South Africa suffered a major upset at the hands of the Brazilian contingent when Umhlanga surfer Beyrick de Vries was eliminated on the first day of the Mr Price Pro Ballito.

De Vries made a critical priority error, taking-off on a wave that belonged to his opponent Alejo Muniz. The error cost De Vries his second place finish and was eliminated from the event.

Durban’s Jordy Smith and Travis Logie kept local supporters on the edge of their seats, earning last-minute victories to maintain their positions in this year’s competition.

Logie secured the first of the days wins for South Africa, posting the required pair of six-point rides (out of ten) to bump Dillon Perillo (USA) down to second place and Wade Carmichael (AUS) down to third.

“I had a bit of a nerve-wracking start,” Logie admitted. “I was falling a lot but knew if I kept catching waves, it would come together.”

Smith employed his aerial game to secure a come from behind heat win over Krystian Kymerson, the pair edging out South African trialist winner Brandon Jackson, who was also unfortunately eliminated in third place.

“It was really fun out there, I didn’t get the sets but I managed to find the waves I needed to get through,” Smith said. “I got to surf with one of my good friends ‘Jacko’ (Brandon Jackson) who I haven’t surf against in about seven years, it was just unfortunate he got knocked out by the Brazilian surfer at the end.”

Wildcard David van Zyl (ZAF) was the third South African to advance, placing second behind Portugal’s Frederico Morais, with the pair edging out WCT surfer Sebastian Zietz (HAW).