There is an old adage among journalists that we are under paid but over privileged. My two weeks spent at the Ballito Pro, pres. by O’Neill attests to that. Not only because of the incredible experiences I had as a member of the media but also because of how well put together the event was. The KwaDukuza Municipality, event coordinator, Collette Bundy along with O’Neill’s Paul Canning and the huge team of unsung heroes behind the scenes made Ballito shine. And of course the balmy winter conditions the weather gods blessed the event window with, bringing beach days for families and a consistent run of swell for the surfers made for the other half of the event’s success. It was like December holidays in July.
Over the six years of writing articles for the official event magazine I’ve forged some treasured relationships and the Pro has become like an annual family reunion – something I’ll dearly miss when I leave the province later this month.
With arguably the most competitive field of entries in the event’s 15 years in Ballito, ultra high Championship Tour qualification stakes and challenging conditions that forced surfers to adapt or die every day, this year’s event embodied the event theme “lena inkundla yempi” – Zulu for “this is the battlefield”. In the men’s competition the extraordinary aerial antics provided electrifying spectator value, while the young talent on the women’s side systematically eliminating experienced high ranking competitors kept us on the edge of our seats.
Perhaps most surprising and a testimony to how gripping the event was, was how full the beach and VIP deck were on a Monday finals day. Clearly the surfing community have their priorities in order, supporting the surfers in the water and Ballito’s premier annual surf event on a work day.
It’s no secret that the festival element I’m most amped for every year is the Skate Jam. There’s just such an epic vibe with the music – predominantly punk rock and heavy metal – the creatively anti-establishment skate culture and Kai Linder’s expert commentary interlaced with his own personality and classic sense of humor.
Before the comp, I had breakfast on the VIP deck with Khule Ngubani (who would go on to make a clean sweep, clinching the open as well as best trick titles). He usually places on the podium and so he would always be a contender, but that morning there was something different about him. I could se Khule was in the zone and I got a feeling that he might do something special. Personally the win meant a lot to him and I’m happy for him.
My most treasured memory of this year’s event was being given the opportunity to participate in the O’Neill Women of the Wave event on my birthday. Catching waves and sharing stories with a community of vibey women of all ages, some pro juniors, some weekend warriors, and the O’Neill team riders, including two Olympians (Sarah Baum and Yolanda Hopkins) was the best birthday present I could ask for.
Ballito’s marine wildlife was also showing off with dolphins and even a whale making appearances in the contest zone while huge shoals of sardines frequently drew out gaze to deeper waters. We had an incredible Nat Geo moment surfing Bog on the first Friday of the contest window. A small shoal of sardines briefly veered into the surf zone, chased by a pod of dolphins and a few birds dive bombing for a scrumptious meal. Paddling over a big closeout wave with dolphins chasing sards down the wave face will forever be etched into my brain.
I could write a book about all the amazing experiences had and memories made at this year’s Pro, but space doesn’t allow. So for now, in the famous works of Porky Pig bursting through a bass drum head at the end of a Looney Tunes Cartoon “Th-Th-The, Th-Th-The, Th-Th… That’s all, folks!”
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