Stab Magazine | The World Tour Will Forever Return To South Africa, Here's Why

Live Now — Episode 3 Of Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico

238 Views

The World Tour Will Forever Return To South Africa, Here’s Why

Love on the rocks: No Contest does ZAF!

cinema // Jul 31, 2019
Words by Stab
Reading Time: 3 minutes

If you were to poll the 50+ WCT athletes, as well as the hundreds tasked with rolling along with the circus—trainers, coaches, judges, photographers, filmers, etc.—which of the eleven stops on the World Tour was their absolute favorite, the lion’s share would profess, unequivocally: South Africa. 

As if the country’s ridiculous exchange rate (.07 cents US will get you a single rand) weren’t enough, it happens to be home to what most consider to be the world’s most consistently perfect right-hand point in the world, as well as a land of near limitless opportunity for on-land fun. 

For this episode of No Contest, the boys hop in the Landy with South African international big wave playboy Frank Solomon, as well as decorated Safa adventure and surf photog Alan Van Gysen, the man known formally as AVG, to get a lay of the land, as well as a first-hand look at some South African wildlife. 

They catch a session with pretty much the entire WCT at Jeffreys, on the day of the year, and watch Kolohe Andino, Conner Coffin, Malia Manuel, Kelly Slater, and Stephanie Gilmore give the place a proper going over, before doing their damndest not to get smoked on the mussel-strewn rocks trying to get in “The Keyhole”—a fifteen-foot wide gap of sand in the half-mile-long craggy point.  

 

MoranT ZA19 06975

There wasn’t a session that went down between heats that Kelly Slater wasn’t on.

Photography

Trevor Moran

MoranT ZA19 07961

Carissa Moore, on the opening stretch of the J-Bay speedway, and what most agree is the fastest wave on the World Tour.

Photography

Trevor Moran.

If you’re coming to South Africa, you better like meat. The place is a carnivore’s dream, and these days one of the country’s most exported delicacies is Biltong, an indigenous style of cured meats like ostritch, kudu, antelope, and of course beef and pork, that’s cut into long strips, salted, and hung out to cure. While African tribes relied on it to get them through long migratory trips out of the Cape Colonies, these days it’s the perfect snack to get you through a marathon Jeffreys session. With Mikey February in town for the Corona Highline, the boys scoop the South African stylist for a mission to the J-Bay Biltong shop, and meet Johanna Goosen, who has been serving the WCT for more than 23 years. 

Then, the No Connie crew comes just short of pushing Host Ashton Goggans off a bridge, and not just any bridge, but the world’s tallest bungee jump. Just an hour and half drive from Jeffrey’s Bay is the Bloucrans Bridge which spans the inspiring Bloucrans River, separating the Western and Eastern Capes of South Africa. At 216m, or a little over 700 feet, the jump offers five to six seconds of freefall, and is a right of passage for any of the surfers on tour, once they’ve finished the event. 

The right-hand points of South Africa have been the benchmark by which all waves are judged, ever since Bruce Brown, Hynson, and August walked over the dunes at Cape St. Francis almost sixty years ago. South Africa is, no question, a top-5 destination for any surfer, and the waves are just the tip of the spear. This is No Contest: South Africa. 

MoranT ZA19 07595

Julian Wilson leaning into a meaty, hollow Supertubes sweetheart on the best day of the year at Jeffreys so far.

Photography

Trevor Moran

MoranT ZA19 01233

Caroline Marks got her first taste of proper Jeffreys at size before the event window, and the pairing was a thing of pure beauty (and brute force).

Photography

Trevor Moran

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 3

"The tribe has spoken," Dane Reynolds pronounced, and a surfer's torch was snuffed.

Jul 3, 2025

When Surfer’s Eye Is Actually Cancer

Erin Campbell's brutal journey from surf camp dreams to chemo drops, cryotherapy, and surgical horror.

Jul 3, 2025

Surfing’s 2025 Q2 Report

An assessment of surfing's vital signs throughout the second quarter of 2025.

Jul 2, 2025

What Actually Happened to Occy’s Mad Max Plunger Pool In Yeppoon?

Surf Lakes’ brass talks: internet hecklers, the unplugging of the plunger, and the Tom Curren…

Jul 2, 2025

Poor Goofy Foots 

Data shows that the world is stacked against goofs — they even make 15% less money than…

Jul 1, 2025

Britain’s First Wavepool Has Closed — What Really Happened?

Bankruptcy, social media hackings, debts unpaid — and yet, reopening looms.

Jul 1, 2025

Watch: Was Matt Meola’s Air Actually Better Than Hughie’s?

Watch the full Swatch Nines highlight reel and decide.

Jun 30, 2025

Houshmand Bludgeons Field To Win Second CT — Molly Picklum Tastes Blood, Snatches World #1 In Brazil

You can't argue with big surfing — that's Saquarema wrapped.

Jun 29, 2025

37 Years Old And World #1 — What’s Changed For Jordy Smith?

On rediscovering decades old surfboard templates, having a personality on the CT, and why this…

Jun 27, 2025

Tom Lowe Stars in ‘Let Me Live’

The wild, improbable ascent of Britain’s best big-wave surfer.

Jun 27, 2025

Saq Wrap: Italo Celebrates Mid-Heat, Griff Drops A Freestyle, Jordy + Yago Continue BBQing 20-YOs

Top seeds sow ruin, Final 5 starts to crystallize.

Jun 27, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 2

Our seven surviving surfers confront an oddly large California beach break.

Jun 26, 2025

SEOTY: The ‘Once-In-A-Decade’ Caribbean Swell That Kelly Slater Passed On

Michael Dunphy stars in Jimmicane's 'Blue Veil'

Jun 25, 2025

Who Owns Bingin? Legal Fight To Stop Demolition Begins

Eviction notices served for all businesses built on state land.

Jun 25, 2025

Tony Hawk Just Named Hughie Vaughan’s Internet-Breaking Air Because… No One Else Can

89% of our IG poll respondents claimed the 'stale fish flipper' was the best air…

Jun 25, 2025

German Surfers: AN INVESTIGATION

Truth is the light by which the world can see. 

Jun 24, 2025

“I Lost Everything I’ve Ever Owned, But This Board Came Back”

One month after the LA wildfires, a surfboard washed ashore.

Jun 24, 2025

Shock Therapy: World 1 & 2 Eliminated Early In Saquarema

Gabriela Bryan and Caity Simmers fall victim on Day 1 of the Vivo Rio Pro.

Jun 22, 2025
Advertisement