IN ASSOCIATION WITH RED BULL SA
Reigniting the
Legacy
EVENT WINDOW
1 JUL-15 SEP
STATUS
ON HOLD
LOCATION
HOUT BAY, CT
africa's
Built by local surfers and rooted in Cape Town’s raw ocean heritage, the event exists to reignite the spirit of big wave surfing in the Cape and platform the next generation of watermen.
the event
format
A carefully structured heat format ensures non-stop action while preserving the raw unpredictability of big wave surfing. Every heat matters. Every wave can change the outcome.
18 Invited Surfers
3 Opening Heats
1 Final Showdown
1 Champion
invited
surfers
A preview of the athletes invited to compete during the 2026 waiting period. Explore the full lineup, heats, and event structure.
backing the
revival
red bull za
Red Bull has been at the heart of South African big wave surfing since the Red Bull Big Wave Africa contest ran at Dungeons from 1999 to 2008, the same break Cape Courage now calls home. Globally, Red Bull is synonymous with pushing the limits of human performance, backing athletes and events across surfing, kiteboarding, cliff diving and beyond. Their return to Dungeons through Cape Courage isn't a new venture but a continuation of unfinished business — reviving a stage they helped build and a competitive lineage Cape Town surfers have missed for nearly two decades. Few brands carry the credibility, reach and genuine surf heritage to anchor an event of this scale.
OSP events
Old School Productions is the Cape Town-based team behind some of South Africa's most ambitious action sports spectacles, including DarkFest freeride mountain biking and ULT.X. Founded by Markus Museler, OSP has spent 20 years turning bold event concepts into slick, safely-run productions that punch well above their weight on the world stage — work recognised through partnerships with international broadcasters like FUEL TV. That experience in producing high-stakes, weather-dependent, made-for-media events is exactly what Cape Courage demands. OSP handles the event's overall organisation and regulatory responsibility, bringing the operational rigour and creative production value needed to do justice to a contest of this scale at Dungeons.
K.I.S.S.
KISS is Cape Town's independent surf store, a fixture on Shortmarket Street for surfers of every level. They stock premium boards from Channel Islands, Pyzel, SharpEye and SMTH alongside hand-picked shapes from respected local craftsmen, plus wetsuits, apparel and their own in-house label — all backed by decades of hands-on surf knowledge and deep roots in Cape Town's ocean culture. As a local, surfer-run business rather than a faceless big-box retailer, KISS brings genuine credibility and community connection to Cape Courage. They understand the equipment, the conditions and the culture better than almost anyone in the city, making them a natural fit as a partner.
big bay events
Big Bay Events is a Cape Town water safety specialist with a serious track record at the sharp end of extreme sports production, including Red Bull King of the Air, World Triathlon series events and some of South Africa's toughest open water swims. Their crews are experienced skippers, PWC operators and lifeguards used to operating in demanding conditions where split-second decisions matter. For Cape Courage, Big Bay Events leads water safety subcontracting at Dungeons, providing the PWC rescue capability and on-water expertise that keeps competitors safe in one of the world's most serious big wave environments. Their experience with major Cape Town events makes them a trusted safety partner.
yeti
YETI is the outdoor brand best known for building gear that survives the places most equipment can't — coolers, drinkware and bags engineered to handle extreme environments without failing when it matters. Born out of a need for tougher, more reliable equipment for demanding outdoor pursuits, YETI has become a fixture wherever people push into rugged, unpredictable conditions, from offshore fishing to mountain expeditions. That ethos of built-to-last performance under pressure is a natural fit for Cape Courage, an event staged in one of the most punishing ocean environments on the planet. As a partner, YETI supports both the athletes and crew on the water and the event's merchandise line, bringing durable, dependable gear to a contest where nothing less will do.
the brite studio
The Brite Studio is a boutique brand design studio based in Cape Town, specialising in branding, logo design, website design, brand strategy and digital marketing. Their focus is on lifestyle brands — building identities and online experiences for companies that represent more than just a product, but a way of life. That's exactly the brief Cape Courage needed: an event with deep roots in Cape Town's big wave surf culture, requiring a visual identity and web presence that felt authentic rather than corporate. The Brite Studio built Cape Courage's brand identity, logo and website from the ground up, translating the raw energy of Dungeons and the event's historical lineage into a look and online presence that does justice to the occasion.
cbwt
The Cape Big Wave Trust (CBWT) is the organisation representing and protecting the interests of South Africa's big wave surfing community, with a particular focus on Dungeons — the community's home break and the same reef Cape Courage is run on. CBWT has historically acted as the local voice in decisions about how Dungeons is used and represented, standing up for the surfers who've charged that break for decades, including in past dealings with international contest organisers. As custodians of the wave itself, CBWT's backing carries real weight: it signals that Cape Courage has been built in step with, not around, the local big wave community, honouring the lineage of surfers who made Dungeons what it is before any cameras arrived.
bruce jack wines
Bruce Jack Wines is an independent, family-owned South African label founded by veteran winemaker Bruce Jack, one of the most respected names in the local wine industry. Based in the Breedekloof Valley, the brand is known for blending small parcels from high-altitude, dry-grown, cool-climate vineyards into wines of real character — from bold Pinotage and Cabernet blends to crisp Sauvignon Blanc — without losing sight of drinkability. Bruce's decades of global experience and refusal to chase trends mirror the same independent, do-it-properly spirit that defines big wave surfing at Dungeons. As Cape Courage's wine partner, Bruce Jack brings a proudly South African, craft-driven product to the table — quality made close to home, for people who appreciate substance over spectacle.
s.o.a.
Sentinel Ocean Alliance (SOA) is a Hout Bay-based non-profit using the ocean as a tool for opportunity, healing and education among the underserved coastal communities of Hangberg and Imizamo Yethu. Founded by big wave surfer Frank Solomon, SOA runs swim and surf therapy programmes, the Hout Bay Surf Lifesaving Club, and the Parley Ocean School, giving local youth — many of whom live beside the ocean without ever learning to swim in it — a genuine pathway into ocean careers and a healthier relationship with the sea. Given Cape Courage's home at Dungeons sits right above these same communities, partnering with SOA is a direct way to put the event's impact back into Hout Bay, supporting youth speaker sessions and directing merchandise proceeds toward SOA's work on the ground.
s.c.a.r.
SCAR is a South African non-profit dedicated to safeguarding the country's shark populations for the long-term health of the ocean. Rather than running research directly, SCAR raises funds and channels support to individuals, organisations and initiatives doing high-impact conservation, research, and education work on the ground — building a network focused on protecting sharks as the apex predators that keep marine ecosystems in balance. Dungeons sits within an active shark ecosystem, home to a healthy population that preys on the adjacent seal colony, making shark conservation directly relevant to the waters Cape Courage competes in. Partnering with SCAR allows the event to support meaningful, science-based shark protection work in the very ocean its athletes rely on.
dive team ct
Dive Team is a PADI 5-Star dive centre based in Simon's Town, with 18 years of experience exploring Cape Town's kelp forests, reefs and shipwrecks. Holding a SANParks permit to operate within the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area, they combine deep local ocean knowledge with a strong safety culture — DAN-affiliated, oxygen and first aid equipped on every outing, and known for rigorous briefings and high operational standards on the water. That expertise in navigating the MPA safely and responsibly, in some of the same waters Dungeons sits within, makes Dive Team a natural fit for Cape Courage. Their familiarity with local conditions, marine life and permit requirements supports the event's on-water operations and reflects the same respect for the ocean environment that underpins the whole event.
