Louise Lepront is the 2025 SA Open Surfing Champion after winning The Royal St Andrews SA Open Championships, presented by Rip Curl at East Beach in Port Alfred, the Eastern Cape, on Friday, 18 April, 2025.
In surf not as big as the day before, with a fair share of onshore on it, the conditions were tricky but very contestable, with big scores pouring through for the final heats of the event.
The women’s final was a close affair, with Van Greunen in the lead until the last minute, when Lepront picked up a bomb and executed a solid crack on her backhand.
It was an agonising wait for the score, but it was enough to put her in the lead as the final siren went.
“I saw that wave coming, and I was just lucky that Tash didn’t get it,” said Lepront.
“It was washy, but it cleaned up, and I knew I needed to do one big hit. So I managed to do a decent backhand turn, made it, and got the score at the last minute. So stoked to get the win.”
2025 SA Open Surfing Champion, Louise Lepront
Van Greunen finished just behind in second, with Aimee du Preez and Leah Lepront in third and fourth, respectively.
Open Women Final Results
1st. Louise Lepront – ESA
2nd. Natasha van Greunen – CTS
3rd. Aimee du Preez – NMBS
4th. Leah Lepront – ESA
Combined Teams Results
1st. Ethekweni Surfriders (5506)
2nd. Buffalo City Surfriders (4723)
3rd. Nelson Mandela Bay Surfriders (4541)
4th. Ilembe Surfriders (3636)
5th. Cape Town Surfriders (3560)
6th. Cape Winelands Surfriders (3543)
7th. Ugu Surfriders (3440)
8th. Eden Surfriders (2663)
Original Copy: Surfing South Africa, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Louise Lepront has won the 2025 SA Open Surfing Champion title in Port Alfred, the Eastern Cape, on Friday, 18 April, 2025. Pictured are the women’s finalists (from left) Leah Lepront (4th); Aimee du Preez (3rd); Natasha van Greunen (2nd) and the 2025 champion, Louise Lepront. All Photos: Kody McGregor
Photo 2 Caption: Louise Lepront picked the right wave to secure a come-from-behind win over finals heat competitor Natasha van Greunen
Photo 3 Caption: 2025 Victoria Bay Surf Pro champion Natasha van Greunen was leading the final until Lepront’s big wave for the win.
Photo 4 Caption: Aimee du Preez competed positively all the way through from in the first round, finishing third in Friday’s final.
Photo 5 Caption: Leah Lepront had her best results in the second round, but her form dropped off in the final round at Port Alfred.
