Biggest ever Ballito Pro surfing bonanza beckons

Some of the world’s best surfers will take on Ballito’s breaks in July at the return of Africa’s biggest surfing festival, the Ballito Pro pres. by O’Neill.

This year’s event was officially launched last Friday at a media breakfast attended by athletes, organisers and representatives of the KwaDukuza Municipality (KDM).

Previous winners, Championship Tour (CT) regulars and rising stars will all make the trip to find surfing nirvana at Ballito’s biggest annual sporting event.

The main event (July 2 – 9) is a stop on the Challenger Series (CS) – the second highest tier of surfing worldwide – and brings in many of the best ranked surfers globally.

Some of these are surfers who missed the mid-season cut on the CT and will be eager to clinch a qualifying place for next year’s top tour (top 10 men, top 5 women at the end of the CS).

This includes big names such as Brazilian Samuel Pupo, Hawaiian Imaikalani DeVault and American Cole Houshmand on the men’s side, and the Australian trio of Sally Fitzgibbons, India Robinson and Isabella Nichols in the women’s section.

These are CT regulars who are good enough to compete anywhere in the world and will be chasing crucial points hauls on the North Coast.

Flying South Africa’s flag in the men’s bracket is Luke Thompson and previous winner Adin Masencamp, while Sarah Baum and Natasha van Greunen will be eager to earn a local victory in the women’s competition.

Six of the 80 men’s competitors and six of the 48 on the women’s side are South Africans.

“Locals, surf fans and competitors will witness incredible surfing from international and local surfers who will be battling it out for valuable WSL Challenger Series points,” said WSL Africa Regional Director, Tasha Mentasti.

Aside from the main event, there are a number of fantastic curtain-raisers to whet the appetite of the Ballito surfing community.

The youngsters will kick things off at the O’Neill Rookie Rippers event presented by SMTH Shapes between June 27 and July 1.

This will see some of the country’s best U18s do battle for the coveted title, which can be an excellent stepping stone as seen with last year’s U18 boys winner Thompson, who is now a CS regular.

A new addition to this year’s Pro is the Para-surfing Expression Session on June 28, which will see surfers with physical disabilities compete across nine adaptive surfing classes.

It is part of a combined pledge from the Pro and KDM to increase disability access on North Coast beaches and to help grow the burgeoning sport which seeks Paralympic status.

“We are proud to be hosting the Ballito Pro at Willard Beach, one of three Blue Flag beaches in the area,” said KwaDukuza mayor Lindile Nhaca.

“Through the event, we will bring awareness about protecting our coastline’s environmental richness which is a key tourism asset and economic driver for the region.”

The final surfing event on offer is the popular KZN Surfing Outreach initiative on June 30, a tag team competition which hosts development surfers from the iLembe, Ugu and eThekwini surf riders associations.

Also returning this year is the Ballito Skate Jam on July 1, which promises to draw some of the country’s best skaters to the Ballito Skate Bowl.

And aside from the world-class sport offering, the Ballito Pro also offers an incredible two week festival which would itself be a standalone gem.

There will be daily exercise classes, dance sessions, kids activities, extreme sport activations and retail delight, alongside nightly afterparties and events.

Chief among them is the free concert series which is back at its Salt Rock Main Beach home on July 6 and 7.

Headlining the Thursday concert is DJ Merlon, alongside Oscar Mbo, Dlala Thukzin, DJ Sox, Chynaman and the Ballito Pro Battle of the DJs winner.

Friday will see Matthew Mole leading the charge, with Majozi, Freddy L and the Southport band as supporting acts.

There is so much to see and do at this year’s Pro, which promises to be bigger and better than ever.

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