Countdown to The Ballito Pro presented by O’Neill has begun

The Ballito Pro 2019 has a new presenting sponsor in global wetsuit and apparel giant O’Neill.

Going into its sixth decade, the world’s longest running professional surfing event will see the world’s top surfers compete at Willard Beach from June 27 to July 7.

KwaDukuza will play host for the 11th consecutive year to the Qualifying Series (QS) 10,000 rated event for men with the highest possible points on the international rankings at stake.

The women will again display their talent in the QS1,000 Ballito Women’s Pro presented by O’Neill while the inaugural O’Neill Pro Junior includes events for men and women aged 18 and-under.

KwaDukuza mayor Cllr Ricardo Mthembu said they are once again thrilled to be hosting the renowned Ballito Pro.

“We wish to thank O’Neill for taking the baton of being the new presenting sponsor – thank you for believing in this magnificent event, which has enormously succeeded in its task to being a nation building platform and a catalyst for introducing this sport to rural communities,” said Mthembu.

This year’s edition will be bigger and better than ever, says O’Neill South Africa brand director Paul Canning.

“The event has such an amazing history in South African surfing and has been an instrumental platform in getting our local professional surfers onto the world surfing stage for over five decades.

“We look forward to building a long relationship with the KwaDukuza municipality (KDM) and presenting another world class surfing festival,” said Canning.

The 112-man entry for the event provides local WSL Africa members with invaluable experience competing against the world’s best, along with opportunities to earn prize money and coveted rankings points which assist them in gaining entry to the higher rated events internationally, and also count towards the annual WSL Africa title.

Competitors in the Ballito Women’s Pro pres. by O’Neill also earn prize-money and points on both the international and regional rankings, while the 18-and-under competitors in the O’Neill Pro Junior will be aiming for selection for the WSL Africa squad that is invited to the annual World Junior Championships.

WSL Africa operations manager Colin Fitch said it has been a fantastic ten years in Ballito with KDM and that they have grown up together.

“A huge thanks to O’Neill for stepping up to perpetuate the legacy of this iconic event that has brought the world’s best surfers to our shores for the past 50 years and continues to provide WSL Africa members, juniors, women and men, with a springboard onto the world tour,” said Fitch.

“Ballito’s surroundings and great winter weather are so similar to Hawaii’s North Shore – the surfers love the event. The friendliness of the community, the way the great setup for the competitors and spectators blends into the landscape, the clean beaches and great waves combine to produce a truly a magical event.”

The Ballito Pro Surf Festival kicks off with the O’Neill Pro Junior from June 27-30 before the crown jewel of the festival, the QS10,000 Ballito Pro pres. by O’Neill, and the QS1,000 Ballito Women’s Pro pres. by O’Neill take centre stage from Monday to Sunday, July 1-7.

Alongside the surfing, visitors will be spoiled for choice with non-stop activities providing even more entertainment throughout the Ballito festival site. South Africa’s hottest musical acts appealing to all tastes – rock, pop, hip hop, kwaito, electro and dance – will be performing live on Salt Rock Beach over the last weekend.

Beach and extreme sports, culinary contests as well as quality retail and food stalls will captivate visitors to this coastal holiday highlight.

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