.png){kind=logo}
When you visit our website, we store cookies on your browser to collect information. The information collected might relate to you, your preferences or your device, and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to and to provide a more personalized web experience. However, you can choose not to allow certain types of cookies, which may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings according to your preference.
These cookies are essential to enable user movement across our website and for providing access to features such as your profile. These cookies cannot be disabled. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information and cannot be used for marketing purposes.
These cookies allow us to analyze visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site and enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers, such as Google Analytics, whose services we have added to our pages. Information collected through these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly and/or we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts or content. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
These cookies are set by a range of social media services that we have added to the site to enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They are capable of tracking your browser across other sites and building up a profile of your interests. This may impact the content and messages you see on other websites you visit. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to use or see these sharing tools.
More CT Stars Fall in Ballito
Nicolas Leroy
Day 3 of the Ballito Pro pres. By Billabong didn't disappoint with playful surf once again to complete the second round of competition. Here are a few highlights.
Kerr'azy comeback
Josh Kerr hasn't been a familiar face on the Qualifying Series (QS) for some time, and for good reason. He's been hanging around the Championship Tour's (CT) Top 10, not needing the security of a QS cushion to fall back on.
Coming back to Ballito for the first time since 2011, his heat started just fine, with a decent 6+ ride before everything went south. A sketchy landing from an air sent half of his board to shore while the Aussie swam toward a backup board on the beach. By the time he reached the lineup again, the other guys had done the job and in third position with only a few minutes on the clock, Josh needed something big.
Starting on a closeout right which looked like it had absolutely no potential, he launched into a big forehand rotation, tweaked just enough with a little grab, and landed perfectly smooth for an 8.43 and the win. Yep, that backup board looked just fine under his feet.
"I can't complain, I have a lot of good boards," he said. "The whole plan is to come here early, get rid of the jet lag before J-Bay and gain a bit of confidence too, I had a bit of a lackluster season so far. It's good to see all the new faces on the QS too, I've been having fun just watching the warm-up sessions, it's just like watching video parts all these guys are amazing."
MFeb on a Roll
Michael February continued his incredible run through the South African leg, and even got the growing crowds on the beach excited with his aerial prowess in the opening heat of Round Three. Mikey was under pressure in last position when he launched into an impressive rotation projected forward onto the shoulder, and completed the job with a somewhat conservative reo on the closeout. The score came in as an 8.83.
Mikey quickly put another average score on the board to get in the lead. Eventually Alejo Muniz managed to squeeze back into first, and the South African advanced into Round Four in second place.
"It feels amazing having everyone screaming on the beach," he said. "It is like a little extra pressure, but when you do need to perform it definitely gives you a bit of confidence cause there's so many people behind you. We don't really have this anywhere else in the world, so it'd be nice to capitalize on it in this event."
The Pupos Charity Run Continues
Samuel Pupo is Miguel's younger brother, an uber-talented 16-year-old who's on the right track to join the elite Championship Tour down the line. He won the Junior division of the Ballito Pro last week and just advanced into Round Three of the main event today.
"It was my first win in a Pro Junior and it made me feel great and confident for the main event too," he said. "Last year I got a good result in Haleiwa and I managed to get in these big events already. I definitely feel more pressure now, surfing against all those CT guys, but I try to keep my surfing light and fun. I want to surf the way I like, going for big turns and big airs."
The two Pupo brothers are not only progressing through the rounds in Ballito, but they're making a healthy bid to support the Waved Foundation, a Panamanian non-profit that raises funds to support education in the developing country via improvements in school infrastructures, English classes, as well as swimming and surf lessons.
"One dollar per wave I surf in this contest is going to go into a fund for local schools in Panama and Brazil, so it's a good cause and being able to do what I love and help out at the same time is awesome," he added. "I'm going to catch as many waves as I can and hopefully make more heats, it's just one dollar, which is nothing for us, but can go a long way there."
The Top Seeds Bloodbath Continues
A number of top seeds suffered early exits again today, unable to find the diamonds in the rough, while more opportunistic surfers capitalized on average heats to advance. Jack Freestone, Bino Lopes, Ian Gouveia, Stu Kennedy and Jeremy Flores all packed their bags early and can now head south for next week's Corona Open J-Bay.
Find out more about all the results, check out photos and highlights right here!
Josh Kerr
Featuring Callum Robson, Griffin Colapinto, Adriano de Souza, Italo Ferreira, Gabriel Medina, João Chianca, Carissa Moore, Leonardo
Sierra Kerr is only fourteen years old but she's already moved the needle when it comes to progressive surfing.
It's been pumping at the California cobblestone point this week and Filipe Toledo, Caroline Marks and an all-star cast have been ripping.
Peter "Joli" Wilson looks back at the 2007 Quiksilver pro, a historic event which kickstarted Mick Fanning's first World Title campaign
May 2020 will go down as a phenomenal month for waves around one of Australia's most famous surf zones.
Ballito Pro
Jordy Smith ripped his way to the top of the podium at the QS10000 in South Africa.
O catarinense só perdeu para o grande favorito ao título do Ballito Pro, Jordy Smith, mas subiu da 29.a para a segunda colocação no
South Africa's favorite takes out his second Ballito Pro win over long-time threat Willian Cardoso.
After jumping to No. 4 on the QS rankings, February will get a taste of the Championship Tour stage.
World No. 3 Jordy Smith put on a clinic all-week in South Africa to claim his second Ballito Pro title.