Cape Town Surfriders reclaim Freedom Cup at 2026 SA Junior Surfing Championships

Cape Town Surfriders have reclaimed the Freedom Cup after five days of competition at the 30th Sea Harvest SA Junior Surfing Championships in Jeffreys Bay.

Cape Town finished the championships with 46 478 points, beating 2024 and 2025 champions Buffalo City, who placed second with 41 894 points.

Nelson Mandela Bay completed the top three with 39 917 points.

The 30th edition of the championships wrapped up at Lower Point in Jeffreys Bay on Saturday, 3 October, with competitors taking on 2–3 foot surf on the final day.

More than 170 young surfers from eight districts competed across 120 heats during the five-day tournament.

Cape Town Surfriders reclaim the Freedom Cup

The Freedom Cup is awarded to the team that accumulates the most points across all divisions during the championships.

Cape Town Surfriders last lifted the trophy in 2023 before Buffalo City claimed the title in 2024 and 2025.

This year, Cape Town returned to the top with 46 478 points.

The final team standings were:

1. Cape Town Surfriders: 46 478
2. Buffalo City: 41 894
3. Nelson Mandela Bay: 39 917
4. Ilembe: 34 412
5. Cape Winelands: 29 299
6. Ugu: 29 281
7. Eden: 28 621
8. eThekwini: 28 453

Cape Town surfers take three national titles

Cape Town Surfriders and Ilembe each produced three individual South African champions, while Nelson Mandela Bay claimed two titles.

Cape Town enjoyed a particularly strong showing in the U18 divisions.

Kai Stubbs and Emily Jenkinson, both representing Cape Town Surfriders, were crowned U18 South African champions.

Both secured their titles in dramatic fashion, finding late waves in their respective finals to produce the scores they needed for victory.

Cape Town’s Ben Esterhuyse added another national title by winning the U16 Boys division.

Ilembe celebrates three champions

Ilembe’s Lila Aszalos claimed the U16 Girls title.

The district also enjoyed success in the younger divisions.

After winning the U12 Girls title in 2025, Ella Van de Made added the U14 Girls championship to her collection.

Lexi Lockhart secured Ilembe’s third national title by winning the U12 Girls final.

Nelson Mandela Bay claims two titles

Nelson Mandela Bay’s Slayde Shooter won the U14 Boys division, while teammate Judah Levendahl was crowned U12 Boys champion.

Levendahl also earned the highest wave score award in the boys divisions.

Nelson Mandela Bay’s Brin Jarvis, who finished runner-up in the U14 Girls division, received the highest wave score award in the girls divisions.

Jarvis impressed throughout the competition with her powerful backhand surfing at Lower Point.

Tyson Johnson named Surfer of the Contest

Buffalo City’s Tyson Johnson, who won bronze in the U18 division, was named Surfer of the Contest.

Buffalo City Surfriders also took home the Loud and Proud Spirit Trophy, which recognises the team that displayed the strongest spirit and teamwork throughout the championships.

SA Junior Surfing Championships mark 30 years

The 2026 championships began on Tuesday, 29 September, with competitors facing changing conditions across the five days, from warm weather and strong onshore winds to rainy offshore conditions.

Supported by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and Reef SA, the event featured 120 heats over five days and remains the biggest junior surfing championship in South Africa and Africa.

This year’s event also marked the 30th anniversary of the SA Junior Surfing Championships, which were first held in Durban in 1996.

It also celebrated a decade-long partnership between Surfing South Africa and Sea Harvest.

Sea Harvest has supported South African junior surfing for 10 years and is the longest-running sponsor of South African Junior Surfing.

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