Natasha van Greunen has won the World Surf League Qualifying Series Vic Bay Surf Pro on Sunday, ahead of Zoë Steyn at Harold’s Bay in George, the Western Cape on Sunday, 23 March, 2025.
It felt like a breakthrough for Muizenberg’s Natasha van Greunen, who earned her first WSL QS title, when she overcame fellow Challenger Series competitor Jessie van Niekerk in the Semifinals to set up a Final against East London’s Zoë Steyn.
Organisers had 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, with fun left- and right-hand waves at the beach break allowing for optimal scoring possibilities.
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! 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.”
WSL QS 1,000 Vic Bay Surf Pro Champion, Natasha van Greunen
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, when she handed out one of the biggest upsets of the day to eliminate 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 for the top score in the Quarterfinals, before she comfortably dispatched Emily Jenkinson in the Semis to advance to the Finals.
“I’m just so stoked to be here, the waves are fun and it’s a beautiful day. I knew coming up against Louise was going to be difficult, because she’s been having such a good year.”
WSL QS 1,000 Vic Bay Surf Pro Runner-Up, Zoë Steyn
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.”
The 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.
Partnering with George Municipality, participants agreed that it was amazing to be back on the Garden Route for the WSL Africa QS Stop No. 5 of the 2024/2025 season.
The Vic Bay Surf Pro ran from 22-23 March 2025.
The next and final stop on the 2024/2025 WSL Africa QS season is the Cape Town Surf Pro QS 1,000, from 29 to 30 March 2025, at Long Beach, Kommetjie. For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
Vic Bay Surf Pro QS 1,000 Women’s Final Results at Harold’s Bay in George, on Sunday, 23 March, 2025
1. Natasha van Greunen (RSA) 12.57
2. Zoë Steyn (RSA) 11.00
Semifinal Results
Heat 1: Natasha van Greunen (RSA) 11.84 Def. Jessie van Niekerk (RSA) 10.97
Heat 2: Zoë Steyn (RSA) 10.00 Def. Emily Jenkinson (RSA) 6.34
Quarterfinals Results on Sunday, 23 March, 2025
Heat 1: Jessie van Niekerk (RSA) 7.33 Def. Remi Fourie (RSA) 7.17
Heat 2: Natasha van Greunen (RSA) 13.33 Def. Danielle Powis (RSA) 5.23
Heat 3: Zoë Steyn (RSA) 13.50 Def. Louise Lepront (RSA) 10.47
Heat 4: Emily Jenkinson (RSA) 9.83 Def. Anastasia Venter (RSA) 9.34
Round of 10 Results on Saturday, 22 March, 2025
Heat 1: Remi Fourie (RSA) 11.17 Def. Emily Jenkinson (RSA) 8.37, Leah Lepront (RSA) 8.10, Sophia Jackson (RSA) 2.87
Original Copy: WSL Africa, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Natasha van Greunen has won the World Surf League Qualifying Series Vic Bay Surf Pro on Sunday, ahead of Zoë Steyn at Harold’s Bay in George, the Western Cape on Sunday, 23 March, 2025. All Photos: Kody McGregor/World Surf League
Photo 2 Caption: First-year Varsity Student Zoë Steyn relished her return to competition since June 2024, finishing runner-up at the Vic Bay Surf Pro.
Photo 3 Caption: Natasha van Greunen (left) edged runner-up Zoë Steyn to win her maiden World Surf League QS 1,000 title
Photo 4 Caption: Van Greunen was thrilled with her win: “I’m just stoked with where I am, and with how I’m surfing, I’m over the moon right now.”
Photo 5 Caption: Saturday’s Round of 10 Qualifier Emily Jenkinson excelled to beat Anastasia Venter in the QF, before losing to Steyn in the Semi’s.
