Durban – The inaugural Forex People KZN Schools League Race delivered an unforgettable opening to Paddle Fest 2026, with young paddling stars Keegan Vogt (U18) and Grace Holloway-Mulder (U18) claiming top honours in the boys’ and girls’ divisions, respectively.
Organised by South Africa Surf Ski – and supported by sponsors The Pumpsmith, Carnegie Power, and Forex People – Paddle Fest 2026 was held on Saturday, 21 March 2026, at Durban Undersea Club (DUC).
The Paddle Fest brought together school-level competitors and seasoned paddlers for a full day of racing in ideal ocean conditions, setting the tone for what organisers described as an ‘epic day of paddling’.
The 8km course has been designed to be achievable for paddlers of varying abilities, with organisers expecting a diverse field of competitors from schools across the province, including Durban, Ballito, and Pietermaritzburg.
Vogt, a Pietermaritzburg College student and Ballito resident, showed his class early on, charging into the lead from the first lap of the 8km race.
Despite strong pressure from Sibusiso Mngoma and Sboniso Dlamini of the Siyaphambili Surfski Club in Umgababa, who closed the gap by the third lap, Vogt produced a decisive final surge to secure victory with a comfortable lead.
“Keegan is the current SA Marathon Champion, and it’s great to see his versatility and craft being able to compete across both marathon and surfski disciplines,” said Barry Lewin, Event Organiser.
“The paddlers from Siyaphambili have also been incredible to watch – that club has really thrived in recent years, and they’ve consistently placed athletes on the podium across multiple age groups.
“It’s fantastic to see that level of development in the sport.”
In the girls’ race, Holloway-Mulder from St Mary’s in Kloof got off to a strong start and maintained her composure under pressure from Tessa Salmon from Epworth (Pietermaritzburg), who stayed within striking distance for the opening laps.
Mulder eventually broke away to claim the title in a commanding performance.
“It was awesome to see so many girls taking part,” said Lewin.
“More than 50% of the field was female, and with a near-record 52 school entrants, it really shows the depth and growth of junior surfski paddling in the province.”
“Conditions on the day were near-perfect, with a light westerly wind creating relatively flat seas, while small, manageable waves over the DUC reef added a technical element to the course.
“The reef did play a factor, but those with the skill were able to take advantage of the little bumps.
“Everyone had an absolute ball out there.”
The race marked the official launch of the Forex People-backed nationwide Junior Paddling League, with more regional events planned across the country, culminating in a future National Schools Surfski Championship.
“It was also great to see the support from Forex People, including World Surfski Champion Jasper Mocke, who travelled from Cape Town to attend and hand out prizes,” said Lewin.
“It’s always special to have icons of the sport giving back in this way.”
Lewin also credited the extensive groundwork behind the scenes: “A huge thanks must go to Greg Vogt of the South African Surfski Academy, who has put in weeks of preparation – from coaching clinics and mentorship to equipment and logistics – to get these young paddlers race-ready.
“It all came together in an incredible way.”
Vogt said the goal is to create development pathways for young athletes across South Africa: “The aim has always been to create a meaningful entry point for young paddlers into the sport.
“Through the work of the South African Surfski Academy, we’ve been able to build a strong foundation that has now culminated in this inaugural race.
“Seeing it come to life with such enthusiasm and participation is incredibly rewarding.”
Reef Shootout Delivers Spectator Thrills
The action continued later that morning with the Reef Shootout presented by The Pumpsmith, a fast-paced, spectator-friendly knockout event that once again proved to be a highlight of Paddle Fest.
Fresh off his Forex People KZN Schools League Race victory, Keegan Vogt continued his dominant form, going on to win both the junior and senior divisions to claim the overall Reef Shootout Championship.
In a standout performance, he edged out Jasper Mocke in the Long Distance category, while Mocke responded with victory in the Spec Ski division.
In the women’s competition, Tiffany Koch from Amanzimtoti showcased her class, taking top honours in both the Long Distance and Spec Ski categories to secure the women’s Reef Shootout title.
The festival concluded with the Carnegie Power Ballito Downwind, where paddlers took on the iconic KZN North Coast route between Blythedale and Tiffany’s Beach in an exciting doubles race finale.
Forex People KZN Schools League Race Results
U14 Men’s
Jude Carr (0:13:53:66)
Ethan Kruger (0:14:25:79)
Joshua Parry (0:16:16:52)
U14 Ladies
Isabelle van Heerden (0:13:49:01)
Nina Meredith (0:14:14:54)
Kirsten Holmes (0:16:33:06)
U16 Men’s
Sboniso Dlamini (0:43:09:69)
Philasande Mngoma (0:49:16:25)
Thomas Bishop (0:49:59:95)
U16 Girls
Tessa Salmon (0:52:06:60)
Cherlaigne Sucks (0:58:08:45)
Ashley Craig (0:58:12:32)
U18 Boys
Keegan Vogt (0:42:35:54)
Sibusiso Mngoma (0:42:08:47)
Siphesihle Mngoma (0:44:40:11)
U18 Girls
Grace Holloway-Mulder (0:51:33:80)
Hannah Trower (0:55:33:30)
Charlotte Craig (0:56:06:09)
