Category: Uncategorised

Ballito Pro introduces new conservation elements to this year’s festival

As a celebration of the beautiful KwaDukuza region, the Ballito Pro presented by O’Neill constantly seeks ways to ensure the sustainability of the natural resources that make this such a popular festival location. For the 2019 edition, taking place from 27 June to 7 July, the Ballito Pro is bringing in the Save the Waves campaign – Litter4Tokens project – and welcomes the rescue team from Snakes in the City.

“The Ballito Pro, KwaDukuza and O’Neill brands are very much aligned in their vision for a completely sustainable festival that not only reduces its footprint but also educates the public about ways to protect our valuable and vulnerable resources,” explained Collette Bundy, festival event organiser. “This year we will be focusing on reducing litter, improving ocean health and the protection of wildlife species through our education and awareness campaigns.”

Save the Waves – Litter4Tokens

This active recycling campaign, started in 2015 in KwaDukuza by Clare Swithenbank-Bowman, rewards bags of recycling brought in by community members with tokens. These can be exchanged for a variety of dry goods at token shops within the partnered schools and communities across KwaDukuza.

“Litter4Tokens aims to create jobs, feed the nation, and instil pride by cleaning up the environment and raising awareness about the devastation of plastics,” explained Swithenbank-Bowman. “Working with the surfing world plays a huge part in our mission as the ocean is ultimately where all the plastic ends up.”

In addition to the environmental considerations, the campaign has assisted a number of community members. One example is 59-year-old Victoria, a grandmother from Shakas Head in KwaDukuza who supports five children. Through the Litter4Tokens campaign, she is able to collect 20 to 25 bags of recycling a week which assists her in buying food and clothing.

At this year’s Ballito Pro, Litter4Tokens – which has partnered with O’Neill – will launch the first-ever ‘Mermaid Tear Catcher’ with prizes for those who collect the most mermaid tears – or plastic nurdles as they’re known. These are small plastic pellets which are having a devastating effect on the delicate marine ecosystem. Each Mermaid Tear Catcher has a unique code which is collected and this valuable data shared with the World Global Nurdle Foundation. Litter4Tokens will also be on site, engaging with holidaymakers and sharing information about their work.

Litter4Tokens relies on business funding to sustain and grow this campaign nationally as the communities are picking up the retailers’ recycling and closing the circle #circulareconomy #savethewaves. Any retailer interested in partnering to Save the Waves and feed the nation can get involved by contacting Clare at clare@litter4tokens.co.za.

Snake City Stars on Site

As part of their South African Tour this winter, Simon Keys and Siouxsie Gillett – stars of Snake City as seen on Nat Geo WILD – will be hosting a meet-and-greet at this year’s Ballito Pro festival, giving the public a chance to view two incredible pythons.

On Thursday, 4 and Friday, 5 July, Simon and Siouxsie will be at the pop-up activation stand at the Retail Area, signing autographs and having pictures taken with fans. Visitors will get to meet the dynamic stars of this reality-driven snake-catching series filmed in KwaZulu-Natal for a global audience on Nat Geo WILD. Snake City season 6 is currently in production and will be shown in 177 countries later this year.

Passionate about the welfare of snakes, Simon and Siouxsie travel vast distances to assist in their safe removals. Commenting on their importance, Siouxsie explained: “’Without snakes, we will see an increase in rodent population, which will mean an increase in rodent diseases passed to humans. This means more damage to food crops and escalating food prices to cover losses. Snakes are vital to the planet!”

Some interesting facts about the importance of snakes:

· Without snakes the rodent population will increase. A pair of rats can have a million offspring in just a year and a half.
· Rats and mice spread more than 50 diseases to humans.
· Rodents carry infectious parasites such as tick-borne Lyme disease.
· Rodents can infect pets and livestock.
· A single rattlesnake eats approximately 2 500 to 4 500 ticks a year by eating rodents.
· Rodents are one of the major causes of crop destruction and electrical system damage worldwide.
· Toxins found in snake venom have shown promise in treating chronic pain, heart disease, cancer, bloody clots, type 2 diabetes and more.

Other exciting festival events include:
· Sal Masekela African Surf Adventure Driven by SMG Rocks and Hosted by Coco de Mer
· The Ballito Pro Music Concerts presented by 5FM
· After Dark Parties – hosted by Crush Ballito
· Ballito Pro Food presented by Ballito Junction Regional Mall
· Extreme Sports – adrenaline-fuelled Monster activations
· Daily Beach Action
· Retail Area
· Kids’ Corner
· South African surfboard shapers

If you’re looking for an experience that #feelslikefreedom, get to the Ballito Pro presented by O’Neill!

Rocking festival line-up announced for this year’s Ballito Pro presented by O’Neill

South Africa’s musical legends will be amplifying the ‘rock’ in Salt Rock Main Beach this winter when the Ballito Pro 2019 FREE Music Concerts Powered by 5FM kicks off on Thursday, 4 and Friday, 5 July from 4pm. This unmissable concert forms part of the ongoing beachside Ballito Pro presented by O’Neill festival programme that is running at KwaDukuza from 27 June to 7 July.

“As one of the annual festival highlights, we’re excited to announce another incredible musical line-up for this year’s two-night concert,” said Collette Bundy, festival organiser. “Outside of the concert programme, music-lovers can also enjoy some incredible DJing at the After Dark Parties – hosted by Crush Ballito, running throughout the festival. There’s something for everyone!”

Ballito Pro 2019 FREE Music Concerts Powered by 5FM

On Thursday, 4 July, concert-goers will get to experience the musical talent of Durban’s own Gqom duo, Distruction Boyz. Having developed their individual styles at taverns and shisa nyama’s across KwaMashu, Thobani ‘Que’ Mgobhozi and Zipho ‘Goldmax’ Mthembu decided to join forces and have continued to impress Mzansi with their original sound.

Another headline act on Thursday is legendary South African singer and songwriter, Lady Zamar. Winner of the 2017 Song of the Year for ‘Charlotte’ at the DStv Mzansi Viewers’ Choice Awards, as well as the Best Dance Album winner at the 2018 South African Music Awards, her particular form of house music continues to resonate with audiences countrywide.

Joining these two iconic acts will be Joburg’s own DJ Lloyd with his signature vibey sound that is certain to get the party underway. He will perform alongside the likes of 5FM’s Ryan the DJ, hip-hop and rap star,

Smizzy, as well as Urban Centurion and Funky Finest.

On Friday, 5 July it’s time to party with none other than Desmond & the Tutus. Their incredibly unique brand of kwela-indie-punk has seen them popular with audiences across the spectrum, both locally and abroad. Their high-energy on-stage action, incredibly infectious lyrics and generally cheeky antics will captivate this year’s beachside crowd.

South Africa’s renowned indie rock band and one of the country’s best-selling musical artists of all time – The Parlotones – will be sure to put on an unmissable performance. Audiences can expect to hear some old-school favourites as well as a few of their latest hits from the recently-launched album, China.

Also featuring on the Friday night will be Durban-born Msizi James, co-host of the 5FM Drive-time show during the day, skilled deep house club DJ at night. He will be joined by another internationally-renowned nightclub DJ, Kyle Cassim, who’s performed at events which also featured music giants, Avicii, Tony Cha Cha, Deadmau5, Bingo players and Roger Sanchez. Also on the cards for the night are music maestros Nu Level, Ronel Ree, Freddy L and Zamar.

After Dark Parties – hosted by Crush Ballito

It’s non-stop partying this Ballito Pro presented by O’Neill as Crush Nightclub as more than 25 of the region’s hottest DJs light up the dancefloor for 10 consecutive days. Things will kick off on Friday, 28 June with the Ballito Pro Warm-up Party, continuing with a series of competitions, takeovers, big bashes and jam sessions featuring the best on the nightclub music scene, culminating in the ultimate Sunday Swell on 7 July. Don’t miss out on any of this party mayhem!

28 June: Ballito Pro Warm-up Party

29 June: St Tropez After Party

30 June: KDM DJ Competition Final

1 July: Ride the Tide 031 Takeover

2 July: Swimwear Show

3 July: Student Night featuring Chunda Munki

4 July: First Thursdays featuring Ryan the DJ

5 July: The Big Bash featuring Kyle Cassim

6 July: Saturday Session featuring Vimo

7 July: Sunday Swell

Ballito Pro 2019 FREE Music Concerts Powered by 5FM and After Dark Parties – hosted by Crush Ballito run alongside the Ballito Pro festival which includes a number of other exciting activities. These include:

• Sal Masekela African Surf Adventure Driven by SMG Rocks and Hosted by Coco de Mer

• The Ballito Pro Family Food Festival

• Extreme Sports – adrenaline-fuelled Monster activations

• Daily Beach Action, Retail Area and Kids’ Corner

• Save the Waves – Litter4Tokens recycling programme

• South African surfboard shapers

If you’re looking for an experience that #feelslikefreedom, get to the Ballito Pro presented by O’Neill!

An unmissable feast of fun planned for this year’s Ballito Pro Family Food Festival

This year The Ballito Pro presented by O’Neill will be adding some serious flavour to the festival programme with the delicious Ballito Pro Family Food Festival on Monday, 1 and Tuesday, 2 July from 3pm to 9pm. This two-day escapade of food, adventure and entertainment, presented by Ballito Junction Regional Mall, forms part of the expansive festival programme – all free of charge – running alongside the global surfing contest, taking place at KwaDukuza from 27 June to 7 July.

“We have put together a really incredibly delicious foodie event that will include celebrity cook-offs, crafts, entertainment and pop-up restaurants – all with a strong focus on family fun and environmental sustainability,” said Lewaine Von Allemann, organiser of the Ballito Pro Family Food Festival. “Families can enjoy some outdoor fun at the Ballito Pro during the day and head over to Ballito Junction Regional Mall in the afternoon where the fun continues!”

Ballito Pro Family Food Festival

The highlight on the Food Festival programme is the nightly Cook-off Competitions which will include the Family Food Feud Mystery Box Cook-off on Monday, 1 July and the Celebrity Cook-off on Tuesday, 2 July.

The first night will see two family members team up to create a delicious dish using ingredients from the Mystery Box, as well as other pantry ingredients. Entry is free for the contest and there are some fantastic prizes up for grabs!

The second night will pit South African celebrities against each other in another Mystery Box Challenge cooking contest that is sure to entertain audiences! This year’s contestants will include the legendary Sal Masekela – ambassador for this year’s Ballito Pro – Natasha ‘Bash with Tash’ Munien; South African singer, Bok van Blerk and his wife, Hanna Grobler; a mystery surfer contestant….and more!

The contests will be emceed by Diogo Barendse, with local restaurateurs sharing their insights as the judging panel for both evenings. Audiences will also enjoy entertainment by renowned South African musicians, Gavin Ferguson, Winston Smile and Kerry Lee Singers.

In addition to the cook-off contests, holidaymakers will get to enjoy a number of onsite activities throughout the two-day Ballito Pro Family Food Festival. These include:

Marine conservation presentation by SA Endurance Swimmer, Sarah Ferguson at 4pm daily.
Young Entrepreneurs Market to showcase products and market businesses, all stands free of charge!
Green Living Market selling eco-friendly products and creating public awareness about sustainability.
Eco Brick Making teaching children to recycle with bricks donated to North Coast Agricultural College.
Recycling Craft Area with fun and exciting crafts made from recyclable materials.
Games Area with giant garden games for the family.
Face painting for all ages!
Music by the KwaZulu Marimba Band.
Entertainment in the form of fire dancers, flash mobs, carnival events and ‘Off the Runway’ with Miss Ballito.
SMG Mini Rocks Adventure Zone
Pop Up Restaurants for all tastes.
Bars selling wine and craft drinks.

Geraldine Jorgensen, CEO of Ballito Junction, commented: “We are excited to continue our association with the world’s longest running professional surfing event, as it heads into its sixth decade. We look forward to welcoming some of the world’s top surfers to the Dolphin Coast and Ballito Junction Regional Mall is delighted to once again be partnering with The Ballito Pro for the Ballito Pro Family Food Festival.”

The Ballito Pro Family Food Festival forms part of the bigger Ballito Pro festival running throughout KwaDukuza, alongside the surfing contest. Other exciting activities include:

Sal Masekela African Surf Adventure Driven by SMG Rocks and Hosted by Coco de Mer
The Ballito Pro Music Concerts presented by 5FM
After Dark Parties – hosted by Crush Ballito
Extreme Sports – adrenaline-fuelled Monster activations
Daily Beach Action, Retail Area and Kids’ Corner
Save the Waves – Litter4Tokens recycling programme
South African surfboard shapers

If you’re looking for an experience that #feelslikefreedom, get to the Ballito Pro presented by O’Neill!

World’s Top Surfers Confirmed for Ballito Pro pres. by O’Neill

More than a dozen of the world’s best surfers are heading to the Ballito Pro pres. by O’Neill at Willard Beach from 1-7 July. No less than 16 of the elite World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) surfers have thrown their names into the bag for the first Qualifying Series (QS) 10,000 rated event of the year, including world No. 2, Kolohe Andino (USA).

Andino put on a stellar performance at the recent Margaret River Pro in West Australia to finish runner-up to Hawaiian John John Florence.

The Ballito Pro defending event winner, Peterson Crisanto (BRA), will return to KwaDukuza for the world’s longest running professional surfing event. Crisanto will join fellow Brazilian competitors including 2015 World Champion, Adriano de Souza and 2017 Ballito Pro runner-up Willian Cardoso..

De Souza has been out of the water for the past nine months due to injury and the Ballito Pro pres. by O’Neill will be his first event of the year.

Australia’s Wade Carmichael, the 2018 CT Rookie of the Year, will be a credible threat in any heat at Willard Beach. Carmichael let his powerful surfing do the talking in 2018, earning an equal 3^rd place in Ballito after losing out to eventual runner-up Jack Freestone (AUS).

Other big international names include Hawaiians Ezekiel Lau and Seth Moniz, Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Griffin Colapinto (USA) and Frederico Morais (PRT).

South African favourite and former two-time event winner, Jordy Smith, will come into the event with a string of great results behind his name and sitting at No. 5 on the CT leaderboard. The Durbanite enjoys competing in front of his hometown crowds, who rock up in their numbers to support the local stars.

The South African contingent includes 2018 CT competitor Michael February (Kommetjie) and top QS surfers Matthew McGillivray (Jeffreys Bay), hometown hero Beyrick de Vries (uMhlanga), David van Zyl (Glenashley), Adin Masencamp (Strand), Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay) and Slade Prestwich (Durban).

On Sunday, 30 June, the Ballito Trial pres. by O’Neill will give 32 surfers one last opportunity to earn a slot in the QS 10,000.

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 to this coastal holiday highlight.

All-action all-day at The Ballito Pro pres. by O’Neill

All-action all-day at The Ballito Pro pres. by O’Neill

It’s all-action all-day at The Ballito Pro presented by O’Neill

Running alongside one of the globe’s biggest surfing contests, The Ballito Pro presented by O’Neill, is the all-inclusive festival which provides holidaymakers with an expansive entertainment programme – all free of charge! Running at KwaDukuza from 27 June to 7 July, The Ballito Pro welcomes extreme sports’ stars and non-stop beachside entertainment in one of the country’s most stunning winter spots.

“The Ballito Pro festival has been planned to maximise on the awesome North Coast setting with its chilled-out vibe and dynamic residents,” explained Collette Bundy, festival organiser. “Visitors can look forward to everything from extreme biking stunts and seaside contests to fantastic shopping options and food stalls – all while enjoying the sunny seaside weather!”

The Ballito Pro Festival extreme action programme

–  Mini Ramp Skate Jams & MX Trials biking with Monster Energy’s Khule Ngubane & The Le Riche Brothers (4 to 7 July)

It’s all about adrenaline-fuelled action as the unmissable Monster Energy activations get underway. There will be some incredible skateboarding going down in the form of Skate Jam sessions at the mini ramp with Khule Ngubane: “I’m looking forward to being back at the Ballito Pro – the vibe is always great there and I’m stoked to shred the mini ramp with all up-and-coming groms!”

This year the Ballito Pro also welcomes back two of the country’s top stunt masters on two wheels – Trial bike stalwarts Bruce and Brent le Riche.

“We will be performing our brand new pull out 3.7m-high undercut ledge!” said Brent le Riche. “This is the biggest undercut step in the world! This trick demands extreme precision as there is zero margin for error – too little power and the back-wheel tucks under the ledge, turning this into a life-threatening situation very quickly. Attacking this step for the rider is also really difficult as they can’t focus clearly on the impact area because of the extent of the pull out. This is a must-see, world-class stunt!”

–  The KwaDukuza Municipality, in partnership with Ballito Footy U13-15, Football Activations (4 and 5 July)

There will be some fun-filled beachside action taking place as local U13 and U15 teams go head-to-head in this quadrangular beach soccer tournament. The teams will consist of players from KP Projects – NPO partner of Footy – as well as members from SAFA KwaDukuza. The KP Projects squad will consist of the top 15 players per age group, selected from 10 loca,l under-privileged primary schools in the Ilembe district.

“For some of these players it will be their first trip to the beach and they are even more excited to get to play the beautiful game at this venue,” said Kyle Crichton of Footy Ballito.

The tournament will run for two days – between 10am and 1pm – and is guaranteed to be action-packed beach soccer ideal for spectator support. There will also be a number of fun mini-tournaments and matches for the public including Dads & Lads, Moms& Daughters, family matches, age group tournaments, and more!

– Daily Entertainment and Beach Activities

Get to the Coke a Cola Football Arena for daily beachside games. Visitors can sit on the sidelines and enjoy – or get involved in – beach football, beach volleyball, fashion shows, competitions and dance displays by local talent.

The Mike’s Kitchen Kiddies’ Activation area on the beach will give the little ones lots of enjoyment through a number of fun activities including face painting, sandcastle building, colouring in, jumping castle and much more. To top it all, each child will receive a take home lucky packet and Mike’s Kitchen voucher. The Mike’s Kitchen childminders will be on hand to ensure a safe and fun time for all the children.

–     Retail Area

From 9am to 5pm daily, visitors will be able to browse quality crafts, clothing and other retail options as well as indulge in they many food and drink options found in the Food Court and Cider Garden.

Also featuring at the festival…

And if the extensive beachside action isn’t enough, here are a few more compelling reasons for visitors to get to KwaDukuza this winter holiday:

– Meet Sal Masakela, renowned sports’ presenter, musician and this year’s Ballito Pro ambassador.

– Legendary South African surfboard shapers crafting on site.

– The Ballito Pro Music Concerts presented by 5FM featuring top South African acts, free of charge.

– After Dark Parties – hosted by Crush Ballito.

– Meet Simon Keys and Siouxsie Gillett, the hosts of popular Nat Geo WildTV show ‘Snake City’.

– Save the Waves recycling campaign including the Litter4Tokens Recycling Programme.

– Ballito Pro Food presented by Ballito Junction Regional Mall.

African Surf Adventure Awaits at Ballito Pro pres. by O’Neill

African Surf Adventure Awaits at Ballito Pro pres. by O’Neill

The Ballito Pro pres. by O’Neill will be an African surf adventure for surfers and spectators alike. The 51^st edition of the world’s longest running professional surfing event will take place from 27 June to 7 July in Ballito, KwaDukuza on the east coast of South Africa.

“KwaDukuza Municipality is excited to welcome visitors to our region to enjoy the internationally renowned Ballito Pro,” said the Event Coordinator, Collette Bundy. “This year we welcome Sal Masekela, the son of legendary South African jazz musician Hugh Masekela, as the event’s official ambassador for a true African Surf Adventure.”

Sal Masekela is a renowned television host, sports’ commentator, athlete, musician, actor and philanthropist and will showcase the KwaDukuza region as a top tourist destination and as the home of world-class surfing contests.

“This event is a chance for people to experience an outdoor African adventure that surpasses surfing and entertainment. The dedication to environmental sustainability and immersion of the sport into rural communities is proving to be a catalyst for nation building – both for South African people and this beautiful country,” said Bundy.

O’Neill will be the new presenting sponsor for this year’s competition.

“The event has such an amazing history in South African surfing and has been an instrumental platform in getting our local professional surfers onto the world surfing stage for over five decades,” said Paul Canning, O’Neill South Africa Brand Manager. “We look forward to building a long relationship with the KwaDukuza Municipality and presenting another world class surfing festival.”

Local and international surfers who did not qualify for entry into the 112-man main event, will have one last chance to fight for a wildcard slot. This will be determined by the Ballito Trials pres. by O’Neill featuring 16 international and 12 local competitors, set to take place on Sunday 30 June.

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 to this coastal holiday highlight.

The legendary Sal Masekela announced as ambassador for 2019 Ballito Pro presented by O’Neill

The legendary Sal Masekela announced as ambassador for 2019 Ballito Pro presented by O’Neill

The season’s hottest winter festival is set to take over the shores of KwaDukuza from 27 June to 7 July as the world-famous Ballito Pro presented by O’Neill gets underway. And for 2019, the world’s longest continuously running professional surfing event has revealed that renowned American sports’ commentator, sportsman and musician, Sal Masekela – son of legendary Jazz musician, Hugh Masekela – will be this year’s event ambassador.

“KwaDukuza Municipality is excited to welcome visitors to our region to enjoy the internationally renowned Ballito Pro,” said the Event Co-ordinator, Collette Bundy. “We are particularly delighted to have Sal Masekela feature so prominently at this year’s festival. This event is a chance for people to experience an outdoor African adventure that surpasses surfing and entertainment. The dedication to environmental sustainability and immersion of the sport into rural communities is proving to be a catalyst for nation building – both for South African people and this beautiful country.”

She said that, for the 51st Ballito Pro, festival-goers will get to experience this fun-loving, free-spirited coastal lifestyle through a range of exciting beachside activities.

“We are thrilled to have O’Neill on board as the new presenting sponsor for what is going to be the ultimate African festival!”

Paul Canning, O’Neill South Africa Brand Director, said: “O’Neill is very proud to be coming on board as the presenting sponsor for the Ballito Pro. The event has such an amazing history in South African surfing and has been an instrumental platform in getting our local professional surfers onto the world surfing stage for over five decades. We look forward to building a long relationship with the KwaDukuza Municipality and presenting another world class surfing festival.”

The Ballito Pro Festival Programme

Alongside the intensive international surfing action taking place on KwaDukuza’s coastline is the full festival programme. Here is a taster of what’s in store for visitors to this year’s Ballito Pro presented by O’Neill…

Sal Masekela African Surf Adventure Driven by SMG Rocks and Hosted by Coco de Mer – visitors can look forward to a number of activations, interviews and public interactions with Sal Masekela, renowned television host, sports’ commentator, athlete, musician, actor and philanthropist. Sal will be showcasing the region as a top tourist destination and as the home of world-class surfing contests.

The Ballito Pro Music Concerts presented by 5FM – free music concerts running for two nights featuring the best South African musicians… all taking place on Salt Rock beach under the African night sky.

After Dark Parties – hosted by Crush Ballito, the live musical entertainment continues as top South African DJs battle it out for control of the dancefloor.

Ballito Pro Food presented by Ballito Junction Regional Mall – a full feast of cooking competitions, food and drink stalls and tasting, fashion shows, activations and entertainment running for two nights at Ballito Junction Regional Mall.

Extreme Sports – adrenaline-fuelled Monster activations including unmissable trail motorbike stunts by Le Riche Brothers and skate jam demonstrations.

Beach Action – daily fun activities consisting of beach soccer, beach volleyball, fashion shows, competitions and dance displays.

Retail Area – local artists will keep the crowds engaged with live entertainment throughout the festival. Shoppers will get to enjoy endless exhibition and retail stalls featuring a range of quality items. And, to keep visitors feeling replenished, there will be a fully-laden food court and cider garden overflowing with fresh brews.

Kids’ Corner – the children will be kept entranced with face painting, water balls, sandcastle building, the kiddies’ beach dash and other fun activations.

Surfers, both young and old, will get to mingle with legendary South African surfboard shapers. Here they can learn all about the intricate craft of surfboard shaping and there is ample opportunity to purchase any of these handcrafted boards.

Save the Waves Campaign – this year’s plastic and recycling awareness campaign will include the Litter4Tokens Recycling Programme, an environmental awareness campaign aimed at improving marine health.

The Ballito Pro presented by O’Neill 2019 promo video: https://youtu.be/Ilo7Z6Li4Bs

Ballito Pro pres. by O’Neill to Showcase Festival of Surfing Action in June

Ballito Pro pres. by O’Neill to Showcase Festival of Surfing Action in June

The Ballito Pro presented by O’Neill will showcase a festival of surfing action with events featuring all levels of the sport, from the world’s best professionals right through to learn to surf lessons, when it is staged in the mid-winter warmth of the KwaDukuza coastline from June 27 to 7 July.

The 51^st edition of the world’s longest running professional surfing event has added an exciting new Pro Junior event and the finals of the provincial schools surfing league to a schedule that again includes 2019’s highly anticipated first WSL Qualifying Series (QS) 10,000 rated event for men, a QS1,000 rated event for women and the Ballito Pro Trials where the country’s top surfers compete for a prestigious wildcard into the continent’s highest rated QS event.

The inaugural O’Neill SMTH Shapes Pro Junior kicks off the festival program from 27-29 June and is a collaboration between global wetsuit and apparel giant O’Neill and former World Junior Champion and two-time Ballito Pro winner Jordy Smith, who is always keen to support opportunities for the country’s junior surfers.

“I’m really stoked to be promoting my new surfboard brand, SMTH Shapes, at Ballito in June,” said Smith, the current World No. 3. “This is a perfect partnership with my sponsor O’Neill.”

The event enables South Africa’s top 18-and-under men and women to meet, mingle and compete against their international peers. Competitors earn prize-money and rankings points that count towards the prized annual WSL Africa Junior titles and the selection of the regional squad invited to the WSL World Junior Championships in December.

“We’re honoured to have SMTH Shapes come on board with the Pro Junior,” said Paul Canning, O’Neill South Africa Brand Director. “Jordy is such a great ambassador for South African surfing and is always amazing with all the kids, so we welcome this partnership.”

KwaZulu-Natal’s top surfing scholars will get the opportunity to display their talent on the big stage when the top five High School teams in the O’Neill KZN Schools Surfing League contest the final tag team heat that will crown the top surfing school in the province. The league runs from April to June and is always a fiercely contested battle with the favourites this year including defending champions Clifton, Northwood, Westville, Glenwood, Michaelhouse and St Henry’s along with the North Coast’s Ashton and Crawford who will definitely have local knowledge on their side.

“The league is a great platform for any young surfer to get involved in the sport in a fun and team environment and I am very excited to see the final included in this year’s festival,” said Canning

For the eleventh consecutive year the KwaDukuza Municipality have embraced the Ballito Pro pres. by O’Neill which offers 10,000 points to the winner, the highest points haul available for men on the QS leaderboard.

The 112-man entry for the event traditionally includes at least a dozen of the world’s elite surfers who compete on the WSL Championship Tour (CT) along with the highest ranked QS surfers fighting for the right to qualify for the top tier.

The prestigious event also provides the best of the local WSL Africa members with invaluable experience competing against the world’s top professionals and the opportunity to earn plenty of coveted rankings points which assist them in gaining entry to the higher rated events internationally.

The locals will include the WSL Africa champion Adin Masencamp (Strand) plus those who finished in the Top 100 on the 2018 year end QS rankings, six wildcards chosen by the WSL, the Africa regional office and the event, and the winner of the Ballito Pro Trials to be held on Sunday 30 June.

The women’s event will again feature a mix of international and local competitors with the South Africans bidding to become the 22^nd champion and to join 2015 winner Nikita Robb (East London) as the only home grown women’s champions. The men’s and women’s events run in parallel from Monday to Sunday, 1-7 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 over the last weekend. Beach and extreme sports, culinary contests as well as quality retail and food stalls will captivate visitors to this coastal holiday highlight.

Ballito Pro Welcomes O’Neill as Presenting Sponsor Going into Sixth Decade in June

Ballito Pro Welcomes O’Neill as Presenting Sponsor Going into Sixth Decade in June

The Ballito Pro, the world’s longest running professional surfing event, welcomes global wetsuit and apparel giant O’Neill as the new presenting sponsor when it enters its sixth decade of attracting the world’s top surfers to compete in South Africa in June.

The Ballito Pro presented by O’Neill will again be a key event on the World Surf League (WSL) schedule, showcasing the best juniors, women and men in the surf at Willard Beach in KwaDukuza from June 27-July 7 when it will be the cornerstone of the continent’s biggest beach festival.

For the eleventh consecutive year the region will host a Qualifying Series (QS) 10,000 rated event for men with the highest possible points on the international rankings at stake.

The women will again display their talent in the QS1,000 Ballito Women’s Pro pres. by O’Neill while the inaugural O’Neill Pro Junior includes events for men and women aged 18-and-under at Ballito for the first time.

“As the KwaDukuza Municipality we are once again jovial to be hosting the renowned Ballito Pro,” said the Mayor of KwaDukuza, Cllr Ricardo Mthembu. “We wish to thank O’Neill for taking the baton of being the new presenting sponsor – thank you for believing in this magnificent event, which has enormously succeeded in its task to being a nation building platform and a catalyst for introducing this sport to rural communities.”

This year’s edition will be bigger and better than ever with O’Neill excited to be involved in one of the planet’s icon watersports events.

“O’Neill is very proud to be coming on board as the presenting sponsor for the Ballito Pro,” said Paul Canning,O’Neill South Africa Brand Director. “The event has such an amazing history in South African surfing and has been an instrumental platform in getting our local professional surfers onto the world surfing stage for over five decades. We look forward to building a long relationship with the KwaDukuza Municipality and presenting another world class surfing festival.”

Last year’s men’s field included a dozen of the world’s elite WSL Championship Tour (CT) surfers and was won by Brazilian Peterson Crisanto who, along with runner-up Jack Freestone (AUS), went on to qualify for the prestigious 2019 CT thanks to the huge haul of ranking points they both earned at Ballito.

The 112-man entry for the event provides local WSL Africa members with invaluable experience competing against the world’s best, along with opportunities to earn prize-money and coveted rankings points which assist them in gaining entry to the higher rated events internationally, and also count towards the annual WSL Africa title.

Competitors in the Ballito Women’s Pro pres. by O’Neill also earn prize-money and points on both the international and regional rankings while the18-and-under competitors in the O’Neill Pro Junior will be striving for the prestigious event titles and selection for the WSL Africa squad that is invited to the annual World Junior Championship.

“It’s been such a fantastic 10 years with Ballito and the KDM Municipality, we have grown up together,” said WSL Africa Operations Manager, Colin Fitch. “And huge thanks to O’Neill for stepping up to perpetuate the legacy of this icon event that has brought the world’s best surfers to our shores for the past 50 years and continues to provide WSL Africa members, juniors, women and men, with a springboard onto the world tour.

“Ballito’s surroundings and great winter weather are so similar to Hawaii’s North Shore – the surfers love the event. The friendliness of the community, the way the great setup for the competitors and spectators blends into the landscape, the clean beaches and great waves combine to produce a truly a magical event.”

The Ballito Pro Surf Festival kicks off with the O’Neill Pro Junior from June 27-30 before the crown jewel of the festival, the QS10,000 Ballito Pro pres. by O’Neill, and the QS1,000 Ballito Women’s Pro pres. by O’Neill take centre stage from Monday to Sunday, July 1-7.

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 to this coastal holiday highlight.