A day before the Ballito Pro, some of South Africa's best surfers competed for the remaining four wildcard entries. The women's draw saw competitors as young as 13-year-old Louise Lepront surf against the country's most decorated female surfer, Heather Clark, who celebrated her 50th birthday last month.
Louise Lepront - WSL / Pierre Tostee
Lepront took out the win in the Final, with Danielle Powis finishing runner-up and earning their spot in the Challenger Series.
Tide-Lee Ireland - WSL / Pierre Tostee
In the men's draw, every heat seemed like a final, as the guys pushed each other to prove why they deserve to get the coveted wildcard. Luke Thompson and Tide-Lee Ireland had a tough road to the Final, having also surfed in the O'Neill SMTH Shapes Ballito Pro Junior. Both Thompson and Ireland seemed to use their losses in the JQS1,000 as extra motivation in the trials Final. Ireland secured the win and Thompson finished runner-up.
Luke Thompson - WSL / Pierre Tostee
As wildcard entries, they will surf against the top seeds in the Ballito Pro when competition kicks off on Sunday, 3 July.
Fighting For A Spot In Africa's Challenger Series
WSL
A day before the Ballito Pro, some of South Africa's best surfers competed for the remaining four wildcard entries. The women's draw saw competitors as young as 13-year-old Louise Lepront surf against the country's most decorated female surfer, Heather Clark, who celebrated her 50th birthday last month.
Louise Lepront - WSL / Pierre TosteeLepront took out the win in the Final, with Danielle Powis finishing runner-up and earning their spot in the Challenger Series.
Tide-Lee Ireland - WSL / Pierre TosteeIn the men's draw, every heat seemed like a final, as the guys pushed each other to prove why they deserve to get the coveted wildcard. Luke Thompson and Tide-Lee Ireland had a tough road to the Final, having also surfed in the O'Neill SMTH Shapes Ballito Pro Junior. Both Thompson and Ireland seemed to use their losses in the JQS1,000 as extra motivation in the trials Final. Ireland secured the win and Thompson finished runner-up.
Luke Thompson - WSL / Pierre TosteeAs wildcard entries, they will surf against the top seeds in the Ballito Pro when competition kicks off on Sunday, 3 July.
Ballito Pro
Featuring Nikki Van Dijk, Luke Thompson, Eli Hanneman, Mateus Herdy, Leonardo Fioravanti, Frederico Morais, Macy Callaghan, Molly Picklum,
Waida Wins Back-To-Back Challenger Series Titles, Picklum Jumps To No.2 On Rankings
The Ballito Pro presented by O'Neill Day 5 women's and men's highlights.
Men's Semifinalists and Women's Quarters locked in for Finals Day.
The Ballito Pro presented by O'Neill Day 4