Winter Vincent and Kirra Pinkerton Win Ballito Open Presented by O’Neill
Australia’s Winter Vincent and the United States’ Kirra Pinkerton claimed impressive victories at the Ballito Open presented by O’Neill, Stop No. 2 of the World Surf League (WSL) Africa Qualifying Series (QS), after an action-packed finals day in solid four-to-six-foot surf at Ballito.
The event attracted a strong international field featuring Championship Tour (CT) stars, Challenger Series (CS) hopefuls and Africa’s best surfers, serving as the ideal warm-up before the 2026 Ballito Pro presented by O’Neill, which begins on Sunday.
Vincent Claims First Ballito Open Title
Winter Vincent continued his impressive rise in Ballito after first competing at the event in 2024. The Australian surfer delivered a powerful performance throughout the competition before defeating South Africa’s Adin Masencamp, Luke Thompson, and Hawaii’s Finn McGill in the men’s final.
Vincent posted a winning two-wave total of 14.33, showcasing explosive speed, power and controlled aerial surfing despite the challenging conditions.
“That felt good, it felt really good to get the win. I’m really happy to be here and just getting in more practice for the Challenger Series.”
said Vincent
Masencamp continued his excellent run of form by finishing runner-up with 14.00, strengthening his lead in the Africa QS rankings after winning the Vic Bay event earlier this season.
The South African expressed confidence heading into the Challenger Series, saying the rhythm and momentum are coming together at the perfect time.
Pinkerton Builds Momentum for Challenger Series
American surfer Kirra Pinkerton delivered a composed performance to secure the women’s title, defeating Championship Tour competitor Bella Kenworthy in the final.
The former 2018 World Junior Champion impressed the judges with committed surfing on the larger sections, opening with an excellent 7.00-point ride before finding a crucial backup wave late in the heat to finish with a 13.17 total.
“I’m very grateful for this win. I’ve put in a lot of time during this break. Coming here with a strong mindset and starting with a win gives me even more confidence for the Challenger Series.”
said Pinkerton
Kenworthy finished second after another consistent display, while former CT surfer Sophie McCulloch claimed third place.
Sarah Baum Leads Africa Rankings
South Africa’s Sarah Baum was the only local surfer to reach the women’s final, backing up her recent Vic Bay victory with another podium finish.
Baum produced some of the highest scores of the entire event and her fourth-place result keeps her firmly at the top of the WSL Africa QS rankings heading into the Challenger Series.
Ballito Open Presented by O’Neill Men’s Final Results
- Winter Vincent (AUS) – 14.33
- Adin Masencamp (RSA) – 14.00
- Luke Thompson (RSA) – 8.33
- Finn McGill (HAW) – 1.00
Ballito Open Presented by O’Neill Women’s Final Results
- Kirra Pinkerton (USA) – 13.17
- Bella Kenworthy (USA) – 7.20
- Sophie McCulloch (AUS) – 6.30
- Sarah Baum (RSA) – 4.70
With confidence high and valuable competitive experience gained, Winter Vincent and Kirra Pinkerton now head into the 2026 Ballito Pro presented by O’Neill as two of the surfers to watch when the Challenger Series officially gets underway on South Africa‘s iconic KwaZulu-Natal coastline.
