The biggest international surf and lifestyle festival on the African continent, the Ballito Pro presented by O’Neill, is back with a bang!

The event takes place from June 25 to July 8 at Willard Beach and a raft of exciting new elements, not seen since pre-Covid, have been added to this year’s festival. World Surf League (WSL) Africa regional director Tasha Mentasti told a partner and media breakfast last week that the contest was set to be the best yet.

“This is an event where athletes can shine, future stars can be seen and fans can revel in the surfing,” said Mentasti.

This year’s Ballito Pro marks two notable milestones, namely 55 years of the longest-running surf contest in the world and 15 years of hosting the event in Ballito.

The unique campaign theme centres around connecting our local Zulu cultural heritage with the brutal surfing battles in the water.

The Courier can reveal that the top 10 ranked men and women on the Challenger Series (CS) have entered along with an impressive cohort of returning faces and fresh threats.

The campaign tagline, “lena ikundla yempi” (this is the battlefield) also highlights the region’s victorious efforts in creating the ultimate surfing battlefield, not only for the CS surfers battling for a place on the WSL’s top tier of competition, the Championship Tour (CT), but also for African surfers aspiring to get to CS level.

The addition of a new Qualifying Series (QS)1000 event, the Ballito Open presented by Flojos, is the final piece of the puzzle to complete the range of pathways to pro events from development through to CS level.

Supplementing a stacked surfing programme, there will also be other sports and leisure activities on the event programme.

The Ballito Pro Skate Jam, presented by Volcom and Etnies, will see the top South African and local up-and-coming talent grind it out for a share of a R25 000 cash prize.

Festival elements, including shopping, live entertainment, extreme sports, kids’ activities and a special art activation, will have the public batting to decide what to fit in.

The party continues with a fully loaded evening programme of after parties, an oyster festival at Mozambik Restaurant and the annual iLembe Surf Riders fundraiser.

Also included is an exciting new addition: the Corona sunset sessions at the retail area, featuring acoustic live acts and top-notch DJs.

The free music concerts at Salt Rock Beach have become a staple of the event.

KDM mayor Lindile Nhaca said the municipality was proud to once again host the Ballito Pro in the jewel of the Zulu nation.

“This year’s event also coincides with the 30th anniversary of our democracy and we are very proud to say that the Pro has been a vehicle for nation building and social cohesion. This is why we (KDM) have adopted The Ballito Pro as one of our signature events,” said Nhaca.

She also expressed her desire to secure the Sector Group, of which the current presenting sponsor O’Neill forms part, or Corona as a title sponsor before the end of her tenure in 2026.

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