WSL Moves to Vic Bay
Friday 31 May 2019 Vic Bay welcomes the first South African WSL Qualifying Series event in 25 years with the inaugural Vic Bay Classic, born after the cancellation of the Zigzag Durban Surf Pro in May.
ROCKY POINT: We all know and love Vic Bay as a user-friendly hotdog wave. Photo Zane de Lange
Victoria Bay is one of the best right hand point breaks in South Africa and gets quality surf during the winter months from May to July. The Vic Bay Classic 1,000 from June 20 to 22 will conclude the 2019 City Surf Series and will be the 7th stop on the WSL Africa Tour.
The event, for which Vic Bay local Bianca Buitendag Vic Bay has entered, follows the Vans Surf Pro Classic in Lamberts Bay this weekend and the Volkswagen SA Open of Surfing Port Elizabeth from June 13 to 17.
“We are ecstatic to be adding the Vic Bay Classic to the calendar. George Municipality have come to the party to help put another event on the City Surf Series schedule and bringing a WSL event to a wave like Vic Bay is something I think all the surfers will be excited for,” said Accelerate Sports Chief Executive Officer Edward Gregory.
TOP TO BOTTOM: Zoe Steyn from East London will surf in the Vans Surf Pro Classic. Photo Thurtell
The last event in Vic Bay was back in 1995 with the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Town and Country Surf Classic, that was won by Buffalo City surfer Greg Emslie.
“Tom Curren (USA), 3x ASP World Champion was quoted in Surfer Magazine referring to Victoria Bay as one of the best right hand point breaks he had surfed in the world, but also noted to respect the locals as they were built like rugby players,” said Colin Fitch, WSL Africa Operations Manager.
Alongside the world-class surfing action, the CSS events also embrace sustainability and transformation programs such as the Surfing South Africa Learn To Surf outreach project in collaboration with Caltex, National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) and Ocean Pledge.
Ocean Pledge will assist in creating ‘Blue Events,' while the NSRI will be educating members of the public, competitors, local schools and surf outreach programs about ocean safety and ocean awareness.
More information, results and images will be available on www.worldsurfleague.com and on the WSL App. Catch the final day’s action LIVE on the WSL QS Facebook page.
Remaining 2019 WSL Africa events
May 31-1 Jun Vans Surf Pro Classic Lamberts Bay M QS1500; W QS1000; M JQS1000
Jun 13-17 Volkswagen SA Open of Surfing Port Elizabeth WQS3000; MQS1000; M&W JQS1000
Jun 20-22 Vic Bay Classic Victoria Bay MQS 1000; WQS 1000; M&W JQS 1000
Jun 27-7 Jul Ballito Pro pres. by O’Neill Ballito MQS10000; WQS1000; M&WJQS1000