by SFT | Mar 11, 2025 | Surfing Today
The Corner or ‘Cornski’ – that little section of Seal Point beachbreak where the point rocks meet the sand, creates a fierce rip and generates the occasional perfect A-Frame peak for the locals and occasional blow-ins to surf. Therefore, it is a fitting venue for the Corner Cup event, the first of many.
It takes very specific conditions, such as sandbanks, wind, tide, and swell direction, to get it good.
One such person who knows the wave well is local surfer and traveller Stanley Badger.
To celebrate this little quirk of nature, he plans a surf contest, the Corner Cup, with great sponsors and fantastic prizes.
See all the contest details below.
Welcome to The Corner Cup, 2025!
This is an exclusive event hosted by “us,” the long-time Corner Locals, and presented by Vissla and St Francis Brewing Company.
The contest directors will cherry-pick the best conditions from the two days to run the event (22/23 March).
Divisions
We have four divisions: Under 20’s, Ladies, Open Men, and Ballies. There is a limited number of entries, and only a select number of competitors will be chosen. Furthermore, to participate, you must first enter by completing the below form and email it back to thecornercup25@gmail.com. Then, the selectors will choose the contestants. If you have been selected, you will receive your official invite via Email and be added to the Whatsapp group for further comms.
Retro Dress-up
This event is an 80’s retro dress-up, and all boards surfed in the competition must have been built before 1990.
All contestants will receive a limited edition Corner Cup T-shirt and sunscreen from Back2Nature. Also, epic prizes and giveaways will be provided by Surf Sense, The Store, The River Club, Monster, Billy’s Beach, CSF Biltong, SPAR, Hurrican, Surf & Shoot Photography, Lucky Fish Surf School, and more.
Join us at The St. Francis Brewery for the awards ceremony, raffle, and a moerse 80’s-themed jol.
*We regret to inform the youngsters that entries are restricted to persons over 18. However, we encourage all families to join the spectators for a fun-filled weekend in the Cornski!
– Stanley Badger.
Further reading:
Seven Reasons Cape Town Can Piss Right Off in 2025
St Francis Surfers Competing In Cape Town – Gallery
Local Surfer Slayde Shooter Wins In Cape Town – Photo Of The Day
by SFT | Feb 27, 2025 | Seal Point Boardriders club, Surfing Today
A gallery of St Francis Surfers Competing Cape Town for the Rip Curl GromSearch presented by Sea Harvest at Witsands.
They achieved some wins and competed with great style and grace. Well done to all.
all photos by Keahlo Van Gysen
Leo Mcleod, 2nd place U12 Boys, 4th place U14 Boys.
Jack Erlank was one of the St Francis Surfers competing in Cape Town.
Summer Harding, winner U12 Girls
Slayde Shoter, winner U14 Boys.
Brin Jarvis
All the results here
Read more:
Summers Wins In Cape Town – Photo Of The Day, it’s not what you think
Local Surfer Slayde Shooter Wins In Cape Town – Photo Of The Day
Inclusive Surf Therapy Day & Disability Inclusion Training on International Wheelchair Day at Muizenberg
by SFT | Feb 26, 2025 | Surfing Today
Date: Saturday 1st March 2025
Location: Surfer’s Corner Muizenberg
International Wheelchair Day is celebrated on 1st March each year. It’s a day to celebrate the positive impact wheelchairs have on people’s lives and to acknowledge the work of those who support wheelchair users with an Inclusive Surf Therapy Day.
The Roxy Davis Foundation’s 2025 programme, supported by Laureus Sport for Good, equips youth with skills, leadership, and ocean-based opportunities for impact. This year, the Roxy Davis Foundation is collaborating with the International Society of Wheelchair Professionals and Shonaquip Social Enterprise’ to celebrate this day.
This event brings together volunteers and participants to create a powerful day of inclusion, connection, and surf therapy—where the ocean becomes a space of freedom and joy for all.
Schedule:
7:30 am -8:00 am: Volunteer Arrival
8:00 am – 9:00 am: Training Disability Inclusion & Universal Access Training
9:00 am – 1:00 pm: Surf Therapy Session 1- 4 (5 participants per session)
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Wrap Up
Further information here:
https://roxydavisfoundation.org/event/surf-therapy-1-march-2025/
See also: Local Surfer Slayde Shooter Wins In Cape Town – Photo Of The Day
by SFT | Feb 25, 2025 | Surfing Today
Witsands/Kommetjie – With exceptional surfing performances in the highly contestable and consistent right-hand waves at Witsands, Loghann Tilsley (Strand) and Emily Jenkinson (Kommetjie) emerged victorious in the Premier U16 Division of the first Rip Curl GromSearch event of the year.
With huge turns on his backhand, Tilsley won the Boy’s division from Scarborough’s Kai Stubbs. In the Girl’s division, Jenkinson, the Kommetjie natural footer took victory from Leah Lepront, the goofy footer from Scottburgh.
Cape Town delivered in style for the final day, providing clean waves, clear skies, and light winds at Witsands for the gathered competitors. The country’s top junior surfers stepped up in the fun right-handers, throwing down powerful turns and impressive performances.
Loghann Tilsley © Keahlo Van Gysen
Tilsley and Jenkinson Win
This event provided a chance for some fresh faces to make their mark in the first event of the 2025 series. Summer Harding and Leo McLeod, both from Cape St. Francis, were impressive in the U12 division – Harding taking the girls’ win, while the on-form Ethan Schermbrucker claimed victory in the boys, with McLeod securing a solid second place.
Kommetjie surfers continued to dominate in the U14 Girls, with Coco Clark, Charlotte Copson, and Emma Schermbrucker sweeping the podium, while Maya Malherbe from Coffee Bay rounded out the final in fourth.
The U14 Boys division was an extremely close affair between first and second, with Slayde Shooter just ahead of Marcello Zedde by a whisker, winning the final by 0.36 of a point.
The surfing in the U18 Boys Finals was electric, with Durban surfer Matt Canning holding a comfortable lead. As the seconds ticked away towards the end of the heat, Cape Town surfer Levi Epenetos found what he was looking for and snagged a nugget of a wave to snatch victory from Canning.
Levi Epenetos © Keahlo Van Gysen
A polished Emily Jenkinson from Kommetjie beat Maxine Kauffman from Durban in the U18 Girls, with Leah Lepront and Taylor Emslie in the minor positions.
Expression Session
The Expression Session was a great addition to the day’s competition. In the Boy’s division, Massimo Bienz took the R1000 cash for a perfectly executed air reverse, with Kai Stubbs in second and pocketing R600 for his effort.
Emily Jenkinson continued her winning ways, making it three out of three wins, by taking out the Girls Expression session. She won the R1000 prize purse with Leah Lepront in second, banking her R600.
The overall series winners in the Premier U16 Boys and Girls divisions of the Rip Curl GromSearch Series South Africa 2025 earn a coveted spot in the Rip Curl GromSearch International Final. This event, set for a yet-to-be-announced international location later this year, will bring together the worldwide GromSearch winners to battle it out for top global honours.
This competition will be remembered for the challenging conditions at Witsands but even more so for the incredible camaraderie among the groms – pushing each other, competing hard, and showing true sportsmanship. The kids are more than alright.
The Rip Curl GromSearch Series, run by Surfing South Africa, is a highlight of the junior surfing calendar – hugely popular and a clear reflection of the thriving talent in South African surfing. It’s also a glimpse into the sport’s future stars. Next up, the series heads to Port Alfred over Easter as part of the Port Alfred Easter Festival.
Final Results:
U12 Girls
1. Summer Harding
2. Ella van der Made
3. Kayla Bone
U12 Boys
1. Ethan Schermbrucker
2. Leo Macleod
3. Jackson Myers
4. Tom Pearson
U14 Girls
1. Coco Clark
2. Charlotte Copson
3. Emma Schermbrucker
4. Maya Malherbe
U14 Boys
1. Slayde Shooter
2. Marcello Zedde
3. Valdemar Gwenin
4. Leo Macleod
U18 Girls
1. Emily Jenkinson
2. Max Kauffman
3. Leah Lepront
4. Taylor Emslie
U18 Boys
1. Levi Epenetos
2. Matt Canning
3. Loghann Tilsley
4. Luc Fischer
U16 Girls
1. Emily Jenkinson
2. Leah Lepront
3. Camilla Heuer
4. Taylor Emslie
U16 Boys
1. Loghann Tilsley
2. Kai Stubbs
3. Asbjorn Gwenin
4. Nathan Tayler
The Rip Curl GromSearch contests are all premier SAST events, with 1,000 points going to the winners and prize money per all premier events.
The Rip Curl GromSearch Long Beach contest is a Surfing South Africa tournament, supported by Sea Harvest.
Complimentary high-resolution images are available for media outlets.
Distributed by Surfing South Africa
Craig Jarvis
e. info@craigjarvis.co.za
t. 082 376 4443
ends/
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About Surfing South Africa
SURFING SOUTH AFRICA is the recognised governing body for Surfriding in South Africa. It is responsible for the activities of all its disciplines, such as surfing, longboarding, bodyboarding, kneeboarding, para surfing and SUP surfing.
SSA is a member of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), the African Surfing Confederation (ASC) and the International Surfing Association (ISA).
Read More: Unwinding In Mauritius – Five Cool Ways To Follow Through
by SFT | Feb 20, 2025 | Surfing Today
I recently found myself with a few hours to spare. It doesn’t happen often, and when it does, I usually don’t have enough energy to surf for long. The Irony of it. Move to St Francis to surf more, get more involved in work and projects, and have less and less time to surf. When the time finally does present itself, you’re too unfit from all that work and can’t utilise the time.
But the water was so warm, and the crowd was minimal, and before I knew it, I had surfed for three straight hours and felt fine. That was until I poured myself a few fingers of whiskey that evening and sunk into the couch to watch some Severance.
After my drink was exhausted, I tried to get up from the couch for a refill, and there was no way I would make it off the couch. Exhausted muscles, sore shoulders, worn-out core and general lethargy meant that I needed a hand up or a refill by someone else. I got a hand up.
It’s the end of the world as you know it when you can’t get off the couch, and I felt fine.
So, what happened to me during that session? Why was I so tired yet so happy? Drugs. The answer is drugs.
Endorphin Rush: The Natural High
Surfing is a full-body workout, and all that effort triggers the release of endorphins—your body’s built-in dope. The release of these drugs help reduce stress, ease soreness, and leave you feeling calm and content. It’s the same reason runners talk about a “runner’s high”—except you’ve been riding waves instead of pounding pavement.
Dopamine Hit: The Stoke Factor
Hooking into a nugget of a wave, even just one, sends a burst of dopamine through your system. This “feel-good” narcotic rewards your brain, reinforcing the experience and making you want to do it all over again. That’s why, even after an exhausting session, you’re already thinking about the next one and more legal drugs and physical effects.
Muscle Fatigue: The Best Kind of Tired
After hours of paddling, duck-diving, and trying your best to balance, your muscles are fully tweaked. This deep fatigue isn’t just about being tired – it’s the kind that leaves your body feeling loose and relaxed. Like a long workout followed by a toke and some codeine, your body shifts into recovery mode, letting everything unwind.
Hunger and Replenishment: Everything Tastes Better
Three hours of surfing burns a shit-ton of energy, and your body knows it. Post-surf meals hit differently—whether it’s a smoothie, a beer, or a plate of something hearty, your body is craving exactly what it needs to recover. Carbs, protein, and hydration never feel more satisfying. Even a highball finds the spot.
After a long session, your body goes through a cycle of effort, reward, and recovery. The combination of the legal drugs and physical effects – the physical exhaustion, chemical release, and mental satisfaction makes surfing feel so good—even when you’re completely broken.
Read more: Promising Forecast For Rip Curl GromSearch Long Beach Presented By Sea Harvest
by SFT | Feb 17, 2025 | Surfing Today
News Release
17 February 2025
Promising Forecast For Rip Curl GromSearch Long Beach Presented By Sea Harvest
Long Beach, Kommetjie, Cape Town – The long-range format for this weekend’s Rip Curl GromSearch looks promising at this stage, with good swell and favourable winds on the cards.
The contest venue is Long Beach, a beachbreak with good left and right-breaking waves. It is an ideal venue for the best young competitors in the country to display their surfing skills to spectators and the judges.
Judging Criteria
Judges analyse the following major elements when scoring a ride:
– Commitment and Degree of Difficulty
– Innovative and Progressive Manoeuvres
– Combination of Major Manoeuvres
– Variety of Manoeuvres
– Speed, Power and Flow
The contest runs over the weekend, starting on Friday 21st, with finals on Sunday 23 February, and comprises U12, U14, U16 and U18 Girls and Boys divisions, with U16 recognised as the premier division.
The swell looks like it will be small but contestable when the event commences, but a new swell fills in for the last two days of the event. Winds are forecast to be light and variable, finishing with an offshore south-easterly on Sunday. Thus a promising forecast for Rip Curl GromSearch
Promising Forecast For Rip Curl GromSearch at Long Beach © Keahlo Van Gysen
While the competition is still quite far away, and the forecast models could change a little, it is a very positive event forecast for the first Rip Curl GromSearch event of 2025.
Rip Curl GromSearch International Finals
The Rip Curl GromSearch Series 2025 comprises four contests. These will take place at Long Beach, Port Alfred, Dairy Beach in Durban and Seal Point in Cape St Francis. Series winners are decided on the best three results out of the four tournaments. The Premier U16 Girls and Boys division winners will win an entry into the Rip Curl GromSearch International Finals, the venue still to be disclosed.
Last year’s U16 Division winners – Rory Dace and Louise Lepront – competed in the Rip Curl GromSearch International Finals held in Bali.
The Rip Curl GromSearch contests are all premier SAST events, with 1,000 points going to the winners and prizemoney per all premier events.
The Rip Curl GromSearch Long Beach contest is a Surfing South Africa tournament supported by Sea Harvest.
Complimentary high-resolution images are available for media outlets.
About Surfing South Africa
Surfing South Africa is the official National Federation for Surfing in South Africa. SSA is a member of the South African Confederation of Sport and Olympic Committee (SASCOC). It is recognised as the governing body by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.
Surfing South Africa is responsible for developing the sport, hosting National tournaments, sanctioning International events. Also for selecting National teams in all SSA disciplines. SSA is a member of the African Surfing Confederation (ASC) and the International Surfing Association (ISA), the World governing body.
Distributed by Surfing South Africa
Craig Jarvis
e. info@craigjarvis.co.za
t. 082 376 4443
Read more: Port Alfred Easter Festival Expands with More Music and Surfing Action
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