HEROLDS BAY, George, Western Cape, South Africa (Sunday, March 23, 2025) - Natasha Van Greunen and Luke Thompson won the World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) Vic Bay Surf Pro today, ahead of Zoë Steyn and Adin Masencamp respectively. Organisers made a call to move the contest to the alternate venue of Herolds Bay, after evaluating the conditions at Vic Bay in the early morning. Competitors praised the move, with fun left- and right-hand waves at the beach break allowing for optimal scoring possibilities.
It felt like a breakthrough for Muizenberg's Natasha van Greunen, who earned her first WSL QS title. Van Greunen overcame fellow Challenger Series competitor Jessie Van Niekerk in the Semifinals to set up a Final against East London's Zoë Steyn.
Their last head-to-head matchup was in 2022, in the Longbeach Open, where Steyn pipped Van Greunen for the win in the Final. This time, it looked like Steyn would do it again, but Van Greunen's experience in beach breaks paid off as she locked in her two best scores for a total of 12.57 (out of a possible 20) to win the Vic Bay Surf Pro.
"It feels so amazing," Van Greunen said. "I've always finished second or third, and I was wondering when it would be my time. Going into this event, I was really pushing for it, pushing my surfing. I'm just stoked with where I am and with how I'm surfing, I'm over the moon right now."
East London's Zoë Steyn reminded everyone that she has not lost her competitive edge, after returning to her first WSL QS competition since June 2024. She handed out one of the biggest upsets of the day when she eliminated WSL Africa QS No.1 Louise Lepront in the Quarterfinals. In an all goofy-foot battle, Steyn's powerful backhand edged out Lepront with a total of 13.50. In the Semifinals, she comfortably dispatched Emily Jenkinson to advance to the Finals.
"I'm just so stoked to be here, the waves are fun and it's a beautiful day," Steyn said. "I knew coming up against Louise was going to be difficult, because she's been having such a good year."
As far as a full-time return to competitive surfing is concerned, Steyn is keeping her options open while focusing on her first year at university.
"I'm just going to try and surf as much as I can, as much as my studies allow me to," Steyn said. "I'll try and compete when I can, but I'm really stoked that I got to compete here at the Vic Bay Surf Pro. This is such a beautiful part of our coastline, so I'm just happy to be here."
WSL Africa QS No.1 Luke Thompson was on a tear during the Vic Bay Surf Pro, posting the highest heat total on his way to the Final. Coming up against No.2 ranked Adin Masencamp, it was always going to be a hotly contested affair between the two experienced Challenger Series surfers who are eyeing requalification for the 2025 Challenger Series.
Masencamp's road to the Final wasn't an easy one, with closely contested matchups against an in-form Karl Steen in the Quarterfinals and Slade Prestwich in the Semifinals. Thompson eliminated Luke Van Wyk in his Quarterfinal heat, and put on an explosive performance in his Semifinal to overcome Joshe Faulkner.
In the Final, Thompson was quick out of the blocks, posting two big scores for a total of 14.17 (out of a possible 20) for the best start he could ask for. Masencamp, never one to give up until the buzzer sounds, hunted down scores that could challenge Thompson for the win, but he came up short. Thompson's focused approach and powerful surfing earned him his third QS title this season.
"Everyone has been surfing so well today," Thompson said. "It's a really competitive day, but it's been good to just focus on myself and what I can do. I've never surfed at Herolds Bay, but it's as fun as it can get to compete with the perfect left and right beach break waves on offer."
The top four men and top two women on the WSL Africa QS rankings will qualify for the 2025 Challenger Series. With one more event to go to determine the remaining qualification scenarios, the door is still wide open.
The upcoming and final stop on the 2024/2025 WSL Africa QS season is the Cape Town Surf Pro QS 1,000 from 29-30 March 2025 at Long Beach, Kommetjie.
The Vic Bay Surf Pro ran from 22-23 March 2025.
For more information visit WorldSurfLeague.com
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