112 of the world’s best surfers gathered at Willard Beach today (Monday) to duke it out in the waves for a share of the US $260,000 (approx. R3.3 million) up for grabs in the Ballito Pro, among them Ballito’s own Richie Kidd.
Today’s action ran through the Round 1 and first four heats of Round 2 in choppy one metre waves. Presented by Billabong, the Ballito Pro is the first major World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) event of the year, and with not only prize money but the biggest ranking points haul available on the QS – the action was fast and furious as the short-period swell provided plenty of waves.
Local hero Kidd justified the wildcard he was awarded for winning the SSA Ballito Trials last Thursday when he grabbed second place in the opening heat of the day and progressed to Round 2.
There he narrowly missed out on a fairytale berth in the last 48 when he was overtaken for second spot by Hiroto Ohhara (JPN) with just minutes remaining.
Jeffreys Bay based Matthew McGillivray and Dylan Lightfoot, two other two South Africans in action on the opening day, both finished third in their respective heats to be eliminated in equal 97th place overall, pocketing 200 points and US $500.
Meanwhile Cape Town’s Michael February made the partisan local crowd happy when he secured a come-from-behind victory in the opening heat of Round 2. The lanky Capetonian, currently ranked No. 20 on the QS, shrugged off an impressive 9 point ride by Brazil’s Krystian Kymerson and steadily built a heat winning total.
“It’s never easy when you hear that one of your opponents has scored a 9 in the first couple of minutes of a heat, but I stuck with my plan to wait for two good waves, and it paid off in the end,” said February, whose patience was rewarded with rides of 7.0 and 6.83.
“I’m happy with this win and I’m looking forward to the rest of the event.”
Current runaway QS rankings leader Jesse Mendes (BRA) stayed busy throughout his Round 2 heat, riding 13 waves in the 30 minute encounter. The 23-year-old from Guaruja led throughout but only posted his best two rides, an 8.0 for a pair of vertical backhand bashes and an 8.50 for a high-flying 360 aerial rotation, in the last five minutes.
Australia’s Mikey Wright earned the day’s highest single ride score, a 9.23 for three huge hits on a right, but with just a 5.50 for his backup ride he finished second behind fellow Australian Jacob Willcox, who racked up rides of 6.67 and 8.17. Both will be in Round 2.
Top seed and current world No. 3, South Africa’s Jordy Smith will be coming up in heat 12 of Round 2 when the competition gets underway again tomorrow (Tuesday).
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