Entries still open for Mr Price Pro
Top surfers have put their names down for this year's Mr Price Pro Ballito.
ENTRIES are pouring in from ASP Qualifying Series (QS) surfers from around the globe as the countdown begins for the illustrious Mr Price Pro Ballito from 30 June to 6 July.
To date, a total of 68 of the top 96 surfers in the world have confirmed their entries into the ASP ‘Prime’ event which carries a prize purse of R2.7 million, including 11 of the top 34 competitors ranked on the elite ASP World Tour.
World number nine, Miguel Pupo of Brazil, is the highest ranked competitor entered into this year’s event. Renowned for his lightening fast, above the lip prowess, Pupo is a proven QS performer with three major QS victories under his belt to date.
South Africa’s Jordy Smith weighs in as the second highest at world number 12. A former Mr Price Pro Ballito champion (2010), Smith has clinched three WCT and six QS victories to date and remains a firm favourite in Ballito.
Joining them are 2001 World Champion and tour veteran CJ Hobgood of the US as well as WCT stalwarts world number 18 Adam Melling from Australia, world number 33 Alejo Muniz from Brazil and two of the tour’s best back-handers, world number 21 Adrian Buchan from Australia and world number 26 Matt Wilkinson also from Australia.
Entries will remain open until 3 June when organisers expect all 90 places to be filled. ASP will award three wildcards to the highest ranked non-qualifying surfers in the region, while Mr Price will select two surfers of their choice. The sixth wildcard will go the winner of the trials held prior to commencement of competition on June 30, making up the 96-man field.
Renowned as one of the biggest beach festivals on the African continent, the Mr Price Pro Ballito is expecting approximately 100 000 fans to soak up the non-stop entertainment over the seven days.
While the surfers ride the ocean waves by day, spectators will once again be rocked by sound waves at night when Mr Price and the KwaDukuza Municipality present free music concerts at Salt Rock on 3 and 4 July. From 1 to 2 July the event will also incorporate a food and wine festival, bringing mouth-watering flavours to the beach and build on the lifestyle event that proved to be so successful last year.
