Jeffreys Bay has been stripped of its iconic spot on the World Surf League Championship Tour for 2026, with the WSL citing financial viability. Photo: AFP
The celebrated waves off Jeffreys Bay secured the town a spot on a world surfing tour that for years drew the sport's biggest names to this remote corner of South Africa almost every July.
This year, though, J-Bay is missing out on the international spotlight after the World Surf League (WSL) abruptly pulled the South African stopover from their 2026 Championship Tour. It is a blow for the otherwise humble Eastern Cape town of 30 000 inhabitants, which made an occasion of an event that booked out its accommodation and, by one estimate, brought in millions of dollars.
"It is a big financial loss for all the small businesses in Jeffreys Bay," said Jacqui Bursey, 55, manager of a surf school and shop.
The stretch of signs touting surf schools, rentals and B&Bs shows the spin-offs the sport has brought to the local economy. The competition "creates such a vibe and an energy in the town", said 19-year-old Josh Jansen, preparing to paddle out with a board under his arm.
