ORGANISERS of the 2016 Ballito Pro (22 June to 3 July) are excited about the relocation of the Billabong Junior Series to Ballito from Jeffreys Bay.
The top two placed surfers in the U18 boys’ division will now have a slot in the Ballito Pro South Africans-only trial (to earn a wildcard entry into the Ballito Pro) and is one of the drawing cards for taking the Billabong Junior Series to Ballito this year.
The Ballito Pro is one of only four QS10 000 events in the world, and last year’s Ballito Pro champion, Alejo Muniz from Brazil, solidified his QS rankings lead with the points he earned, sending him flying into the coveted Championship Tour. Only the top 34 surfers in the world are given the chance to compete for the world title.
Spectators can look forward to some radical, innovative and progressive manoeuvres as the world’s best professional surfers carve it out in the fantastic but unpredictable beach break at Surfer’s Beach. “It is a highly-anticipated venue on the QS circuit,” said the WSL’s Richard Porter.
The women’s event, a QS1 000 rated event, will run concurrently with the men’s event and promises a subtle touch of beauty and grace added to the Ballito Pro. The night owls are catered for with after-parties, a battle of the deejays and music concerts on Salt Rock Beach, while the foodies will savour an evening of food and wine at the Stoke Your Fire event on Wednesday, 29 June.
Adrenalin junkies can look forward to the Ballito Pro extreme sports programme, which includes, among others, motorcross stunts by the Le Riche brothers and the launch and screening of big wave surfer, Matt Bromley’s new surfing movie, Risky Business.
