The 2026/2027 World Surf League Africa Qualifying Series (QS) season got underway at Victoria Bay on Friday as competitors took to the water for the Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro QS 2,000. At the same time, the Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro Junior JQS 1,000 marked the second stop of the regional Junior Qualifying Series season.
Competitors were greeted by fun two-to-four-foot waves and light winds early in the day. However, conditions became more challenging as onshore winds arrived sooner than expected, creating tricky sections and testing heat strategy throughout the afternoon.
Despite the changing conditions, surfers delivered strong performances as the first points of the new QS season went up for grabs.
Familiar Faces Return To Competition
As the opening event of the new season, the Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro welcomed several familiar names back to competition.
Vic Bay local Daniel Orpen enjoyed a successful return to professional surfing. Orpen took the win in the opening heat of the day against Jeffreys Bay’s Joshe Faulkner before using his local knowledge to secure another advancing position in the Round of 48.
After several years away from professional competition, Orpen was pleased to be back in the jersey and competing in front of friends and family.
Faulkner responded with one of the standout performances of the afternoon. The Jeffreys Bay surfer found one of the best waves of the round and linked together multiple sections for a 7.33-point ride. He quickly backed it up with a 6.00, finishing with a heat total of 13.33 to comfortably take the win ahead of Nate Colby.
While conditions became increasingly difficult, Faulkner adapted well and made the most of the opportunities that presented themselves.
Erlank Advances With Smart Heat Strategy
The final heat of the Round of 48 produced a dramatic finish as St Francis Bay surfer Jack Erlank used smart heat management to move into first place.
Erlank capitalised on a larger outside set wave and earned a valuable score with a strong opening manoeuvre before the wave flattened out. As the heat entered its closing stages, he remained unsure of the requirement needed to move into the lead.
A last-minute layback manoeuvre on the inside section earned enough points to push him into first place and secure victory in the heat.
The result continued Erlank’s strong run of form and ensured his place in the Round of 32.
International Women Impress At Victoria Bay
The women’s QS division featured a strong international contingent, with surfers from Europe and North Africa making an immediate impact.
Reunion Island’s Hina-Maria Conradi delivered one of the performances of the day. Conradi posted an excellent 8.17-point ride after combining powerful snaps with long, flowing carves along the Victoria Bay point. She followed it with a 6.63 to finish with a commanding two-wave total of 15.00.
French surfer Sarah Leiceaga also looked comfortable in the conditions. After finishing eighth on the WSL Europe QS rankings last season, she elected to spend time competing in South Africa before the European campaign begins next month.
Leiceaga advanced comfortably through her opening-round heat ahead of South Africa’s Leah Lepront.
Morocco’s Ninon Mattéi also progressed to the next round, while Emily Jenkinson continued her strong form at Victoria Bay. Jenkinson finished third at the event last year and once again advanced through the opening stages of competition.
Junior Series Stop Delivers Strong Performances
The Rip Curl Vic Bay Surf Pro Junior returned as a JQS 1,000 event thanks to the support of headline sponsor Rip Curl and George Municipality.
As Stop No. 2 on the regional Junior Qualifying Series calendar, the event attracted a strong field of emerging talent from South Africa and abroad.
British surfer Asbjorn Gwenin quickly adapted to the Victoria Bay conditions. After surviving a tight opening-round battle against Clay Turrell, Gwenin raised his performance level in the Round of 24. He posted a heat total of 13.10 to advance ahead of Simon Winter.
Several other standout juniors also secured places in the quarterfinals. Cooper Smith and Nate Colby produced one of the most competitive heats of the day, while Matt Canning, Ryan Coelho, Loghann Tilsley and Kane Johnstone all progressed through to the next stage of competition.
Competition Continues On Saturday
With the opening rounds complete, attention now turns to Saturday’s action as competitors continue their campaigns in both the QS 2,000 and JQS 1,000 events.
The next call is scheduled for 7:30am, with organisers eyeing a possible 7:50am start as the battle for valuable rankings points continues at Victoria Bay.
