The second edition of the Cape Town Pro, a professional bodyboarding event, went down in style at Llandudno Beach near Cape Town, South Africa, on Monday, 23 March 2026. Current world number 1, Tristan Roberts, beat off the challenge from French wave wizard Maxime Castillo and Cape Town locals Aden Kleve and Sacha Specker to claim the title of Cape Town Pro Champion 2026.
Words by Pierre Marqua // Photos by Greg Chapman
The Cape Town Pro 2026 was designed to give the best up-and-coming riders in South Africa the chance to experience a World Tour-styled event—without officially being part of the World Tour… yet.
This year’s event featured 41 of South Africa’s top bodyboarders, plus one international competitor from France, who all battled freezing water and a smaller-than-predicted swell for a proper paycheck and the chance to shine on the international stage.
Despite a single-division format, a compelling contest within the contest emerged as junior riders pushed deep into the draw against seasoned veterans. Competitors ranged from 12-year-old Leo Rietveld to 52-year-old Gavin Dettmer, highlighting the generational spread in South African bodyboarding.
The groms made their presence felt, and an unofficial junior podium naturally formed. Finnley Randall (Cape Town) claimed the title of King of the Groms and earned the judges’ Dark Horse of the Event award after a standout performance. Nathan Watkins (Cape Town) secured the next spot among the juniors, while Leo Molligan (Durban, KZN) rounded out the trio, proving the next generation is already capable of mixing it with the sport’s more experienced riders.
The swell forecast that gave organisers confidence to call the green light arrived, but faded faster than expected. Originally scheduled as a two-day event, shifting wind and rapidly dropping swell forced organisers to run the entire competition in a single day. Heats began at first light, and the final hooter sounded well after dark. Competitors battled it out in testing 1–3 foot conditions, with Atlantic water temperatures at a brisk 13.6°C, adding another layer of challenge.
Just as the quarterfinals began and the golden glow of sunset spread across the bay, the ocean delivered a surprise. The swell lifted to a playful 2–4 feet, transforming the lineup and setting the stage for the business end of the event. The semifinals unfolded against Llandudno’s kaleidoscope sunset, one of those rare moments where sport and setting collide perfectly. By the final, civil twilight had faded into moonless darkness, but that didn’t stop Tristan Roberts. Showing why he’s among the best in the world, Roberts found ramps and hollow sections in near darkness to secure the title and cap off one of the most unique finals the Cape Town Pro has ever seen.
Adding international flavour to the lineup was Maxime Castillo, the event’s only overseas competitor and a former active World Tour campaigner, who made the long journey from Europe to South Africa to compete. Castillo surfed with intensity all day, adapting quickly to tricky and changing conditions and putting together one of the most consistent performances of the event. His commitment paid off with a well-earned second place, proving exactly why he competes at the highest level.
Filling out the rest of the final was Aden Kleve, known on the lineup as “Coach”, whose powerful surfing and smart wave selection kept the judges on their toes and secured him third place. Rounding out the four-man final was Sacha Specker, the 2012 Dropknee World Champion, who brought decades of experience and deep local knowledge of Llandudno to the lineup. Despite that advantage, the fading conditions made it tough to find scoring waves, leaving him just short of the result he was chasing.
Overall Results
01. Tristan Roberts (Onrus)
02. Maxine Castillo (France)
03. Aden Kleve (Cape Town)
04. Sacha Specker (Cape Town)
Junior Standings
01. Finnley Randall (Cape Town) — King of the Groms & Judges’ Dark Horse Award
02. Nathan Watkins (Cape Town)
03. Leo Molligan (Durban, KZN)
