Behind the mic at The Ballito Pro
Being a Dolphin Coast local himself, Jarryd was very pleased that The Ballito Pro is "basically down the road."
Not everyone has the charisma or the voice to be the main event commentator for The Ballito Pro, presented by Billabong, but Jarryd Smith has all these qualities and more.
Jarryd’s commentating career started over ten years ago when he was dating a professional surfer. Since she traveled widely to compete Jarryd soon became familiar with the who’s who in the surfing community.
This eventually inspired him to get the qualifications to become a judge and he started off judging the junior surfing events.
“I got my chance at a national junior event. They only had a single commentator for the final three days and needed someone for the first few days. I was the only one who would do it since everyone else they asked was too shy.”
Being a Dolphin Coast local himself, Jarryd was very pleased that The Ballito Pro is “basically down the road.”
“There is a large focus on bringing Ballito businesses to the event. The Ballito area has always been accepting of the surf community which make it a great place to host a major surfing competition, unlike some other places that treat us like the circus has come to town.”
When he’s not behind the microphone, Jarryd is a financial planner for the Hereford Group. A job he loves, not least of all because it gives him the flexibility to be involved in major surfing events like The Ballito Pro.
When questioned on how he felt about this year’s Pro Jarryd said it gets better every year.
“We have the best surfers from all over the world, with the best waves, in the best conditions. How could we not have an amazing event?”
He said he was impressed to see that organisers have outdone themselves again for this year’s event.
“Every year they always try and improve on upon last year’s event and every year they succeed, this year being no exception.”
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