Buffalo City Wins the Masters Cup
The event was presented by the City of Cape Town and supported by SMTH Shapes, Reef Wetsuits, Advanced Health Private Day Hospitals, Jack Black Beer, and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport.
Roxy Davis, dominant at her home break © @keahlophoto
Long Beach, Kommetjie, Cape Town — Finals Day of the 2025 South African Masters Surfing Championship saw a solid increase in swell and quite a lot of wind to accompany it. Enough wind, in fact, to cancel the 2025 Cape Town Marathon, but not enough to faze the organisers of the SA Masters Surfing Champs in the slightest.
After the small conditions the day before, the bigger surf was a welcome relief to the elder statepeople of the sport, all preferring a bit more power in the waves to get going and to perform their trademark carves, and other power moves that befit the legends of the sport.
When the waves get a bit bigger at Long Beach, Cape Town’s most consistent surf spot, it can be a challenging place to surf, with feathering, phantom waves, as well as clean-up sets in the freezing water, and long paddles.
One of the secrets of success at Long Beach, according to former National Surf Coach Graham Hynes, is a big turn on the outside and a big and completed finishing turn on the inside.
With the larger surf and pumping wind, the outside turns were more than tricky, but the inside turns were pretty insane, with the notorious shorebreak, luring surfers to either contest glory or death-on-a-stick.
Buffalo City surfers had the shorebreak wired, with goofy-footed David Malherbe winning the O60 division with a few cracks on the inside, followed by Garth Sepp winning the O55 division for his back-to-back SA Masters titles.
“It was a bit of a shock this morning, I’m not going to lie,” said O60 Champion and Transkei local David Malherbe of the cold water at Long Beach. “Coffee Bay is a lot warmer. Thanks to Cape Town Surfriders for putting on an awesome event, and to Surfing South Africa and everyone involved in this awesome event.”
David Malherbe, Buffalo City stalwart © @keahlophoto
Buffalo City continued the charge towards team and individual titles, with Sepp next taking the O55 Division win with some power surfing on his backhand, despite the wind blowing up the faces on a few of his set waves. The O55 final had sets pouring through the entire heat, and there was plenty of effort and exertion from the four surfers in a bid to get their two good waves and impress the judges.
“It was pretty windy out there, and it didn’t really go to plan, actually,” said a somewhat relieved Sepp. “It was pretty tiring, but I got enough waves and am very stoked with the win. Back-to-back.”
Gareth Sepp, back-to-back wins Over 55 © @keahlophoto
In the O50 Men’s Final, Port Alfred surfer Warwick Heny, surfing for Buffalo City, showed how it’s done with an incredible 9.60 ride for two big backhand cracks, backed up with a 6.80 for a glorious 16.40 heat total and a clear win in this competitive division. Gary van Wieringen (Ugu) fought back tenaciously and got close, but couldn’t do enough to slip into the top slot and ended up in second spot, with Wayne Monk (Buffalo City) and Graeme Field (Buffalo City) in the minor positions.
Warwick Henry celebrating a 9.6 ride and a title © @keahlophoto
Local Kommetjie surfer Roxy Davis has won numerous National Titles, and added the 2025 SA Masters Surfing Championships Over 35 Women’s Title to the list with a decisive win over Heather Clark, with Tarryn King and Penny Stemmet filling up the minor positions.
It was blustery out there, but Dr Davis used her local knowledge to find the gems in the rough, dodge the close-outs, and take a well-deserved and clear win with a heat total of 13.50 (out of a possible 20 points).
“Stoked with the win, it’s always great to get a home break win, and especially with my husband and kids on the beach for support,” said Davis. “And a special thanks to iLembe for having me at this event.”
The Over 35 men’s Final was all about defending champion Clinton Gravett. The goofy-footer found the waves at Long Beach suitable to his approach and banked a 7.00, followed by a 9.17 to take a clear and massive lead that he held onto until the final siren. Craig Johnson (CTS) put on a spirited performance, but couldn’t find enough to take the win, and ended up in the runner-up position. Geoffrey Greaves (CW) and Manfred Adrio (CTS) came in third and fourth, respectively.
“I was just blessed to get waves in the final”, said Gravett. “I was super nervous going in for some reason. Last year was my first title, so this year was a bit more nerve-wracking to defend it, and I just took off on waves and they stood up. Stoked to lift some trophies tonight. I didn’t put my name on the trophy last year, so now I need to do it twice.”
The 2025 South African Masters Surfing Championship was a resounding success and a feather in the cap of the host district, Cape Town Surfriders.
Team events rock, Long Beach set-up. © @keahlophoto
Final Results
Over 65 –
1. Jeremy Zinn (CTS)
2. Geoff Johnstone (CW)
3. Alan Carter (BC)
4. Eddy Godfrey (UGU)
5. Mike Soekoe (Eden)
Over 60 –
1. David Malherbe (BC)
2. Peter Lawson (ESA)
3. Mickey Duffus (CTS)
4. Nick Pike (BC)
Over 55 –
1. Gareth Sepp (BC)
2. Rob Moore-Boyle (ESA)
3. Richard Heath (CW)
4. Kevin O’Brien (BC)
Over 50 –
1. Warwick Heny (BC)
2. Gary Van Wieringen (UGU)
3. Wayne Monk (BC)
4. Graeme Field (BC)
Over 45 –
1. Tristan Johnson (BC)
2. Greg Emslie (BC)
3. Sean Holmes (EDEN)
4. Renier Jansen (UGU)
Over 40 –
1. Tyrell Johnson (BC)
2. Neil Zietsman (CTS)
3. Simon Fish (ESA)
4. Jason Lee Isaacs (CTS)
Over 35 Women –
1. Roxy Davis (ILM)
2. Tarryn King (ILM)
3. Heather Clark
4. Penny Stemmet (BC)
Over 35 Men –
1. Clinton Gravett (BC)
2. Craig Johnson (CTS)
3. Geoffrey Greaves (CW)
4. Manfred Adrio (CTS)
Masters Cup
The districts competing for the Masters Cup were Cape Town Surfriders (CTS), Cape Winelands Surfriders (CW), Eden Surfriders, Buffalo City Surfriders BC), Ugu, eThekwini (ESA), and iLembe Surfriders (ILM).
Masters Cup Final Results:
1st Place: Buffalo City Surfriders (44,735)
2nd: Cape Town Surfriders (36,630)
3rd: Cape Winelands (31,151)
4th: Ugu (27,970)
5th: Eden (24,376)
6th: eThekwini (19,955)
7th: iLembe Surfriders (16,776
A recap of today’s action can be found here – YouTube.
Webcast Links
Event heat results can be viewed on LiveHeats.
Video: Roxy Davis and Clinton Gravett Win The Premier Over 35 Divisions at the 2025 SA Masters Surfing Champs
Boilerplate and Editor’s Notes.
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