One of the highlights of this year’s Ballito Pro is its restructured status as a Challenger Series event, which is the second highest level of surfing competition worldwide. 

An exciting addition is that for the first time a women’s Challenger Series event will also be held, ensuring that some of the best female international surfers will arrive ready to compete in Ballito. 64 fierce female competitors will bring skills honed on breaks across every continent, from July 3 to 10. 

In the women’s draw, former Ballito Pro champions Zoe Steyn (East London) and Sarah Baum (Durban) will come up against some fierce international competition. The winner of the second CS at the Sydney Surf Pro, Teresa Bonvalot (PRT) will hope to ride the momentum into Ballito – but don’t underestimate CT surfers Johanne Defay (FRA), Molly Picklum (AUS), Bronte Macaulay (AUS); the exciting Hawaiian crew of Luana Silva (HAW), Bettylou Sakura-Johnson (HAW) and the queen of pipeline, Moana Jones-Wong (HAW).