The world’s best surfers revelled in the overhead surf at Willard Beach on Day 5 of the Ballito Pro pres. by Billabong, carving massive arcs, manoeuvring into and out of deep tubes and taking to the air with high flying aerials on the two metre plus waves.

After a day of intense competition where the five remaining heats in the Round of 24 and all eight heats in the Round of 16 were completed, Mikey Wright (AUS) emerged as the standout performer, earning the event’s highest single ride, a near perfect 9.87 out of 10 for a no-grab full rotation, and heat total with an impressive 18.80 out of 20 in his early morning heat.

“The waves are pretty perfect so I just went out there to have some fun and get some scores,” Wright explained. “That wave presented itself and I got the air and then I got a little barrel at the end as well, so there are some well spread out conditions and I’m having fun. The main goal to get on tour, however long it takes. This contest is the first prime (QS10,000) so it’s definitely a big event.”

The 20-year-old Australian went on to post another excellent score to outpoint exciting Brazilian aerial maestro Yago Dora (BRA) in the first round of the man-on-man format to move into the quarterfinals of a QS10,000 event for the first time in his career.

The day’s action kicked off with a high-scoring duel between Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) and Jordy Smith (ZAF) that saw each earn a pair of excellent rides. The Moroccan narrowly outpointing the World No. 3 as they both advanced to the last 16 at the expense of David van Zyl (ZAF) who could not find the high scoring waves and ended his 2017 Ballito Pro campaign in equal 17th place with a career-high 2,200 point haul.

“That heat was tough, you know these QS guys want it more than anyone,” said Smith. “It’s good for me to get a warm up and it keeps me on my toes for sure. You’ve got to keep analysing and go to Plan B if the conditions shift, just judge every wave for what it is and really not over think anything too much.”

Despite the onset of the onshore breeze, the first heat in the Round of 16 had the packed beach cheering as crowd favourite Michael February (ZAF) fought back from a slow start to overtake young Californian Griffin Colapinto (USA) and advance to the quarterfinals.

“Super slow start to the heat and then on my first wave I had my leash under my foot so I kind of got a wobble and everyone probably thought it was nerves,” said February. “Then conditions changed a lot. I’d seen Keanu (Asing) got some barrels and I was trying to get something similar but in the end I just found a couple of corners that allowed me to do a few turns, so I was really happy. I already made my best result a few rounds ago, so now everything is a plus and I’m trying to make the most of it.”

February will be up against Jesse Mendes (BRA) in the quarters and win or lose the South African has already accumulated enough points to break into the Top 10 on the QS rankings. Mendes, the current QS No. 1, cemented his place in a qualifying slot for the 2018 WSL Championship Tour (CT) by defeated Keanu Asing and advancing to the last 8 at Ballito.

The balance of the quarters will see a head-to-head battle between Smith and Miguel Pupo (BRA), the only other current CT member still in the event. The bottom half of the draw pits Wade Carmichael (AUS) against fellow Australian Mikey Wright and Vasco Ribeiro (PRT) against Brazilian powerhouse Willian Cardoso, who has also moved into the QS Top 10 by reaching the quarters.

Organisers will meet at first light again on Friday to make a call at 06.45 am on when to start what is likely to be the final day of the event. If the quarterfinals commence at 7.05 as expected, the 2017 Ballito Pro pres. by Billabong champion will be crowned at Willard Beach before noon.

The Ballito Pro pres. by Billabong is proudly supported by the KwaDukuza Municipality, Billabong, 5FM, Capitec Bank, Casio, North Coast Courier, Monster Energy, Zigzag Surfing Magazine, World Surf League (WSL) and Surfing South Africa (SSA).

UPCOMING BALLITO PRO PRES. BY BILLABONG QUARTERFINAL MATCHUPS:
QF 1: Michael February (ZAF) vs. Jesse Mendes (BRA)
QF 2: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA)
QF 3: Wade Carmichael (AUS) vs. Mikey Wright (AUS)
QF 4: Vasco Ribeiro (PRT) vs. Willian Cardoso (BRA)

BALLITO PRO PRES. BY BILLABONG ROUND 5 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Michael February (ZAF) 13.67 def. Griffin Colapinto (USA) 11.23
Heat 2: Jesse Mendes (BRA) 14.77 def. Keanu Asing (HAW) 12.66
Heat 3: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 13.27 def. Joshua Moniz (HAW) 10.77
Heat 4: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 14.46 def. Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 13.83
Heat 5: Wade Carmichael (AUS) 14.96 def. Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 13.00
Heat 6: Mikey Wright (AUS) 16.17 def. Yago Dora (BRA) 10.60
Heat 7: Vasco Ribeiro (PRT) 13.44 def. Nat Young (USA) 11.67
Heat 8: Willian Cardoso (BRA) 10.76 def. Heitor Alves (BRA) 9.70

REMAINING BALLITO PRO PRES. BY BILLABONG ROUND 4 RESULTS:
Heat 4: Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 16.84, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 16.24, David Van Zyl (ZAF) 7.77
Heat 5: Wade Carmichael (AUS) 16.50, Yago Dora (BRA) 14.43, Tomas Hermes (BRA) 12.50
Heat 6: Mikey Wright (AUS) 18.80, Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 14.46, Parker Coffin (USA) 10.80
Heat 7: Vasco Ribeiro (PRT) 15.34, Heitor Alves (BRA) 13.57, Flavio Nakagima (BRA) 12.97
Heat 8: Willian Cardoso (BRA) 15.44, Nat Young (USA) 12.46, Cooper Chapman (AUS) 10.06

The QS10,000 Ballito Pro pres. by Billabong is the anchor event in the 13-day Ballito Pro Surf Festival which included the Billabong Junior Series pres. by All Aboard Travel for surfers aged 18-and-under (27 to 29 June), the SSA Ballito Trials pres. by Billabong, which saw local Richie Kidd earn a wildcard into the main event (30 June) and the QS1,000 Ballito Women’s Pro where Sophia Fulton (AUS) was crowned the champion on Saturday 1 July.

Alongside the surfing, visitors will be spoiled for choice with non-stop activities providing even more entertainment throughout the Ballito festival site. South Africa’s hottest musical acts appealing to all tastes – rock, pop, hip hop, kwaito, electro and dance – will be performing live on Salt Rock Beach on Thursday and Friday 6 & 7 July. Beach and extreme sports, culinary contests as well as quality retail and food stalls will captivate visitors to this coastal holiday highlight.