Jordy Smith (ZAF) opened his campaign in the Ballito Pro pres. by Billabong with a workmanlike performance, advancing to Round 3 of the World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 10,000 rated event when he finished runner-up to Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) in his first heat.
The second day of the Ballito Pro pres. by Billabong is underway in excellent 1 to 1.3 metre (3-4 foot) waves and a light offshore wind at Willard Beach in Ballito this morning.
112 of the world’s best surfers are chasing a share of the US $260,000 (approx. R3.3 million) and the biggest ranking points haul available on the QS, the action was fast and furious as the short-period swell provided plenty of waves.
Sophia Fulton (AUS) claimed the title at the Ballito Women’s Pro pres. by Billabong at Willard Beach today, defeating Zoe McDougall (HAW) in an all-international final held in inconsistent shoulder-high waves and a stiff cross-wind.
Richie Kidd secured the most prestigious win of his career when he defeated three of South Africa’s top surfers in the final of the SSA Ballito Trials pres. by Billabong at his home break of Willard Beach on Friday.
Samuel Pupo of Brazil and Zoe McDougall of Hawaii surfed to victory in the Billabong Junior Series pres. by All Aboard Travel in Ballito on Thursday, claiming the premier WSL JQS1,000 rated men’s and women’s titles respectively.
Many of the country’s top ranked junior surfers tumbled out of contention on Day 2 of the Billabong Junior Series pres. by All Aboard Travel as the inconsistent, peaky head-high waves at Willard Beach in Ballito played havoc with their heat strategies, leading to major upsets.
JBay – At the heart of the JBay Winterfest is the sport of surfing. The JBU Supertrial powered by Monster Energy is behind us, and we have the JBay Loggers Classic and the Corona Open JBay still to come.
The Billabong Junior Series pres. by All Aboard Travel, the third of four surfing events that will crown champions in seven age divisions for boys and girls for the 20th successive year, heralds the start of the 13-day Ballito Pro Surf Festival on Tuesday.
Alex Ribeiro (BRA) and Zoe McDougall (HAW) clinched back-to-back titles in South Africa when they won the men’s and women’s events at the Jordy Smith Cape Town Surf Pro pres. by O’Neill in front of a packed beachfront at Melkbosstrand in Cape Town on Sunday.