|
|
|
|
 |
|
MR PRICE PRO BALLITO LOOKS FORWARD TO 2010
|
|
Monday October 12, 2009. The 2009 edition of the Mr Price Pro Ballito will be remembered for more than just the historical move to its new home in Kwadukuza. It will be remembered for the giant waves that were compared to that of Hawaii and the successful music concert that rocked Salt Rock to its foundations.
Enthusiasm and expectations ran high prior to the event as Mr Price partnered with a municipality that left no stone unturned in ensuring a slick, safe and secure event. The six star mens and five star ladies ASP World Qualifying Series events literally Teed off at the exclusive Zimbali Lodge with a well supported golf day and media launch that set the tone for the next ten days of non-stop entertainment.
And the Kwadukuza municipality didn’t stop there to welcome the world’s top surfers to their beautiful shores that stretch from Zimbali to Zinkwazi. On the eve of the womens event the Boathouse at Salmon Bay rolled out the red carpet for a five star evening that saw the international competitors being introduced to the local Zulu culture and much more.
On the dawn of the womens event on June 27 all hell broke loose as gigantic swells pounded Ballito’s shores. Using the events new ‘mobile’ format the officials moved the event to Tinley Manor. Experienced competitors and the public watched in awe as waves in excess of five metres rolled through the picture perfect break and placed the event on hold.
The following morning surfing dreams became a reality when some of the most perfect surf ever seen for a womens WQS event greeted the super stoked contestants. After hours of blissful waves and text book surfing mother nature then turned the dream destination into a disaster area as a powerful storm descended on the world class venue. For the first time in ten years the womens event was cancelled after 24 of the top women surfers in the world tasted some of the sweetest surf for a women’s WQS event.
What stopped the women only excited the men as they anxiously waited in anticipation for their event to start. The hungry and determined competitors lapped up the Hawaiian like conditions with deep tube rides and spectacular wipeouts that splashed across the media headlines for the week of June 29 through July 5. After a week of non-stop action Californian Tanner Gudauskas surfed away with the R160,000 winners cheque as local teen star Klee Strachan kept South Africa’s hopes alive all the way through to the final day of action.
At the Mr Price Pro Ballito the adrenalin not only pumped in the surf but on the beach too when over 7000 energised music fans witnessed a memorable music event at Salt Rock. South Africa’s leading bands Prime Circle, Zebra and Giraffe and Aking drew crowds second to none and leaving them all wanting more.
Preparations are already well underway for the 2010 edition of the Mr Price Pro Ballito with the 2010 World Cup Soccer event presenting massive opportunities and challenges alike for the event which has established itself as one of the best WQS events around the globe.
|
|
|
|