DURBAN, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (Thursday, June 6, 2024) - The World Surf League (WSL) Africa's regional Qualifying Series (QS) 2024/2025 season starts tomorrow with the inaugural eThekwini Surf Pro. The event will feature a QS 1,000 as well as a Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) 1,000 competition at New Pier, Durban from 7-9 June 2024.
With a promising forecast ahead, organisers are expecting an exciting weekend of surfing action. "We are looking at an incredible weekend with good swell and offshore wind conditions," WSL Africa Regional Director Tasha Mentasti said. "Friday morning will have minimal wind and we'll start the LQS 1,000. Winds are expected to pick up later in the day, bringing more swell and the Durban promenade is the perfect place to showcase the exceptional talent we have in this region," Mentasti said.
As the first event of the 2024/2025 QS season, competitors will look to secure valuable points in their campaign to qualify for the 2025 Challenger Series, where only the top four men and top two women from the Africa region will receive the call up.
In the men's draw, top seeds include this year's SA Open of Surfing winner Luke Slijpen and Cape Town Surf Pro winner Paul Sampson. Sampson received the wildcard for the Cape Town Surf Pro and went on to win the event, qualifying for this year's Challenger Series. They will be coming up against the local powerhouse Tide-Lee Ireland, perennial threat Luke Thompson and Jordy Maree, currently the highest ranked African on the WSL Challenger Series.
Morocco's Aboubakar Bouaouda and Redouane Regragui return to South Africa after competing in the country earlier this year. Three-time Moroccan surfing champion Bouaouda is in search of his first QS victory, while Regragui is a two-time Moroccan Longboard Champion and will be competing in both the QS and LQS this weekend.
The women's field is small but no less intimidating. Scottburgh's Louise Lepront is in fine form after finishing third at the ISA World Junior Championships. She'll be coming up against WSL Africa QS champion Sarah Scott and Challenger Series competitors Jessie van Niekerk and Anastasia Venter.
The LQS 1,000 offers competitors the opportunity to qualify for the WSL World Longboard Tour (WLT), starting July with stops in Australia, California and El Salvador. Top seeds include former WSL World Longboard Champion Steven Sawyer, Sam Christianson, Redouane Regragui, Crystal Hulett, Tarryn King and Christy Gilmour.
The eThekwini Surf Pro Finals Day on Sunday, 9 June 2024 will be streamed live on worldsurfleague.com, the WSL YouTube and WSL free app.
The eThekwini Surf Pro is supported by eThekwini Municipality, Durban Tourism, KwaZulu-Natal Surfing Association and Surfing South Africa.