Surf legend to host jubilee celebrations

FORMER world surfing champion, Shaun Tomson, will host the Golden Jubilee celebrations for the historic 50th edition of the Ballito Pro at Willard Beach in KwaDukuza from 25 June to 1 July.

Tomson has played a huge role in the history of the world’s longest running professional surfing event. His late father Ernie, was instrumental in founding the Durban 500 back in 1969 and Tomson won the Gunston 500 for six consecutive years from 1973 to 1978, a record that is unlikely to be surpassed at this or any other major international surfing contest.

The former Durbanite, now an internationally acclaimed motivational speaker, author and film-maker who resides in California, will spend more than a month in KwaDukuza conducting a Positive Wave Tour comprising motivational workshops with business, council and various high schools leading up to and continuing after the festival. The tour will culminate with 67 minutes of work at a selected high school to celebrate the Centenary of Nelson Mandela’s birthday on 18 July.

He will also host a screening of Bustin Down The Door at the Ballito Junction Regional Mall, the venue for the Ballito Pro Food and Wine Festival. Produced by Tomson in 2008, the film chronicles the often turbulent birth of professional surfing during the mid-1970s that led to his crowning as the second pro world surfing champion in 1977.

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Tomson will be honoured at a glittering awards function on Wednesday, 27 June at Coco Der Mer in Ballito alongside the other South African winners of the event. They include two-time and defending champion Jordy Smith (2010 and 2017), Ricky Basnett (2006) and Gavin Rudolph, winner of the inaugural edition in 1969.

This year’s edition of the Ballito Pro Surf Festival also celebrates the tenth anniversary since it relocated from Durban to KwaDukuza and the 21st year of the Billabong Junior Series presented by BOS which has played a pivotal role in grooming young South African surfers for future competitive success.

The Ballito Pro Surf Festival kicks off with the Billabong Junior Series from 22 to 24 June before the crown jewel of the festival, the QS10,000 Ballito Pro and the QS1,000 Ballito Women’s Pro take centre stage from Monday to Sunday, 25 June to 1 July.

Alongside the surfing, visitors will be spoiled for choice with non-stop activities and live music providing even more entertainment throughout the Ballito festival site.

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