Transformation through surfing

WHILE the world’s best surfers will be in action at the Ballito Pro from 27 June to 7 July, development, unity and transformation remain at the heart of the world’s longest running professional surfing event in KwaDukuza.

The Ballito Pro will once again show its support for community-based surf development programmes when Sea Harvest, together with Surfing South Africa and the KwaDukuza Municipality, hosts a Development Surf Day on Sunday, 7 July, to celebrate the journey of transformation in this sport. Young surfers from KZN’s iLembe Surf Riders, Ubuntu Learn to Surf and Swim Club, Sisonke Surf Club and Surfers Not Street Children (SNSC) will take to the waves in a fun tag team event.

The young surfers will have the privilege of surfing with event ambassador and surfer, Sal Masekela, an internationally acclaimed action sports presenter. The son of South African jazz legend, Hugh Masekela, Sal is the founder of Stoked Mentoring, a non-profit organisation which uses action sports to empower children from underprivileged communities in the USA.

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This year, Surfers Not Street Children founder, Tom Hewitt and his team, will share their mentoring experiences of the past 21 years with the clubs as part of the evolution of the Ballito Pro’s heart for surfing development. “We are really excited about the development surfing contest and competing with the other clubs. We are huge fans of Sal Masekela and looking forward to an incredible week,” said Tom.

As part of the KwaDukuza Municipality’s commitment to uplift local communities, during the Ballito Pro Programme there will be an opening of the community swimming pool at Shaka’s Head on Sunday, 30 June by Sal Masekela, the Mayor and Council of KwaDukuza Municipality.

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