Ballito’s rising star Cooper Smith ready for O’Neill Pro Junior event

Hard work and passion has paid off for local young surfer Cooper Smith as he prepares to face a stellar line-up at this year’s inaugural O’Neill Pro Junior event.

The 18-and-under competitors in the O’Neill Pro Junior, to be held from June 27 to 29 at Willard Beach, Ballito, will be striving for the prestigious event titles and selection for the WSL Africa squad that is invited to the annual World Junior Championship.

This year’s Ballito Pro presented by O’Neill will again be a key event on the World Surf League (WSL) schedule, showcasing the best juniors, women and men in the surf in what has become the cornerstone of the continent’s biggest beach festival.

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Ballito’s 11-year-old Cooper recently took the 2018/19 KZN Champ title in the U10 division and represented Ilembe district at the country’s premier junior surfing event, the Billabong SA Junior Champs at Jeffrey’s Bay last September.

Cooper competed against the country’s top junior surfers for the national titles and invaluable team points and went on to receive his Ilembe district colours.

This year he will once again be representing the Ilembe surfing team competing under the Ilembe Surf Riders colours at the national competition later this year, aiming for a win in the U12 division.

The surfing genes certainly run strong in the family. Cooper’s cousin is none other than professional surfer Jordy Smith, currently competing on the World Championship Tour (WCT), there is no stopping this young dynamo who also dreams of becoming a professional surfer.

With his dedicated parents behind him the grade five pupil attends Umhlali Preparatory School and cites hard work and discipline behind his success.

“My goal is to achieve SA colours by the age of 14 and surf in the U16 division at the Junior World Championship,” said Cooper who trains five to six times a week and also excels at tennis when not in the water.

“I want to keep having fun along the way and to keep on loving it as much as I do.”

Nothing can keep Cooper from chasing his goals and with his determination the future shines bright for this young sports star.

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