A young and talented South African waveski athlete is preparing to set off to Peru in South America in October later this year, where she will be representing South Africa at the World Waveski Championships.

Cape Town resident Porcha Schelhase, mother of athlete Courtney Schelhase (20), a Stellenbosch University Drama student, says the family is busy fundraising to make this opportunity possible.

Courtney recently won the Open Women’s Division at the EP Waveski Open 2026 competition which was held in Jeffreys Bay in the Eastern Cape. The event took place from 25 April to 26 April.

What makes this achievement particularly special, her mother says, is that Courtney is currently ranked the no. 1 waveski surfer in the world for Junior Women.

Passion

Courtney, an Edgemead local, balances her university studies with a demanding training schedule, often putting in long hours in the ocean while also working part-time as a wine taster at a nearby wine farm to help fund her competitive journey, Porcha explains.

“Beyond her sport, she is also passionate about horses and serves on the technical team at Edge Church, reflecting her commitment to both her personal growth and her community.”

To help her reach Peru later this year, the family has started with fundraising initiatives.

“We are running a raffle with waveski prizes at the moment. We are also planning a quiz night for the last Saturday in June where we will also launch our next raffle and actively trying to obtain sponsorship from bigger companies,” Porcha says.

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