Surf’s up! The Ballito Pro is right around the corner

Ballito is getting ready to welcome the World Surf League’s top ranked surfers joined by the cream of SA’s men, women and juniors to the warm waves at Willard Beach from June 27 to July 9.

For the ninth successive year the region will host the world’s best men in the Ballito Pro presented by Billabong, a WSL Qualifying Series (QS) 10,000 rated event with a prize-pool of R3.4 million and the highest available ranking points on offer.

WSL Africa operations manager Colin Fitch said it has been an honour and a pleasure for WSL Africa to work alongside such a progressive thinking municipality as KwaDukuza for the past nine years.

“We are so grateful to the town of Ballito and its residents for welcoming the surfers into their homes and surf for 14 days of world class surfing.

“The Ballito Pro has become one of the most important events on the World Surf League Qualifying Series and most of the winners have gone on to qualify for the elite WSL Championship Tour the following year,” said Fitch.

KwaDukuza mayor, Cllr Ricardo Mthembu said the Ballito Pro continues to position the area as a leading events tourism destination.

“It is our fundamental aim to develop our people both economically and socially through events of this nature and we anticipate another successful year in 2017.

“We are also looking forward to renewing our partnership with the World Surfing League beyond 2017.”

Bigger and better
The 49th edition of the world’s longest running professional surfing event once again welcomes the support of Billabong, who are celebrating the 20th annual running of their acclaimed Billabong Junior Series this year.

The women will showcase their talent in the QS1,000 Ballito Women’s Pro presented by Billabong while the Billabong Junior Series includes events for men and women aged 18-and-under for the second year.

The high performance action kicks off with the Billabong Junior Series from June 27-29 followed by the Surfing SA Trials on June 30 and the Ballito Women’s Pro on July 1 and 2. The crown jewel of the festival, the QS10,000 Ballito Pro takes centre stage from Monday to Sunday, July 3-9.

Visitors will be spoiled for choice with non-stop activities providing even more entertainment throughout the Ballito festival. 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 are not to be missed.

Vendors are called to apply to hire retail vending units at the Ballito Pro. There are demarcated areas for food vendors, retail, crafters, displays and exhibitions.

For applications and info, contact Collette Bundy at 032-4375021 or 032- 4375183 or email ballitoproretail@gmail.com alternatively contact SMME officer, Nhlanhla Sanga on 032-4375077 or email nhlanhlas@kwadukuza.gov.za

>>  Expect to find the latest trends in Health, Wellness and Beauty in Ballito.

>> Meet the top players in the North Coast property industry. See our Property People feature.

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