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.
Boilerplate and Editor’s Notes.
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Alan Straton
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