THE world’s longest running professional surfing event, the Ballito Pro presented by Billabong, will thrill the crowds on the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal from 29 June to 5 July.
In its 47th year, this event has grown from strength to strength since its inception in 1969 in Durban.
The Ballito Pro will be stop number three of nine on the World Surf League’s (WSL) World Qualifying Series (WQS) tour and will award the winner 10 000 points on the WQS. The points can go a long way for surfers wanting to make it on the WSL’s World Championship Tour (WCT) the following year.
The top 96 ranked surfers will compete and the Pro Trials that will be held on Sunday, 28 June will also afford the opportunity to local surfers like Salt Rock’s Shane Sykes to earn a wildcard slot.
Durban’s Jordy Smith and winner of the event in 2010 is currently ranked number 14 on the WCT and has confirmed his attendance at this year’s competition. Ballito will without a doubt throw their support behind Smith to take the win.
“I’m super excited to come back home and compete. It’s my favourite time of year in KZN, so hopefully we get great waves!” he said.
Surf fans will be excited to welcome back a women’s qualifying series event for the first time since 2009 when competition was called off due to the big swell conditions.
Besides the world class surfing event, visitors will be treated to a beach festival like no other. Beach-goers will experience extreme sports activities like freestyle motocross, a Monster Surf Expression Session and Monster Surf Movie Night powered by Zigzag.
Crowds will rock out to the always popular free music concerts presented by 5FM on Salt Rock beach from 2 to 4 July, while the Coastal Living Bru Food and Wine Festival will run from 30 June to 2 July at La Montagne Hotel in Ballito, offering visitors some fine wining and dining.
