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"Bigfoot" is back for Mr Price Pro Ballito
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Experienced ASP World Tour surfer Greg “Bigfoot” Emslie will be back at the Mr Price Pro this year and looking to leave a noticeable imprint on his sponsor’s celebrated event, which has made Ballito its new home.
Emslie, who was campaigning on the World Tour for his ninth time throughout 2009, was unable to take part in the Mr Price Pro Ballito last year, which had switched venues from Durban to the North Coast for the first time in the event’s illustrious history.
However, having missed the cut for this year’s Dream Tour, the 33-year-old has committed himself to competing in the event that he knows so well, which will run this year from July 1-11.
The Mr Price Pro Ballito uses a mobile format, meaning the event can be switched to one of three top-class venues depending on conditions, and Emslie said there was certainly no shortage of “rippable” surf breaks.
“Ballito really has got all the great spots, if you get four-to-six foot swell when the north-west wind is blowing it’s a debate which car park you should pull into because it’s just barreling everywhere. It’s crazy how many good waves are around. I think the Pro is due to have some amazing surfing this year.”
In fact, there were such massive swells last year that the women’s event had to be called off for the first time in Mr Price Pro history, but provided the men with a number of immense sessions in idyllic conditions.
The surf is often variable, though, and this adds an extra dimension to the event and keeps competitors on their toes, but never disappointed.
“Ballito really has everything,” Emslie affirmed. “You can get fun punchy waves but then there’s also a lot of power and you can also get perfect barrels. For the majority of the time it’s really good conditions because if you want to do big turns then you can really give it a crack, it’s not like you’re groveling, you can get out there and do the maneuvers.
“In fact, even on the smallest of days you can still get some fun surf while the rest of the coast doesn’t have anything, but when it is a bit bigger it’s absolutely cranking top to bottom surf. So for a surfer you can just hang out there and get waves every day.”
However, the beauty of the Mr Price Pro Ballito and its new venue is that this event is not just about the surfing. Once again, Mr Price will be partnering with the Kwadukuza Municipality to organise and run the surfing competition and will work with the local community to build a beach festival around the activity, including free music concerts and other beach related events and activities.
Ballito’s friendly, village atmosphere is a welcome haven from the fast pace of big city life, yet it offers all the modern amenities and services to residents and holidaymakers alike.
Emslie said it was certainly an awesome venue to host a surfing event.
“It’s a super laid back town, there’s obviously great surf, a nice chilled vibe, good restaurants, and awesome beaches just to hang out on for holidaymakers or anyone keen to have a good time. It’s definitely not just about surfing, it’s a really fun town.”
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