League)
Spiderman and friends © Kody Mcgregor
Read More: Early Morning Surf Check – Photo Of The Day
Photo from the Jean-Pierre van der Merwe Letoit family archive.
Early morning surfers at Seal Point were met with an unexpected development as officials began trialling a structured “wave queue system.”
Conditions at Seals were far from ideal. A light onshore wind ruffled the surface. The swell looked uneven. Overall, it was pretty average out there. Still, the system went ahead.
The pilot project uses a colour-coded wristband system. It assigns a rotating priority order for surfers waiting to take off.
Monitoring and control are handled by a whistle from the rocks.
Surfers arriving at the point were issued with coloured wristbands. Each band links to a rotation slot. A sharp whistle signals whose turn it is to paddle.
“Blue band, you’re up. Orange, standby.”
Organisers say the system aims to reduce drop-ins, improve safety, and give everyone a fair shot at the best waves as it is starting to get out-of-control crowded at the point.
Officials also introduced a clear set of rules.
“Close-outs do not count as completed waves. However, if a surfer attempts a take-off and fails to get to their feet, the wave still counts. That surfer goes straight to the back of the queue.”
The system is managed by a newly formed Cape/Franco coordination team. The group includes recent arrivals from Cape Town and France.
The Seal Point Boardriders Club confirmed that it was not informed of the trial and is not affiliated with the system, and made subtle threats of sorting a few people out.
Reaction in the lineup was immediate.
Some surfers tried to follow the rotation. They sat wide and waited for their colour to be called. Others ignored the system and paddled into position as sets approached.
From the rocks, the commentary started early.
“Bru, check Shane calling priority on a 2-foot burger.”
“Blow the whistle one more time, I dare you to. In fact, come blow it in my face.”
“Yuss but Stevo is surfing so crap today. Must be the pressure from that whistle.’
“Screw this jol. I’m going to the groynes, Does anyone actually know these ous?”
Frustration grew as the morning wore on.
One surfer in the lineup summed it up: “If that skinny oke blows that whistle at me one more time, I’m paddling straight up the rocks to moer him.”
By mid-morning, one surfer claimed his band had “faded in the sun” and was now “technically neutral” and would no longer abide by the rules.
Official Cape/Franco spokesperson Jean-Pierre van der Merwe Letoit said the trial will continue through the day. They may adjust the system based on community feedback and wave quality.
At the time of writing, the whistle is still going, but local surfers were getting rather tense and had started drinking heavily.
A local filmer got some harrowing video footage
Be cool out there today, 1 April 2026.
Port Alfred – South Africa’s top juniors are already locking in for the Rip Curl GromSearch presented by the Royal St Andrews Hotel and supported by Sea Harvest, running 3–6 April as part of the Port Alfred Easter Festival.
A few early arrivals have already started filtering into the lineup at East Beach, getting into the groove and feeling out the bank. The right-hand walls are starting to show their shape, with surfers easing into the rhythm of the spot.
The GromSearch remains a key proving ground on the junior circuit. It places the country’s best in a high-performance contest environment where structure, pressure and opportunity all converge.
Top seeds already entered into the event include the likes of Matt Canning (U18), Ben Esterhuyse (U16), Leah Lepront (U16), Marcello Zedde (U14), Maya Malherbe (U14), Cody Painter (U12) and Adriana Canning (U12).
The Premier U16 divisions carry serious weight. The boys and girls winners secure a direct berth into the Rip Curl GromSearch International Final, with the 2026 destination still to be confirmed. Each winner also receives a R20,000 travel voucher to support their journey.
Recent finals have landed in world-class locations. Bali in 2024. Hossegor in 2025. That pathway is clear. A result at East Beach can translate quickly to the international stage, where the level gets real.
An Expression Session will run during the contest window, opening space for surfers to push beyond heat strategy. Contestants will be pushing for maximum height and full commitment, sending airs that put both equipment and bodies on the line. Cash on offer raises the level.
Channel Islands Surfboards South Africa adds another layer by awarding a custom board valued at R13,000 to the surfer who delivers a standout performance throughout the event.
The Rip Curl GromSearch is a Surfing South Africa event and forms part of the Surfing South Africa SAST Junior Tour.
See more:
Rip Curl Surf Events Set For Port Alfred Easter Festival | Key Details
Port Alfred Easter Festival Events Guide Now Live – Featuring a crew of St Francis Bay Surfers
Port Alfred – Rip Curl and the Royal St Andrews Hotel will anchor the 2026 Port Alfred Easter Festival surf programme with two key events at East Beach: the Rip Curl GromSearch presented by the Royal St Andrews Hotel, supported by Sea Harvest, and the Royal St Andrews Hotel Rip Curl Cup, a World Surf League QS event.
Together, these events bring South Africa’s top junior and professional surfers into one high-performance arena across four days of competition.
Event Overview
What
Rip Curl GromSearch presented by the Royal St Andrews Hotel and the Royal St Andrews Hotel Rip Curl Cup (WSL QS 4,000 Men / QS 2,000 Women)
When
Thursday 2 April, 18h00: Opening function at the Royal St Andrews Hotel
Friday 3 April, 07h30: GromSearch competition begins
Saturday 4 April: GromSearch continues to completion, including Expression Session. Premier U16 and U18 finals held over
Sunday 5 April: Rip Curl Cup WSL QS competition
Monday 6 April: Rip Curl Cup continues through to finals, including Royal Alfred Marina Expression Session, GromSearch U18 finals, GromSearch Premier U16 finals, WSL QS Women’s Final and WSL QS Men’s Final
Where
East Beach, Port Alfred, Eastern Cape, South Africa. High-performance right-handers run off the pier, offering ideal conditions for power surfing and progressive moves.
Why
The Rip Curl GromSearch presented by the Royal St Andrews Hotel forms part of the Surfing South Africa Junior Tour, a six-event series, with Port Alfred marking the third stop. As an official Surfing South Africa event, it plays a key role in identifying and developing the country’s top junior talent. The Premier U16 boys and girls winners earn qualification for the Rip Curl GromSearch International Final, along with travel support.
The Royal St Andrews Hotel Rip Curl Cup is a WSL Africa event and the final stop of the WSL Africa QS season. Surfers compete for critical ranking points and qualification into the Challenger Series, with the season’s outcomes decided at East Beach. The Royal Alfred Marina Expression Session, with R10k up for grabs, is an exciting addition to the event, offering rewards for innovative surfing.
Who
South Africa’s leading junior surfers are competing in the GromSearch, alongside top professional surfers from South Africa and abroad, contesting the WSL Qualifying Series event.
High Performance Focus
The Rip Curl GromSearch continues to drive the next generation of competitive surfing. The Expression Session adds a progressive layer, rewarding creativity and innovation outside standard heat formats.
At the elite level, the Royal St Andrews Hotel Rip Curl Cup provides a decisive platform for QS surfers chasing Challenger Series qualification. With the season on the line, East Beach is set for high-intensity performances across both divisions.
Festival Setting
Set within the Port Alfred Easter Festival, the surf events sit at the centre of a broader celebration of sport, music and community along the Eastern Cape coastline. Saturday’s Bands Innie Bush Music Festival stands out as a major highlight, adding scale and energy to the weekend.
All schedules remain subject to change based on conditions. Both events will be broadcast via live feed, with scoring and updates available across official platforms.
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