The Wavescape Surf & Ocean Festival presented by Vans runs from 2 to 25 March 2023!

A FROTH-FEST OF OCEAN FUN

The Wavescape Surf & Ocean Festival presented by Vans will comprise of 14 ocean-minded events, including three South African film premieres and other film screenings over four venues, Slide Night evening of ocean talks, Artboard Project exhibition and charity auction, Blue Ocean Masterclass, Board Meeting surfboard swap with live music, an underwater cleanup and ocean chat, a collab with the Sunburnt Surf Club, and live content broadcast throughout the festival from our Podcast Bus.

Wavescape will this year also work with Sea Walls: Artists for Oceans, the global PangeaSeed Foundation programme, to bring the message of ocean conservation into Cape Town streets via murals and events that raise public awareness of critical environmental issues.

OUR EVENTS

Organisers have confirmed the official South African premiere of Birth of the Endless Summer, which will be screening at The Galileo Open Air Cinema in Kirstenbosch Gardens. Other surfing and ocean films, such as the SA premiere of the much anticipated big wave documentaries Facing Monsters and skateboarding epic Humanity Stoked, will be screened in the deep south of the peninsula, at the Bertha Movie House in Khayelitsha and at the Labia Theatre, including a collaboration with the Sunburnt Surf Club.

The underwater cleanup with Beach Co-op off Jager’s Walk in Fish Hoek will this year be followed by a chat while sitting in the ocean.

“What better medium to immerse yourself in while talking about saving the ocean!” says Wavescape Director Shani Judes.

An unusual array of 10 artistic surfboards will be auctioned at the annual Wavescape Artboard Project for ocean charities at Jack Black’s Taproom on Wednesday 22 March. The final lineup of artists is perennial supporter Brett Murray, with Amy Ayanda, Fhatuwani Mukheli, Marie-Louise Koen, Amy- Lee Tak, Dbongz, Justin Southey, Liberty Battson, Lee-Ann Heath, and Marti Lund.

Eight speakers have signed up to entertain and inform the audience with snappy 10 minute talks at the prestigious Centre for the Book in Cape Town at Slide Night, the flagship ocean evening, brought to you by Save our Seas Foundation.

Parasurfing athlete Michele Macfarlane will speak on why disabled surfers are not “inspiration porn”. Save Our Seas Foundation educator Justine Swartz speaks about their kelp puppet project in False Bay. Sea Search founder Simon Elwen looks at why seals attack Capetonians. Nandipha Masango from Green Connection gives us tips to stop the fossil fuel juggernaut. PangeaSeed founder Tre Packard speaks about “Artivism” and the Sea Walls project, which we are going to be hosting in November 2023. Kneeboard world champion Gigs Cilliers tells the hairy tale of near-death surfing a 100 foot wave off the Wild Coast. Marine Scientist Dr Koebraa Peters uncovers an alien invasion in South African waters and  environmental lawyer Cormac Cullinan speaks about how the law can save the ocean.

The theme of the Blue Ocean Masterclass will be aerial footage, with practical advice and networking about how and where to shoot aerial footage, touching on the rules, techniques and gear one needs. Well known marine photographer Jean Tresfon will chat about his Autogyro MTO Sport Gyrocopter, while other experts will chat about City of Cape Town regulations, the art and ever improving technology of drones, and more.

This year, the Board Meeting day event again takes place at Jack Black’s Taproom, where surfers will be able to swap or buy each other’s surfboards. There will also be other fun activities for adults and kids, from demonstrations by sustainable surf products and eco-conscious brands to children’s activities, set to the musical vibes of DJ Roastin’ Records.

In collaboration with social media influencer and podcaster Steve Shooter, Wavescape will park a branded Podcast Bus at events with a mobile podcast studio. Episodes of the series Shredding the Gnar will be hosted by Shooter, who will be in discussion with a diverse group of salty ocean souls connected to the festival.

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OUR PARTNERSWe welcome our partners on board for another epic year together. The Festival headline partner is VANS and supporting partners are Wesgro, Petco, The Save Our Seas Foundation,  Jack Black Beer, The PET Recycling Company NPC (PETCO), Lubanzi Wines & Justice 4 Jaws

Born from a love for the ocean, Wavescape is proud of the work done by its amazing partners who work so tirelessly to protect the world’s ocean and her creatures.