East London’s Robb takes Ballito Women’s Pro
History was made at the event when 16-year-old Samukeliswe Cele from Durban became the first female Zulu surfer to compete in a WSL event.
PHOTOS: Larry Bentley
DIFFICULT surfing conditions with one metre waves at the Ballito Women’s Pro presented by Billabong at Willard Beach, Ballito on Sunday did not put off the winner, Nikita Robb from East London.
The event is a World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 1 000 event and is the first internationally-rated event to be run in South Africa since 2009.
Total prize-money of R30 000 and coveted points on the QS rankings was up for grabs.
Robb, who has competed at the highest levels of the sport, including a spending a year on the elite Championship Tour (CT) in 2010, defeated Fay Zoetmulder (Port Elizabeth), local junior Teal Hogg (Umhlanga) and veteran Heather Clark (Port Shepstone) in the final to claim the R10 000 winner’s cheque and 1 000 points.
History was made at the event when 16-year-old Samukeliswe Cele from Durban became the first female Zulu surfer to compete in a WSL event.
She finished third in her quarter final.
Trials
The Ballito Pro Trials presented by Billabong was won by Robson Santos (Brazil) whose dynamic manoeuvres and superior wave selection proved the difference in the final.
Santos finished ahead of compatriot Flavio Nakagima (Brazil), 18-year-old Matt McGillivray (South Africa) from Jeffreys Bay and Japan’s Reo Inaba.
Santos and Nakagima secured the two coveted trialists slots in the Ballito Pro presented by Billabong which started yesterday (Monday, 29 June) and runs until Sunday, 5 July.
While the surfers ride the waves, the Ballito Pro Festival is set to turn up the heat in KwaDukuza by offering the best in beach, music and extreme sports entertainment.
Locals and holiday-makers will be spoilt for choice with the week-long festival featuring an extreme sports programme, the Coastal Living Bru Food & Wine Festival and an exciting retail area while the Tropika Ballito Pro Music Concerts Powered by 5FM bring some of South Africa’s most talented music acts to the stage in Salt Rock.
The Ballito Pro presented by Billabong is proudly supported by the KwaDukuza Municipality, Billabong, 5FM, Monster Energy, Zigzag Surfing Magazine, World Surf League (WSL) and Surfing South Africa (SSA).
PHOTOS: Larry Bentley
PHOTOS: Larry Bentley
PHOTOS: Larry Bentley
PHOTOS: Larry Bentley
PHOTOS: Larry Bentley
PHOTOS: Larry Bentley
