Mr. Price Pro

ASP 6-Star WQS Mens event
ASP 6-Star WQS Womens event
Ballito, KZN South Africa
29 June - 5 July 2009

Live Coverage  |  Results/Photos/Videos etc

Surfer girls prepare for massive swell at Mr Price Pro Ballito

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 24 June, 2009 : - -  Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal -- Female surfers competing in the upcoming 5 Star ASP Women’s Mr Price Pro Ballito are dusting off their big wave ‘guns’ as they prepare for the massive surf, forecast to slam the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast at the weekend.

The storm that has pounded the Cape Peninsula this week, with huge seas and gale force winds, is expected to hit the KZN Coast on Friday June 26, when swells of up to 4.5 meters (15ft Hawaiian Style) at 17 seconds, with the  possibility of some 6 meter (20ft) sets expected.

The R680 000 ASP World Qualifying Series event is scheduled to kick off on Saturday June 27 and according to swell forecast expert Steve Pike of Wavescape (South Africa’s premier surf forecasting website) ‘surfers are in for a glorious start’.

“We’re expecting no wind, glassy, super smooth seas gouged out by a Strong South Swell at 15 second intervals,” said Pike. “The surf looks a little out of control at 3 meters (10ft), possibly 3.5 meters (12ft) for Saturday but should improve throughout the day. By lunchtime it’s 2.5 –3m (8-10ft) an by evening it’s 2- 2.5m (6-8ft).”

“Sunday looks epic,” Pike continued. “A solid 2m (6ft) swell, maybe bigger, in light to moderate Westerly winds early but pure South in direction and cleaner looking. The only worry for Sunday is the threat of a 20 knot buster that could come through in the afternoon, moderating in the evening.”

Local North Coast charger and hot favourite for the women’s event Tammy Lee Smith (Ballito) has been watching the swell charts closely all week and is preparing to take on the massive seas at the weekend.

“I’ve been getting some of my bigger wave boards ready and just watching the charts very closely,” said Smith. “I love big waves and have surfed Ballito on some solid swells in the past. I’m just hoping it stays clean and contestable so that we have an epic showdown of women’s surfing at this event.”

Recently crowned South African champion Heather Clark (Port Shepstone) has also been watching the charts and preparing herself for a battle against both Mother Nature as well as the host of international surf stars.

“I do prefer bigger surf and if it gets that big, I’ll certainly be prepared for it,” said Clark in Port Shepstone this week. “I recently won the SA Champs in solid 6- 8 ft surf and I was bale to get out to the back when some of the younger girls couldn’t make it so I feel physically fit and ready to meet the challenge.”

A seasoned campaigner on the international circuit, Clark is no stranger to big surf. The former ASP World No. 2 has competed at some of the world’s most treacherous surf breaks including Tahiti and Hawaii, and was crowned Vans Triple Crown Champion in 2000. She retired from international competition at the end of 2006 and now competes only on the local circuit.

“I think the biggest challenge for me will be coming up against some of the younger girls who I have never competed against at the Mr Price Pro,” said Clark. “When you’re on tour, you compete against these girls all the time so you know what to expect but this year there will many of the new generation I will be taking on for the first time.”

The Mr Price Pro Ballito has attracted a record field of 70 surfers including 11 of the Top 17 women in the world.

This year’s lineup includes World No. 3 Page Hareb (New Zealand), World No. 6 and 2008 WQS Champion Sally Fitzgibbons (Australia), World No. 6 and joint ASP WQS ratings leader Coco Ho (Haw)  and WQS ratings leader Carrissa Moore (Aus). Current ASP World No. 16 Jessi Miley-Dyer (Aus) will also be a feature in this year’s line-up, is a former Mr Price Pro runner-up (2006) and another competitor to keep an eye on in the big surf.

“It’s great that all the girls have come out to support the Mr Price Pro! It's been an event that has always had an important place on the women’s schedule and with some great surf expected, spectators will be treated to the world’s best female athletes surfing to the best of our abilities and doing ourselves proud,” said Dyer.

The Women’s Mr Price Pro Ballito will culminate with the Final on Sunday afternoon when the winner will receive R32 680 (US$4000) as well as 25 000 ASP ratings points. The event has a mobile venue that includes Surfers and Salmon Bay. The first call will be made at 6.30am on the VIP Deck of the La Montagne Hotel in Ballito every morning when officials decide which venue to utilize according to the conditions.

The action kicks off with one heat of trials that will see first and second advancing into the first heat of the Round of 60. The first heat of the Round of 60 sees ASP WQS No. 1 Carrissa Moore (Haw) who takes on Gabi Cope (Haw),  Bronwyn Coote (Zaf) and one of the trials winners.

The Mr Price Pro Ballito will be broadcast live on the webcast on mrpricepro.com. The website also features live scores, image galleries, interviews, profiles and more.

The 6-Star Men’s Mr Price Pro Ballito follows on from the women’s event and kicks off from June 29 – June 5, 2009. East Coast Radio is the official radio broadcaster for the Mr Price Pro Ballito. Tune in for daily updates.

- Advertisement -

Previous reports:
# 1 : Mr Price Pro comes to Ballito on the KwaZulu-Natal coast
# 2 : Record number of women entries at Mr Price Pro Ballito
# 3 : Surfers sight on Ballito for the R1.4 million Mr Price Pro
# 4 : Mr Price Pro Ballito Festival to run along with WQS event 

www.mrpricepro.com
www.aspworldtour.com

What's your take on this?
Post your thoughts: SV Forum

New Survey: Map Surfing’s future 

More African Surfing News available here
Check the latest Africa Surf Reports and Forecasts

New! B2B News ASBE-Surf   |  Receive News-Alerts

Mr Price Group
Pierre Tostee
PATostee@mrpricegroup.com

Issued By
Kirstin Scholtz
kirstin@coveredimages.com

WQS Contests - Surfersvillage