The 2025–2026 Rescue Sport Series marked a major milestone with the official introduction of Oceanwoman and Oceanman (Iron) racing into the series programme.
This addition reflects the rapid growth and rising importance of Iron racing, both locally and internationally. Traditionally limited to Western Cape Championships, the discipline has evolved into one of the most demanding and prestigious formats in surf lifesaving — combining swim, board, ski, and run into a single, high-performance race. With its inclusion at World Championships and strong momentum toward potential Olympic recognition at the Brisbane 2032 Games, Iron racing is now firmly positioned at the forefront of the sport.
Bringing the discipline into the Rescue Sport Series has created a structured pathway for athletes to race consistently across the season, build performance, and compete for titles and prize money in a formalised ranking system.
Backing this growth, Solid Oak Insurance committed a dedicated R100 000 sponsorship to the Oceanwoman and Oceanman Series. This investment has enabled consistent race delivery, strengthened competition depth, and elevated the profile of Iron racing across the Western Cape.
The series was contested across three events — Milnerton, Fish Hoek, and Western Cape Championships at Clifton — with athletes’ best results across the season determining final standings. Open and U19 divisions competed for cash prizes, while U17 and U15 athletes raced for championship titles within their age groups.
OCEANWOMAN & OCEANMAN RESULTS
OPEN LADIES
1 – Waris Mills – Fish Hoek – R10 500
1 – Kira Bester – Clifton – R10 500
2 – Nicola Harcus – Fish Hoek – R6 000
2 – Rosie Edwards – Fish Hoek – R6 000
3 – Holly Smith – Fish Hoek – R3 000
OPEN MEN
1 – Samuel Mocke – Fish Hoek – R12 000
2 – Tyne van Achterbergh – Clifton – R9 000
3 – Cody Stallard – Fish Hoek – R7 000
4 – Matthew Brading – Fish Hoek – R5 000
5 – Zack Waters – Clifton – R3 000
U19 GIRLS
1 – Jessie Allott – Clifton – R7 000
2 – Ellen Hodgkinson – Clifton – R4 000
3 – Ellen Strydom – Fish Hoek – R3 000
U19 BOYS
1 – Matthew Brooker – Clifton – R7 000
2 – Grant Nefdt – Fish Hoek – R4 000
3 – Ryley Smith – Llandudno – R3 000
U17 GIRLS
Champion – Katya Bova-Olsen – Fish Hoek
U17 BOYS
Champion – Joseph Brading – Fish Hoek
U15 GIRLS
Champion – Shaylee Powell – Fish Hoek
U15 BOYS
Champion – Christian van Heerden – Clifton
COMPETITION FORMAT & STRUCTURE
The Oceanwoman and Oceanman races were designed to integrate seamlessly into the Rescue Sport Series calendar while maintaining the intensity and identity of Iron racing.
Each event followed a straight final format with no heats, featuring a traditional Iron course layout: Swim → Board → Ski, with run transitions. All races were conducted under a 20-minute time cap, ensuring high intensity and consistent scheduling within the broader event programme.
Athletes competed in combined race formats at Milnerton and Fish Hoek, before racing in dedicated age divisions at Western Cape Championships, where double points were awarded. Final standings were determined based on each athlete’s best three results across the series.
A SEASON TO BE PROUD OF
The introduction of Oceanwoman and Oceanman racing has added a new dimension to the Rescue Sport Series, strengthening its position as a complete, high-performance competition platform for surf lifesaving athletes.
With strong participation, competitive depth, and meaningful prize incentives, the discipline has quickly established itself as a standout feature of the Western Cape calendar.
As the series continues to grow, Ocean racing will play a central role in developing versatile athletes, increasing visibility for the sport, and building toward greater national and international recognition.