Author: AdminBallitoPro

Ballito, KwaDukuza, KwaZulu-Natal. Shaun Tomson rode the crest of his career wave last week, when he was honoured with an induction into the elite South African Hall of Fame, the highest accolade that any South African sports person or performing artist can receive.

Listed among the top ten surfers of the century, the former Durbanite was the 1977 World Surfing Champion and six times winner of the Gunston 500 in Durban. Apart from surfing, Tomson is also a renowned author, businessman, environmentalist and motivational speaker.

The South African Hall of Fame celebrates great achievements by extraordinary South Africans excelling in their field, who inspire and empower the youth to holistically reach their full potential. An individual’s integrity, sportsmanship and character are also taken into account.

“The surfboard became a mere vehicle for an incredible human being, Shaun Tomson, to epitomise his passion and perseverance, and then he returned to create a message of hope,” said Johnny Burger, Chairman of the South African Hall of Fame.

“We firmly believe that character supersedes talent and that one human being, no matter how big or small can make an enormous impact. The biggest sporting legend that has ever walked South Africa, besides Gary Player, is Shaun Tomson. We honour you, we respect you and we thank you for leaving something bigger and longer-lasting behind, than just yourself, and that is a true legacy,” said Burger, before handing Tomson his accolade.

On accepting his newest award, Tomson, now California based, said “I am so humbled and so honoured to receive this award from my homeland. I know that I am going to do my homeland proud and spend more time here. What you will, you will become!”

Tomson’s powerful words of inspiration come from his book The Code: The Power of I Will, where he illustrates how people, especially the youth can change their lives in just twelve steps, each beginning with “I will…”.

Shaun Tomson has spent the past few weeks motivating local schools and organisations through the Positive Wave Tour as part of the 50th edition of the world’s longest running professional surfing event, the Ballito Pro presented by Billabong in KwaZulu-Natal

Such is his affinity with the local youth that it has earned him the affectionate nickname ‘Baba Tom’. Wiseman Cele, Manager of New Development for KwaDukuza Municipality said, “The youth that Shaun has interacted with in the last few days have been so greatly impacted by his friendliness, positive energy and accommodative manner, that they started referring to him as Baba Tom. He has become like a father-figure to them.”

“Alchemy is the transference of metals from one state to another which occurs through heat or pressure. Shaun Tomson has to be celebrated not for his achievements, but for his ability to transfer his own pain and transcend every single negative thing that has happened to him to become the person that he is today, an alchemist,” said former South African Champion surfer Greg Swart.

Tomson recently spent an afternoon with Dr. Albertina Luthuli, daughter of anti-apartheid struggle icon, Nkosi Albert Luthuli, where the two philanthropists shared their sentiments on racism, sports, politics and their common love, South Africa.

Tomson’s visit to South Africa culminates with him spending 67-minutes at the Lethithemba Secondary School for the centenary celebrations of Nelson Mandela’s birthday on 18 July #LiveTheLegacy.

Ballito Pro 50th Jubilee celebrations end on a high note with Ilembe Surfriders and Surfski Race

Visitors to this year’s Ballito Pro, presented by Billabong were treated to a full-festival #LiveTheLegacy programme of quality music, fun contests, fabulous food and endless shopping opportunities. Hosted by KwaDukuza, the 50th edition of the world-famous Ballito Pro ran from 22 June to 1 July.

“This was a really momentous Ballito Pro as we celebrated 50 years of history that brought us to this point and I think the various retro events really captured what makes this such a successful festival,” said Collette Bundy, event organiser. “The sunny winter weather and warm, welcoming reception from KwaDukuza really emphasised why the event has been hosted here for the past decade. We look forward to another 50 years of sun, surf and celebrations with The Ballito Pro.”

Audiences were kept spellbound as the master of the waves, Shaun Tomson, continued his #positivewavetour speaking about his passion for surfing and healthy oceans. In addition to his film screening ‘Bustin Down the Door’ and meet-and-greet sessions, visitors could interact at the ‘Living the Legacy: 50 years of Pro Surfing Evening hosted by Shaun Tomson’ at Coco de Mer with all proceeds going to Development Surf.

Adrenaline, fun and beachside antics made for some seriously popular Monster activations, held at Willard Beach from 28 June to 1 July. Surfers put on some impressive moves to cash in at the Monster Cash-Up presented by Zigzag as well as The Monster Expression Session presented by Zigzag. On land, skateboarding legend, Khule Ngubane, showed his skill with the Le Riche Bro’s Trials Bike shows attracting major audiences to their death-defying tricks. Fun-seekers could also refuel at the Monster Energy Rig Riot.

The high-energy sports’ action continued at the first-ever Ballito Downwind Series on the 1 July where 56 of South Africa’s best paddlers competed in this doubles’ race from Blythedale Beach to Tiffany’s Reef. Taking first place in the men’s division were pre-race favourites Matthew Bouman and Ant Stott with Hayley Nixon and Sabina Lawrie winning the ladies’ race. Bouman and Stott came home in just over one hour and five minutes with Nixon and Lawrie placing 11th overall. Clinton Cook and Christie Mackenzie were the first mixed double across the line while Todd Borland came home as the first single ski. The top contenders were rewarded with a share of R10 000 prize money, as well as product prizes from Muscle Wellness, Gara Racing Paddles and Thule.

Retro tastes, sights and sounds overwhelmed at the Retro Jubilee Food & Wine presented by Ballito Junction from 25 to 26 June. Aspiring chefs, young and old, sizzled in the #LiveTheLegacy cook-off contests while guests relished in the fine food and drink options in a classy, carnival-style setting. There were also many flavours to be tried at the Retro Cocktail Lounge and Bar.

This coastal event has become synonymous for its unbelievable musical concerts and this year did not disappoint. Thousands of concert-goers enjoyed the sounds of December Streets, Okmalumkoolkat, MS Cosmo, The Kickstands, Sketchy Bongo and 5FM’s Nick Hamman, among others on 28 and 29 June at the Ballito Pro Free Music Concerts Powered by 5FM. Throughout the festival, DJs including Chunda Munki, TiMO ODV, Chris Taylor, Strange Loving kept the party going at the Crush Nightclub After Dark Parties

Festival-goers took to Willard Beach which was transformed into an outdoor market, boasting stalls retailing food, clothes and crafts with local musicians setting the vibe. There were also ongoing daily beachside activities to keep the children entertained at The Coke-a-Cola Football Arena.

The Ilembe Surf Riders Development Programme, a newly-established initiative aimed at developing new surf talent, was also hosted at the festival.

Peterson Crisanto (BRA) won the historic 50th edition of the Ballito Pro pres. by Billabong in front of a beach jam packed with vocal spectators today, defeating powerful Australian Jack Freestone in final memorable for the pristine waves, picture perfect conditions and huge crowds.

The finalists in the first World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series event to carry a QS 10,000 rating this season had to wait for long periods between sets, but when the waves came they provided the surfers with the opportunity to showcase the full extent of their talents.

After a slow start with no waves for the first eight minutes, Crisanto barely put a foot wrong in the 35 minute final, starting with a mid- range 5.50 out of 10 that got his juices flowing and following that up with an excellent 8.73 that gave him a lead that he never relinquished.

Freestone waited and then delivered a 7.83 before also adding a 5.50 of his own. But it was the Brazilian who stayed the busier and he increased his two-wave heat tally with a 6.93 before slamming the door on his opponent with another excellent 8.20 for a ride that seamlessly combined three manoeuvres utilising the entire face of the wave.

“I can’t believe I’ve won this event, I’m so happy,” said Crisanto. “This is the biggest win of my career so far and it comes after a lot of hard work and hard times. For the last two years, after I lost my main sponsor, I just competed in Brazil to earn money to travel. But now I’m so happy to be back, competing against the best surfers in the world. And to win the 50th edition of the event – it is so special.”

Crisanto came into Ballito ranked No. 42 on the QS leaderboard and it is an endorsement of the importance of the South African event that the 10,000 points earned sees him leave ranked No. 1. His path to the final included wins over Seth Moniz (HAW) in the semifinals and fellow Brazilian Thiago Camarao in the quarterfinals on the final day Earlier he eliminated former Championship Tour (CT) member Nat Young (USA) in Round 5.

Freestone was elated to get his 2018 campaign underway with a great result and huge point haul in Ballito after missing out earlier in the year.

“Mt start to the year was pretty bad and I could barely make it out of a heat in the QS 3000 and QS 6,000 events,” said Freestone. “But Ballito is usually where the year starts and I’m so happy to kick off the Prime campaign with a second. It means so much to me, especially here in Ballito where I’ve never done better than 5th before. To now be 5th in the world, I’ll take that and know I’m back on course.”

Freestone narrowly outpointed Ricardo Christie (NZL) in their quarterfinal clash this morning and his win over compatriot Wade Carmichael, currently ranked No. 14 on the CT, catapulted him into the final.

The day started with the quarterfinals and Carmichael employed his power surfing repertoire to dispatch young Californian Griffin Colapinto before Freestone got the better of Christie. Moniz then upset the form book by eliminating red hot Brazilian Krystian Kymerson, who had been responsible for some of the biggest aerial manoeuvres seen in Ballito and had claimed the only perfect 10 point ride of the event, before Crisanto defeated Camarao in the fourth quarterfinal.

The top local performer in the 2018 Ballito Pro pres. by Billabong was Matt McGillivray who was the only South African to reach the third round before being ousted in equal 37th place overall. The result sees McGillivray slip out of the top 10 on the ranking to 17th for the first time since winning the first event of the year in Israel.

But the Jeffreys Bay resident is still the top ranked WSL Africa member, which earns him the wildcard into the Corona Open J-Bay, the sixth stop on the WSL Championship Tour (CT) which runs from2-12 July at McGillivray’s home break of Supertubes in Jeffreys Bay.

Full results since the opening day of the Ballito Pro pres. by Billabong, along with news, images, video clips and more will be available at www.worldsurfleague.com

BALLITO PRO PRES. BY BILLABONG FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 16.93 points
2 – Jack Freestone (AUS) 14.13

BALLITO PRO PRES. BY BILLABONG SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Jack Freestone (AUS) 12.03 def. Wade Carmichael (AUS) 10.10
SF 2: Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 16.43 def. Seth Moniz (HAW) 14.60

BALLITO PRO PRES. BY BILLABONG QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Wade Carmichael (AUS) 16.90 def. Griffin Colapinto (USA) 11.84
QF 2: Jack Freestone (AUS) 13.34 def. Ricardo Christie (NZL) 12.80
QF 3: Seth Moniz (HAW) 13.60 def. Krystian Kymerson (BRA) 11.24
QF 4: Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 13.36 def. Thiago Camarao (BRA) 12.20

WORLD SURF LEAGUE QUALIFYING SERIES RANKINGS (After Ballito Pro pres, by Billabong)
1 Peterson Crisanto BRA 13720
2 Seth Moniz HAW 12950
3 Mikey Wright, AUS 12205
4 Alejo Muniz BRA 10980
5 Jack Freestone AUS 9720

South Africans: (Top 50)
17 Matt McGillivray (Jeffreys Bay 7300
36 Beyrick De Vries (uMhlanga) 5380
44 Adin Masencamp (Strand) 4750

The scene is set for a memorable finale to the 50th edition of the Ballito Pro pres. by Billabong on Saturday after the 20 remaining competitor s were today reduced to the eight who will contest the quarterfinalists.

Competitors in first World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 10,000 rated event of the season were greeted with punchy 1.0 to1.5 metre waves and light winds. They took full advantage of the ideal conditions for aerial manoeuvres, boosting themselves high into the air and performing skateboard-inspired tricks in mid-air before landing.

Krystian Kymerson is one world’s best exponents of boosting and he became the first competitor on the QS this year to be awarded a ‘perfect’ 10 out 10 by all five judges on the panel with an outrageous aerial today. Described as a ‘tweaked-out, full-rotation backhand aerial’ by those familiar with these manoeuvres, the packed beach erupted as the Brazilian landed perfectly and emerged from under the spray with his arms held aloft in triumph.

The score changed the situation in his heat against fellow Brazilian and equally famous aerialist Yago Dora who was the star of yesterday’s airborne attack on thewaves at Willard Beach. Kymerson took the lead and then added a 7.17 for some committed rail surfing that saw Dora become one of the four elite Championship Tour (CT) surfers to be eliminated on the day.

The other three eliminated were longstanding CT member Jeremy Flores (FRA), third-year standout Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) and Jesse Mendes (BRA).

Only two CT surfers are still in the draw, Wade Carmichael (AUS), whose full bore power surfing has carried him through his heats against the ‘fly-boys’, and rookie sensation Griffin Colapinto (USA),who has the full package of aerials and rail surfing along with uncanny tube-riding skills for a 19-year-old. They will come against each other in the first of quarterfinals.

The second quarter will be a duel between two of the taller surfers on tour in Ricardo Christie (NZL) and Jack Freestone (AUS), both of whom have had a taste of competing on the elite Dream Tour with its exotic venues, great waves and huge audiences, but failed to re-qualify at end of their respective rookie year.

Christie has charged through the early rounds, winning ever heat, including a three-man match up in Round 4 where he finished ahead of Freestone, which will give the New Zealander a slight psychological advantage.

By contrast quarterfinal three features Kymerson and Seth Moniz (HAW), both slightly built but with lightening fast reflexes and repertoires filled with sharp changes of direction. The Brazilian is favoured by many of the pundits thanks to his already well documented aerial skills.

And the final duo battling for a spot in the semifinals will be an all-Brazilian clash between former prodigy Peterson Crisanto who, like Colapinto, has the complete package of contest manoeuvres and his compatriot Thiago Camarao, a 10 year veteran of the QS whose confidence is sky-high after winning some tricky match-ups earlier this week.

With a potential career-changing 10,000 points on offer, the biggest points haul available on the Qualifying Series so far this year, the action promises to be fast and exciting as these eight highly ranked competitors go to-to-toe in one-on-one clashes with the winner progressing to the semis.

Organisers will meet at first light and will make a call at 7.45 am on when the event will get underway. It is anticipated that the seven remaining heat will be wrapped up around midday with the historic 50th champion crowned at the venue soon after the final is completed

Full results since the opening day, along with news, images, video clips and more will be available at www.worldsurfleague.com

Brazilian Yago Dora flew to a near-perfect heat total of 19.17 out of 20 on Day 4 of the Ballito Pro pres. by Billabong by using his uncanny ability to stay attached to his surfboard while flying high above the waves and earning huge scores from the judges.

A stiff SW crosswind and consistent 1.0 to 1.3 metre waves provided ideal ramps for the competitors still in contention in the first World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 10,000 rated event of the season to launch their progressive aerial manoeuvres. By the end of the day only 20 surfers remained in the draw

Willard Beach produces predominantly right-breaking waves and Dora and the other goofy-footers, who ride with their right foot in front and face the wave when riding left-breaking waves, took full advantage of the unusual conditions to unleash their aerial repertoires.

The 22-year-old Championship Tour (CT) rookie stayed really busy throughout his four-man Round Three heat, catching 13 waves. He was already leading his heat with a 6.50 and an 8.93, each out of 10, the latter being the one of the top five rides of the event to date.

Taking off on another left, Dora generated speed as he raced across the wave and then launched himself and his surfboard at more than a metre into the air, completed a 360 degree rotation and then landed perfectly on his feet to roars of amazement from the knowledgeable crowd of spectators who braved the first chilly day of the event.

Encouraged by earning a near-perfect 9.77 (one of the judges on the 5-man panel did award a perfect 10), Dora tried the same manoeuvre on his next wave, but he fell and earned only one point.

That didn’t deter him and he upped the requirement for his opponents on the next ride when he again successfully completed a high-risk aerial and received 9.07 to take his two-wave heat tally over the 19 points out of 20 threshold that signifies an exceptional performance.

“That was a good heat for me, everything worked out,” was Dora’s understated comment on the performance that had everyone on the beach buzzing. “That was my strategy going into it, I knew everyone else would be going for big turns on the right, so I watched the left all morning and just wanted to take to the air.”

The was also a late twist in result of that heat when Seth Moniz from Hawaii snatched the advancing runner-up spot from Leonardo Fioravanti of Italy who had looked he had second place behind Dora sewn up. But Moniz turned the tables in then dying minutes when, needing a 7.40 to stay in the event, he too took to the air and earned a 7.60 that dropped the Italian to third place and out of the Ballito Pro.

Local fans were sad to see Matt McGillivray bow out in Round Three. The only South Africa to reach the last 48 started well but was eventually overtaken by his three international rivals. Another goofy-footed Brazilian aerialist in Krystian Kymerson racked up a 7.13 and an 8.33 on the lefts for the heat win and a spot in the Round of 24 along with runner-up, veteran CT member Jeremy Flores of France.

“I came into the event as a wildcard and I’m grateful for the opportunity to earn some points so I can build up my seeding for the second half of the year,’ said McGillivray. “Getting to Round Three has helped my points total and it’s been such a cool experience to compete with the best in the world and try to learn from them.”

The 10,000 points on offer at the Ballito Pro has a significant impact on the chances of any surfer hoping to qualify for the elite Championship Tour. The elation of progressing to the next round was palpable for the likes of perennial Qualifying Series (QS) contenders Soli Bailey and fellow Australian Jack Freestone, Brazil’s Jesse Mendes and Ricardo Christie from New Zealand.

On the other side of the equation are those fighting to keep their places among the elite Top 34 who compete on the CT, but halfway through the year are languishing well outside the top 22 who automatically re-qualify. Losses today for the likes of 2016 Ballito Pro pres. by Billabong winner Connor O’Leary (AUS), Ian Gouveia (BRA) and Keanu Asing (HAW) will have been painful, but will make them even more determined in their next events.

Just 20 heats remain before the 50th winner of the world’s longest running professional surfing contest is crowned and the contest organisers have three days in which to ensure that the rest of the event takes place in the best available conditions

Full results from the opening day, along with news, images, video clips and more will be available at www.worldsurfleague.com

Peru’s Sofia Mulanovich won the Ballito Women’s Pro pres. by Billabong at Willard Beach in KwaDukuza on Wednesday, comfortably defeating top seed Philippa Anderson (AUS) in the 25 minute final held in lumpy, high-tide one metre waves.

For Mulanovich, the 2004 Women’s World Champion, it was a second event title in the long and storied history of what is now know as the Ballito Pro, having clinched her first title in what was then known as the Mr Price Pro at North Beach in Durban in 2002.

The Peruvian was dominant throughout the marathon day of competition, winning five consecutive heats including the final where she racked up scores of 6.0 and 5.25 (both out of 10) while Anderson could only produce a pair of fours, and the Australian was left needing 6.4 points when the siren went to end the encounter.

The first surfer from South America ever to win a world title cruised through the bottom half of the draw in Ballito, winning every heat she contested and overcoming the challenge of surfers half her age. Shino Matsudo (JPN), who was beaten in both their one-on-one semi-final and the four person quarter-final, has reached the final of two events in the past month and is 18 but, was she no match for the 35-year-old Mulanovich

The final result sees Anderson, who was born in South Africa, move up to No. 11 on the women’s World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) rankings, while Mulanovich jumps 19 places to No. 51.

The 32 entries for the QS 1,000 rated event were evenly split with 15 international competitors taking on 17 locals in Round One, which got underway immediately after the completion of the final four heats in the QS10,000 rated men’s event.

The top local performers were Nicole Pallet (La Lucia), Kai Woolf (Jeffreys Bay) and veteran two-time World Masters Champion Heather Clark (Port Shepstone), who all finished equal 9th after bowing out in the second round.

Full results from the opening day, along with news, images, video clips and more will be available at www.worldsurfleague.com

Organisers will meet at first light to decide on when to get the Round of 48 in the QS10,000 Ballito Pro pres. by Billabong underway.

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 over the last weekend. Beach and extreme sports, culinary contests as well as quality retail and food stalls will captivate visitors at this coastal holiday highlight.

The Ballito Pro pres. by Billabong is proudly supported by the KwaDukuza Municipality, Billabong, Capitec Bank, Casio G-Shock, Ballito Junction Regional Mall, Coco Der Mer, 5FM, SMG Rocks, Monster Energy, Zigzag Surfing Magazine, World Surf League (WSL) and Surfing South Africa (SSA).

The top seeds in the Ballito Pro presented by Billabong were eliminated in their opening encounters on the second day of the Golden Jubilee anniversary edition of the event at Willard Beach.

Competitors in the first World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 10,000 rated event of 2018 were greeted by with clean one metre waves at dawn, but as the onshore wind freshened and the high tide created inconsistent waves, organisers called off the action after 12 heats had been completed.

The slew of upsets caused by red hot surfing from contenders hungry for the huge points and prize money on offer included the 2017 event winner and runner-up, Durbanite Jordy Smith and Willian Cardoso (BRA), who were eliminated in their respective opening encounters despite both being ranked in the Top 10 on the elite Championship Tour (CT) Jeep Leaderboard.

The two defeats could not have been more different with Smith riding 10 waves but not earning a score over 2.93 points (out of 10) and ending in a distant fourth place, needing a near-perfect 9.10 to move into second place and advance to the next round.

Cardoso gave his all in an incredible tussle that saw the scores from first to fourth place separated by less than a point The Brazilian event top seed finished in third place, just 0.43 of a point behind the runner-up, Charley Martin (FRA).

Deivid Silva (BRA) took full advantage of the pumping early morning conditions to put on a backhand clinic as he posted the highest heat tally of the day. The 23-year-old current QS No. 2 stumbled on his first two waves but then went through a purple patch where he produced back-to-back scores of 7.83, 6.17. 8.83 and 8.17 for a two-wave total of 17.04.

Even a heat-high 8.93 from Hawaiian Imaikalani deVault was only enough for second place as he and Silva advanced to the last 48 while eliminating Stuart Kennedy (AUS) and veteran campaigner Heitor Alves (BRA).

The partisan local fans were disappointed when David van Zyl was narrowly eliminated after starting his heat with two solid six-point rides. The Durbanite has had a confidence boosting start to the year with three top finishes and a victory in a QS 1,500 to date, but former US Open of Surfing winner Hiroto Ohhara (JPN ) and Jack Robinson (AUS) overtook the South African late in today’s heat and he had to settle for third place and is out of this event.

The fans did get to celebrate later when Matt McGillivray became the first South African to reach the last 48 in this year’s Ballito Pro. The Jeffreys Bay standout has remained in the top 10 in the QS rankings since winning the opening event of the year in Israel and was elated to progress at Ballito.

“I wanted to be busy out there, catch a lot of waves and build my scores, but what happened was the incoming tide slowed the waves down and there were not very many opportunities,” McGillivray explained.

“I kept going for aerial manoeuvres and I wasn’t completing them. I was thinking that this wind was perfect for airs and I was hoping to get some big scores with them, but unfortunately I had a bit of a shocker. It ended up being a really low scoring heat and I somehow managed to scrape through so I’m just really grateful that I’ll get another opportunity to surf again and hopefully I’ll put a better heat together.”

Experienced CT member Jeremy Flores (FRA) came back late in his heat to snatch an impressive win over Hawaiian standout Barron Mamiya and Brazilian Marco Fernandez, both of whom posted eight point scores for aerial manoeuvres completed early in the heat.

Flores stayed patient however and exercised priority at a crucial time to stoke into one of the best set waves of the heat. He proceeded to put together a scintillating display of power carves and sharp top-turns in his distinctive style

“I love it here. Conditions were a bit tricky and bumpy but I’m happy to get the win. Every heat is so hard, so I’m happy to move on,” said Flores.

Four heats of Round Two remain and organisers will meet at first light on Wednesday morning to make a decision on whether to complete the round, or to start the QS 1,000 Ballito Women’s Pro pres. by Billabong.

Full results from the opening day, along with news, images, video clips and more will be available at www.worldsurfleague.com