Padel top at Open

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The Plett Padel Open, held on Saturday 13 December, was a highly contested event with players from Cape Town, George, Mossel Bay, and Knysna competing alongside 24 top players - the finest talent in Plett.

In keeping with tradition, all tournament proceeds were donated to the Plett Whale Heritage Area, in recognition of Plettenberg Bay being an acclaimed hub for ocean conservation.

The 2026 edition of "Padeling for Whales", the second annual open tournament, took place at Absolute Padel, Plettenberg Bay's state-of-the-art indoor facility.

Tournament director Brenda Smith said the event was a resounding success: "The competition was fierce, with unprecedented levels of high-quality padel on display. We saw a great turnout from both players and spectators, all eager to witness top-class padel".

Indoor venue
Padel, the fastest-growing sport in South Africa, has seen a dramatic rise in popularity with an estimated 100 000 to 340 000 players and over 200 clubs across the country.

Since its opening in December 2024, Absolute Padel has provided a much-needed indoor venue for players to enjoy the sport come rain or shine, and Saturday's wet but welcome weather did not hinder the event.

The thrilling final match saw the top-seeded duo of Chris Trehearn and Charl Vos from George triumph over the fourth-seeded pair, Oz Campbell and Werner Pouw from Knysna. The exciting game was closely contested. The victors were awarded a generous two-night stay at either the Robberg Beach Lodge or Plett Quarter Hotel, courtesy of Lion Roars, one of the tournament's sponsors.

Love for padel
Rob Smith, chairperson of the Plett Whale Heritage Area, thanked the many local businesses who supported the tournament.

"This event not only showcases the region's growing love for padel, but also contributes to preserving Plettenberg Bay's hard-earned reputation as an internationally recognised whale heritage area," he said.

Jandre Groenewald, one of the players at Saturday's competition.