Surfing: Tessa Thyssen to Compete in the 2026 Challenger Series

After a 2024 season in which Tessa Thyssen shone on the Challenger Series (CS, ranked 13th in the world), the champion had a difficult year in 2025. So much so that she finished in 30th place in the CS rankings, having missed the final two events on the calendar. This disappointment convinced the 29-year-old surfer from the Reefer Surf Club in Ajoe to devote herself even more to her post-competition plans. One such plan is to earn her BPJeps (Professional Certificate in Youth, Popular Education, and Sports, a Level 4 state diploma) so she can teach her beloved sport, surfing. But then, surprisingly, the WSL (World Surf League) offered Tessa Thyssen a “wild card”—essentially an invitation—to compete in the 2026 Challenger Series. “It’s very rewarding,” Tessa says happily. “It’s a great opportunity, and I’m so grateful. It makes me really happy!” Even though the surfer will have to rearrange her schedule to compete in events taking place all over the world, she’s doing it with a smile. “It’s wonderful news,” she acknowledges.
Furthermore, this new schedule shouldn’t disrupt Tessa Thyssen’s other major project: launching a surfing app (SurferCo). “We’re almost 100% ready; we just have a few minor things to iron out on the platform,” she explains. “It’s all positive news. I’m starting the year with a big smile!” It will be essential for her to complete these projects while traveling the globe—from South Africa to Australia via California—in an effort to reclaim her rightful place among the world’s elite.