Vogt and Holloway-Mulder Take Inaugural Forex People KZN Schools League Race Title
Vogt and Holloway-Mulder Take Inaugural Forex People KZN Schools League Race Title
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 at Durban Undersea Club (DUC) on Saturday, 21 March.
Organised by South Africa Surf Ski – and supported by sponsors The Pumpsmith, Carnegie Power, and Forex People - Paddle Fest 2026 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.
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.
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.
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)
*Information provided by the publicist.
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