Mr Price Pro Ballito 2011

Nat Young making an unbelievable barrel at Bog Bay.

Yesterday saw the start of the Mr Price Pro Ballito, the conditions were epic and probably one of the best days we have seen in a very long time. Each heat was absolutely mind blowing, the guys were getting some of the sickest barrels across Surfers Point.

Some contestant getting barreled of his nut at Surfers Point Pic M Adjes

While the contest was going on there was an all cast side show going down at Bog Bay to the south. It was hard to pull away from watching the 'Pro' but when you saw what was going down at Bog it made Modern Collective seem a little dusty. Added to that Bog was heavy ..very heavy. And guys like John John and Nat Young were showing everyone up. I have some sequences with John John smacking the lip and then doing a 12ft air drop with a gaping monster barrel coming down.

The high light of the whole sesh was watching Nat get a monster backhand pit that has to be one of the most insane things I have ever seen. The wave broke over him at the top of the point and he disappeared into the foam ball. I stopped swimming thinking that he was history. But next thing he pulls through the foam ball and sets up inside the sickest pit I have seen in years. Because I stopped swimming I was a little out of position but got some great wide pics of the barrel. (pic above) I also got the video of the barrle which is now on my phone and gets played over and over and over!

For those of you who missed the action yesterday here is the Youtube highlights of the day:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjTc8TExNG4

The only disappointing thing was them running the last 2 heats in the wind. Which i felt was so unnecessary as there is loads of good surfing coming. Jordy surfed the last heat and got so skunked it wasn't funny. I think every one was so keen to see him surf they put the heat in. But it was a total waste, the waves crapped out and it was a dud heat.

Never the less the next few days have got some great conditions so I am sure the action will be hot!

Coatesman

Friday Arvo Surfers Lane Cleanup

Some of Da Boys getting their hands dirty

On friday arvo some of the boys from the North Coast Surfers Union pulled together and gave our lane a TLC. The municipality had finally come and removed the 2 or more weeks of rubbish that littered the lane that morning .... but they did a bit of a rush job at it. Check out these pics. 

The other thing was all the holes, stones, rubble and mess still left over from the Mr Price Pro a number of weeks ago. We got stuck in trying to remove what we could, but its almost a no win situation. 

What was grass is now just rubble.

For now we will just try and keep the place clean until we can get permission to build the new deck .... which we were promised we could do after the Mr Price. We intend taking the Municipality up on this and we are just waiting for the drawings to be finalised.

Ryan Belfore in top form

This weekend was also supposed to be the local Winter Classic but large lumpy surf caused the guys to call it off till next week. There was an expression sesion for an hour before the east totally wiped out the surf.

Ryan Belfore won best move, Marcus Theron got the best Barrel ...and I got the best wipe out!!! Damn I am getting old!!

Syd finding a cooker even once the wind was on it.

Keep an eye out for the comp next weekend ...it should be fun.

Coatesman

Mr Price Pro Surfing moves to Ballito

Mr Price Pro comes to Ballito!!

Well the unbelievable has happened!! The Mr Price Pro is coming to Ballito ... serious stoke to watch whats going down ...but we did enjoy the crowdless surf when every one headed to durban to watch the comp in the old days.

Here is the article from IOL

The world famous Mr Price Pro surfing competition is moving location for the first time from Durban's North Beach to Ballito. The competition takes place from June 26-July 5.

The competition will take the form of a "mobile" event, using the world class beaches of Salmon Bay, Willards, Surfers, Tiffanies and Tinley Manor and making use of the varied excellent surfing conditions available. 

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. 

Stuart Bird, Mr Price CEO commented, "The moving of the Mr Price Pro surfing event to Ballito means that it can only get bigger and better. The location is perfect for a world class event such as this and the local municipality has been incredibly supportive in working with us to plan the event." 

He added: "We would also like to express our thanks to the eThekwini Municipality for hosting us in Durban for the past nine years and for all of the support they have given us."

Kwadukuza council mayor, Thulani Khuluse added: "We are incredibly excited to be hosting the Mr Price Pro event in Ballito this year and are looking forward to the opportunity to showcase our beautiful area and perfect surfing conditions to the world." 

Colin Fitch, operations manager of the Association of Surfing Professionals Africa commented: "The Mr Price Pro remains one of the most prestigious Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) events. It has become one of the major events on the international surfing calendar and an important stop for surfing professionals from around the world. Many of them have surfed the breaks at Ballito before and I know many are looking forward to doing so again."

Professional surfer and resident of Ballito, Tammy Lee Smith said: "Ballito is a well-known surfing location internationally and the bays and rocky outcrops along the North Coast offer a huge variety of waves, ranging from tame shore breaks to hollow beach breaks to challenging reef breaks." 

The event now attracts more than 250 entrants from 11 nations. The total prize purse is $175 000.

I guess the one up side of this is that maybe the surfers can and will be heard ...and the rocks at Bog will be opened up to get our banks in fine shape.

So please keep looking for old pics, chatting to anyone you know in the municipality and keep the pressure up!! 

...and at least join the movement check out Resurrecting Bog Bay

Mr Price Pro!! its bringing the pro's and the crowds like it or not ...atleast its only 2 weeks!!

The exciting thing will be the insain surfing!!

Coatesman

Marlin Classic

Just sending a memo out to all persons again……..about the Marlin Classic on 22nd September 2007.

There have been a few changes namely:

It is going to be a biggest fish / gamefish only comp – this means that the biggest fish of the day wins 1st prize and due to a sponsor pulling out we have minimzed the prizes to as follows:

• Biggest Fish-R5000.00 Value - (R2500.00 Cash and Custom Suit and Other)
• 2ND Biggest Fish - (Gun and Custom Suit)
• 3RD Biggest Fish - (Gun and Other)
• Lucky Draws - (Gun and Other)
• Anonymous Prizes - Decided on the day

Shirts will be included for those that have submitted entries before the end of August 2007 only, and it is advisable to resend your entry or payment to me as soon as possible.

Cheers for Now

Gary

North Coast Board Riders - Winter Surf Classic

North Coast Board Riders - Winter Surf Classic

Well tomorrow is supposed to be the North Coast Board Riders - Winter Surf Classic!
But alas no waves!!! This morning was 1ft and not even breaking. The forecasts all show tomorrow as being dead flat. It is going to be interesting to see what happens?

On the diving front the water is brown from the rain and I cant see us diving for a few days. There is a west on Sunday with NO RAIN :-) and it should clean up for next week.

Other that the fact that it is Friday so we do have something to smile about.

See ya

Coatesman