Various international surfers will be in Jeffreys Bay for the World Surf League (WSL) inaugural specialty competition, the J-Bay Classic, presented by Corona at the iconic Supertubes from June 14 to 23.
Participants are a cross-section of talents from around the world, which will include world champions, free surfers, elite competitors, retired pros, and up-and-comers who will showcase their surfing skills within a specialty format, as well as within a team division.
The main event will consist of two rounds of competition, where surfers will compete on twin fin and thruster surfboard setups, showcasing how Supertubes can be surfed on alternative and high-performance surfboards, to earn points on the leaderboard.
The top four men and women will progress to finals day, while the team division will feature six mixed teams, each competing in a 45-minute session.
Among the participants will be eight-time world champion, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), who stepped away from the WSL Championship Tour (CT) in 2024 to take a break from the jersey, but will make an appearance in this special event.
As the winner of the J-Bay event in 2018, Gilmore is undoubtedly one of the best to surf the Supertubes canvas.
The 1999 World Champion, Australian goofy-footer, Mark 'Occy' Occhilupo, returns to the famed right-hand point break where he first grabbed the surfing world's attention.
He won the 1984 Country Feeling Classic in J-Bay as a young 18-year-old with a backhand attack that was unmatched.
Occhilupo was the only goofy-footer to have won an event at Supertubes until Gabriel Medina finally broke through the ceiling at the Corona Open J-Bay in 2019.
Mark Occhilupo of Australia surfing.
Photo: ED SLOANE/WORLD SURF LEAGUE
"I'm really excited to head back to Jeffreys Bay, and I'm honoured to be invited to the inaugural WSL J-Bay Classic," Occhilupo said.
"When J-Bay gets big it's actually better to surf on your backhand. On a low tide, it gives you room to throw some big hacks. It's one of the best waves in the world for sure."
Ahead of the J-Bay Classic, a stacked field of men and women representing the WSL Africa region will compete in the local trials competition, with one men's and one women's spot in the main event up for grabs.
The local trials winners will get the opportunity to compete against the best at Supertubes, in what will surely be an unforgettable moment in their young careers.
The J-Bay Classic, presented by Corona and supported by Kouga Municipality, Eastern Cape Tourism, Red Bull, Sealand, and Grit, will take place from June 14 to 23.
For more information visit WorldSurfLeague.com.