Westbrook’s rising surf star Max Kauffman will once again don the green and gold as she represents South Africa at the ISA World Junior Surfing Championships this December.

The 16-year-old natural footer, who rides locally shaped Sykes surfboards, earned her second national team selection after a consistent season on the South African Surf Tour (SAST). The championships will take place at Punta Rocas, Peru, from December 5-14.

“I’m very excited to surf internationally again,” said Max, reflecting on her journey since last year’s junior world championships in El Salvador where she was knocked out in the second repechage round.

“My main goal was to make the national team again and go back to the world champs, but this time I don’t want to surf in the repechage rounds,” she said.

In early October, Max placed fourth at the SA Junior Championships at J-Bay, competing against the country’s top young talent.

The SAST tour included high-profile competitions at the Ballito Pro and the Port Alfred Easter Festival. Rankings were determined by each surfer’s best six results, with a maximum of 6 000 points available.

The tour took her from the cold barrels of Kommetjie to the punchy peaks of Durban and the consistent right-hand point break at Seal Point in Cape St Francis.

Max’s 2025 campaign included eight events, where she earned 4 390 points and secured five podium finishes. Her standout performance came at the Rip Curl Gromsearch #3 in Scottburgh in June, where she placed second.

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She also finished third and fifth in the girls’ U16 and U18 divisions, respectively, in the year-long SAST rankings.

“I could have done better, but I was happy with my overall performances this year,” said Max.

A familiar face at ‘The Point’ on Westbrook’s main beach, Max also enjoys surfing at Ponta Mucombo in Mozambique during her family’s annual holiday.

These varied conditions have helped her grow as a competitive surfer and given her valuable experience to compete on the international stage.

The North Coast grom is looking forward to sharing new adventures in with her national teammates.

“We have a cool team; we are all friends. It’s great to go to new places; it’s going to be super fun,” she said.

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