2016 Ballito Pro
The 2016 Ballito Pro presented by Billabong will take place at Willard Beach, KwaDukuza from 22 June to 3 July.
Holidaymakers and residents can expect international-level surfing, extreme sports, cook-offs, beach sports, music as well as a surf film premiere.
“We are very excited to be introducing the inaugural Fire Up your Stoke evening on Wednesday 29 June,” said event coordinator, Collette Bundy. “This will be a night of food and wine offering a fun family evening with fantastic cooking competitions, entertainment as well as wine and whiskey tasting.”
The cooking competitions will be divided into several categories, including Mini Cooks, where three- to six-year-old children can create sweet treats and the Fine Young Cooks where seven- to 12-year-olds will assemble and cook their own kebab recipes. The Ballito Grill Champs will involve 10 amateur teams competing in a braai cook-off, while the Battle of the Ballito Burger will see local restaurants selling their best burgers while garnering support for the winning spot. Anyone wanting to enter one of the contests can do so by emailing fireupyourstoke@gmail.com
The evening will also involve live music, dance and fashion entertainment as well as an exclusive film premiere. Billabong Team Rider and Big Wave surfer, Matt Bromley, is launching his new movie Risky Business. The surf film, shot by New Zealand filmmaker, Guy Mac, focuses on Bromley chasing down the wildest and most beautiful waves in some of the world’s top surfing spots.
In addition, world ranked extreme motorcyclists, Bruce and Brent le Riche, will be providing some sporting action from Thursday 30 June to Sunday 3 July. The two will perform a range of spectacular stunts on a specially made rig consisting of ramps, walls, steps and other obstacles. Monster’s mini skate ramps will be available to young skate enthusiasts.
The Mamba Skate Park, organised by the Peg Lunar Projects in collaboration with Red Bull, will be held on Thursday 30 June. Set within a jungle, visitors and skaters will be transported to a racetrack which will offer skaters a new experience of technical racing and entertainment to spectators, along with music, food and drinks. The top prize is R2,000 cash as well as a host of Peg products. Entrance is R30 for riders, R20 for spectators with registrations at www.mambaskate.com
Three nights of musical entertainment will take place at the Five Star Ballito Pro free Music Concerts powered by 5FM from Thursday 30 June to Saturday 2 July. Bands and artists set to perform on the Salt Rock beach stage include Kwesta, NastyC, Shortstraw, Desmond & the Tutus, a host of 5FM DJs and more. Crush Night Club will host the Battle of the DJs, and the Five Star Ballito Pro Free Music Concerts’ Official After Parties.
At Willard Beach there will be a number of events for all ages. Kiddies Corner will provide face painting, water balls, sandcastle building contests and a Kiddies Beach dash. For the older crowds, the Beach Festival offers beach soccer, Learn to Surf and volleyball. The Retail Area will ensure visitors are kept enthralled with daily live entertainment, daily fashion shows, dance displays, a food court, cider garden, arts and crafts as well as a number of other exhibitions and stalls.
