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SAVE THE DATE: 21 FEBRUARY 2026

THE ROUTE

THE START

 

The 17,5km Challenge starts at the mouth of the Kwelera River situated just north of East London, on a narrow gravel road, but soon ventures onto the beach where runners will be welcomed by rocks, loose boulders, stones, shingle and soft sand on the way past Rainbow Valley.

The Gonubie River, the first of two meaningful rivers to be crossed, is encountered at about 6km into the race. Runners are diverted off Gonubie Beach, past the caravan park and up a 350m hill behind the sand dune. The run down to the hotel is pleasant, while the crowds in Gonubie will lift participants all the way to Eastward Ho, where we meet up with a tricky little path, loose stones and sea sand again.

The going gets a little easier on the approach to Bonza Bay, where the Quinera Lagoon is unlikely to be open. Roughly 2km more of beach and the Nahoon River awaits, after which a few hundred metres are left before reaching the welcoming crowds at the finish

START TIME
14:30 (at Kwelera River Mouth)

CUT-OFF TIME (halfway cut-off)
17:00 in Gonubie

FINISH TIME
18:00

 

T-Shirts to all who complete the race.

THE START

The 17,5km surf ski paddle race starts at the mouth of the Kwelera River and ends at Nahoon Beach at the Finish line. The paddles need to go to the Yellow Sands Caravan park side.

To enter our paddling race please follow the link provided: https://paddler.canoesa.com

Paddlers will not be able to enter at the registration hall on the day as all entries must go via the Canoe SA website. Once entered ALL PADDLERS must attend registration at the Registration Hall. 

START TIME
14:30 (at Kwelega Mouth)

CUT-OFF TIME (halfway cut-off)
17:00

FINISH TIME
18:00

THE START

THE START
The Surfers 10km is a race set up for runners and walkers wishing to test their limits along the grueling Eastern Cape coastline.

Starting at the iconic Gonubie Hotel, this fun yet challenging race distance kicks off at 13:45 and follows the route of the 17.5km Challenge thereafter.

START TIME
13:45 (at the Gonubie Hotel)

CUT-OFF TIME (halfway cut-off)
16:00

FINISH TIME
17:30

Please note:
The first 1200 participants to finish will receive a Surfers Challenge shirt.

 

THE START

This race starts with the Juniors race at the bottom of the BLUE LAGOON HOTEL. The course follows the Juniors race. That means to finish, the participants will then cross the river and finish at the same finishing line as all the other races.

START TIME
13:00 (from the bottom of the Blue Lagoon Hotel)

FINISH TIME
13:50

Please note:
Finisher T-Shirts: 5km – OPEN – first 300 to complete the race and 5km – JUNIORS – first 200 to complete the race.

FINISH

 

T-shirts are only handed out at the finish and only once you have returned your running chip. T-shirts are awarded to those who finish within the qualifying time and within the allocated numbers listed below. Shirt numbers are adjusted annually and may change without notice.

 

  • First 300 – 5km Open
  • First 200 – 5km Junior
  • First 1300 – 10km Run
  • 17.5 km – All who finish the race within the cutoff time

Categories & Prize Money:

17.5km MEN:                      1st R 800, 2nd R 700, 3rd R 600, 4th R 500, 5th R 450

17.5km WOMEN:                1st R 800, 2nd R 700, 3rd R 600, 4th R 500, 5th R 450

5km JUNIOR MALE:            1st R 450, 2nd R 400, 3rd R 300

5km JUNIOR FEMALE:        1st R 450, 2nd R 400, 3rd R 300

10km MEN:                           1st R 500, 2nd R 400, 3rd R 350

10km WOMEN:                    1st R 500, 2nd R 400, 3rd R 350

5km OPEN MEN:                  1st R 400

5km OPEN WOMEN:           1st R 440

SURFER:                                 1st R 600

SURF-SKI SINGLE MEN:       1st R 600, 2nd R450, 3rd R400     

SURF-SKI DOUBLE:               1st R 400 and R 400, 2nd R 350 and R 350

SURF-SKI MIXED:                 1st R 400 and R 400

BEST WATER POINT:           1st R 700

 

Terrain @ 17.5km Start

The Discovery Surfers Challenge starts at the mouth of the Kwelera River, which is situated just north of East London. The race starts on a narrow gravel road, but soon ventures onto the beach where runners will be welcomed by rocks, loose boulders and stones, shingle and soft sand on the way past Rainbow Valley.

Terrain @ Gonubie River

The Gonubie River, the first of two meaningful rivers to be crossed, is encountered at about 6km into the race. Runners are diverted off Gonubie Beach past the caravan park and up a 350m hill behind the sand dune.

Terrain @ 10km

Gonubie Hotel is the start of the 10km Race. Participants continue all the way to Eastward HO, where they will be met with a tricky little path, loose stones and sea sand again.

Terrain @ Bonza Bay Mouth

The going gets a little easier on the approach to Bonza Bay, where the Quinera Lagoon is unlikely to be open.

Terrain @ 5km

The 5km race starts below the Blue Lagoon Hotel. Participants run away from the finish line toward the Bonza Bay River, turn around at a marker and make their way back to Nahoon Beach where another daring river crossing awaits before they make it to the finish line.

Terrain @ Nahoon River

The Nahoon River is the second of two meaningful rivers to be crossed but not to worry, we have teams ready to assist and help get you through. You’ve got this, the finish line is now in sight!

Terrain @ Finish Line

A mere 500m of beach running as you sprint to the finish line where crowds are ready to welcome you! This final stretch of sand can be soft and will test you all the way to the end.

 

COSTS

R220

17.5km

R200

10km

R180

5km open

R130

5km Junior (12 Years and under Race)

R240

The Paddlers

SINGLE OR DOUBLE

  • Online entries close on Wednesday, 19th Feb, at 23:59.

  • Everyone needs to collect his or her race number on either day, even if you have entered on line.

 

 

R320

17.5km

R300

10km

R280

5km open

R230

5km Junior Race

Paddlers cannot enter on the day

 

WHERE:

Nutting Hall Cnr Epsom & Galway Road, East London

DATE & TIMES:

Thusday the 19th and Friday the 20th of February 2026 at the NUTTUNG HALL from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm each day.

DATE & TIMES (late entries only):

Saturday, 21st of February from 08:00 – 11:00

Online Webtickets entries: Wednesday midnight (race week)

Nutting Hall: Entries are available on Thursday & Friday, the 19th & 20th of February 2026, between 8:00 & 17:00. Entries at the registration hall will be at an additional onsite entry fee of R100 per entry, so remember to enter online!

On the Day Entries: Please note that entries that are made on the morning of the race (21st February) will be an additional R200 extra.

PLEASE NOTE: ALL entrants (both physical & online entries) need to still REGISTER on the 19th and 20th of February 2026 at Nutting Hall from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm each day. Late entries on Saturday 21st February 2026 are from 8:00 am to 11:00 am

Age restrictions: 5km Juniors – 12 years and under | 10km – 13 years and over | 17.5km – 14 years and over.

All entrants must collect their race armbands (colour coded to the specific race) along with their running chip from Nutting Hall, East London, on Thursday or Friday between 08:00 and 17:00.

 

 

Discovery Vitality members will be able to earn Vitality points as follows:

5km run 800 points
10km run 1100 points
17.5km run 1100 points
17.5km paddle 1100 points

Points will be awarded for in-person participation at the event only. For a full set of points-related terms and conditions, visit www.discovery.co.za and click on Discovery Vitality.

 

 

We are excited to announce that we will once again be making use of the FinishTime  Passport app and request that all participants please download the app on their cellphones prior to registration.

The app will be required for registration at Nutting Hall and is available on the app store.  

The FinishTime Passport app offers a paperless registration process! It is simple to use and makes the registration process much quicker. 

The app has been designed to be completely Secure – no data can be transferred to an event until you create a QR code – and the transfer process is handled completely offline so there is no chance of a data hack. Your info is safe and secure.

The app can be downloaded from…

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