- Nolan Rapoza, Krystian Kymerson Put On A Show
- Momentum Stays With Anon Matsuoka
- Daniel Emslie, Jessie Van Niekerk Keep South African Flag Flying High
- More Available at WorldSurfLeague.com
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| Pictured: Nolan Rapoza (USA) goes excellent in the Opening Round of the Ballito Pro pres. by O’Neill Credit: © WSL/Tostee |
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BALLITO, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (Sunday, 2 July 2023) – The Ballito Pro presented by O’Neill, Stop No.3 on the World Surf League (WSL) Challenger Series (CS) started today in fun conditions with two-to-three foot waves. The Men’s Round of 80 and five heats of the Women’s Round of 48 were completed. The next call will be on Monday at 7:00 a.m. local time for a possible 7:35 a.m. start.
Nolan Rapoza, Krystian Kymerson Put On A Show In Ballito |
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| Nolan Rapoza (USA) was the first to go in the excellent range today when he unleashed two massive backhand turns for an 8.00 point ride (out of a possible 10). As time was running out, Krystian Kymerson (BRA) caught a great wave to fit in two turns and hold on in the menacing closeout section for a 7.60 to jump into the lead and take the win with the highest heat total of the day with 14.27 (out of a possible 20). Kymerson and Rapoza advanced over Ryan Kainalo (BRA) and Daiki Tanaka (JPN).
Buzzer-Beaters For Joh Azuchi, Rafael Teixeira |
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| Pictured: Joh Azuchi (JPN) advanced to the next round at the Ballito Pro pres. by O’Neill Credit: © WSL/Tostee |
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| In his Challenger Series debut, Joh Azuchi (JPN) had a buzzer-beater in the first heat of the day to snatch the win from Brodi Sale (HAW), eliminating Shion Crawford (HAW) and Joshua Moniz (HAW) from the competition. Azuchi was trailing the heat, and in the dying seconds caught a great wave for a massive closeout maneuver to score the requirement and move into first place.
Rafael Teixeira (BRA) showed it’s not over until the final buzzer when he finished in second place behind Joshe Burke (BRB) in Heat 4, upsetting Marc Lacomare (FRA) and Tenshi Iwami (JPN). Burke stayed busy in the heat, moving between peaks and found one of the better waves to score a 7.67 to secure the win.
“It’s always good to come back to Ballito, the waves are always fun,” said Burke. “I’m staying with Shane Sykes and his family, and I love coming here because we get to surf a lot. It’s my first time surfing the break at the competition site because it’s been so crowded with the Juniors event and it’s been hard to get a wave, so it feels really good to get this heat win.”
Momentum Stays With Anon Matsuoka |
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| Pictured: Anon Matsuoka (JPN) moving on to the next round at the Ballito Pro pres. by O’Neill Credit: © WSL/Tostee |
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| Japan’s Anon Matsuoka continued her momentum from winning the O’Neill SMTH Shapes Rookie Rippers Junior Qualifying Series (JQS) 1,000 in Ballito yesterday to take out a comfortable win in the Women’s Opening Round, upsetting the WSL World Junior Champion Francisca Veselko (POR) who struggled to find a rhythm and was eliminated from the competition.
“The JQS was good practice for the CS and I’m so happy,” Matsuoka reacted. “I felt the pressure in the past two Challenger Series events in Australia, but I’m feeling very relaxed for this event, focusing on my surfing and to just have fun.” |
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| With the high tide filling the bay and the wind switching to onshore, the last two heats had to deal with trickier conditions. After an incredible third-place finish at the Sydney Surf Pro, the 16-year-old from San Clemente Bella Kenworthy (USA), managed to get a win over Zoe Benedetto (USA) in Heat 4, while Erin Brooks (USA) suffered an early loss after narrowly missing out on the required score.
In the last heat of the day, Puamakamae DeSoto (HAW) bumped Kirra Pinkerton (USA) to second place, sending Yolanda Hopkins (POR) and Adriel Wolmarans (RSA) home early.
Daniel Emslie, Jessie Van Niekerk Keep South African Flag Flying High |
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Pictured: Jessie van Niekerk (RSA) keeping her Challenger Series dreams alive at the Ballito Pro pres. by O’Neill
Credit: © WSL/McGregor |
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| Daniel Emslie (RSA) was the only South African to advance to the Men’s Round of 64 after finishing in second behind Billy Stairmand (NZL). Fellow South Africans Connor Slijpen, Luke van Wyk, Thomas Lindhorst, Eli Beukes and Joshe Faulkner all suffered early eliminations.
In the Women’s division, Jessie van Niekerk (RSA) kept her Challenger Series hopes alive after salvaging a slow heat to finish in second behind Anon Matsuoka (JPN) and overcoming Francisca Veselko (POR) and Anastasia Venter (RSA). Louise Lepront (RSA) and Adriel Wolmarans (RSA) were also eliminated, but there are still four South African women yet to surf in the Round of 48.
After assessing the deteriorating conditions, the competition was called off for the day after completing five heats of the Women’s Round of 48.
The next call will be on Monday, 3 July at 7:00 a.m, for a possible 7:35 a.m. start. |
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2023 Ballito Pro pres. by O’Neill Men’s Round of 80 Results:
HEAT 1: Joh Azuchi (JPN) 10.70 DEF. Brodi Sale (HAW) 10.67, Shion Crawford (HAW) 10.40, Joshua Moniz (HAW) 8.94
HEAT 2: Jordan Lawler (AUS) 11.00 DEF. Kai Martin (HAW) 9.40, Connor Slijpen (RSA) 8.46, John Mark Tokong (PHL) 7.97
HEAT 3: George Pittar (AUS) 12.60 DEF. Leo Casal (BRA) 10.70, Luke Van Wyk (RSA) 9.60, Sheldon Simkus (AUS) 7.56
HEAT 4: Josh Burke (BRB) 12.94 DEF. Rafael Teixeira (BRA) 12.34, Marc Lacomare (FRA) 11.70, Tenshi Iwami (JPN) 10.10
HEAT 5: Billy Stairmand (NZL) 10.63 DEF. Daniel Emslie (RSA) 10.17, Alister Reginato (AUS) 9.26, Thomas Lindhorst (RSA) 4.04
HEAT 6: Krystian Kymerson (BRA) 14.27 DEF. Nolan Rapoza (USA) 12.27, Daiki Tanaka (JPN) 11.57, Ryan Kainalo (BRA) 9.83
HEAT 7: Kian Martin (SWE) 12.76 DEF. Dimitri Poulos (USA) 12.20, Tiago Carrique (FRA) 11.80, Eli Beukes (RSA) 9.23
HEAT 8: Guillermo Satt (CHL) 12.67 DEF. Hiroto Ohhara (JPN) 11.33, Jabe Swierkocki (USA) 10.63, Joshe Faulkner (RSA) 9.402023 Ballito Pro pres. by O’Neill Men’s Round of 64 Matchups:
HEAT 1: Michael Rodrigues (BRA) vs. Kalani Ball (AUS) vs. Kade Matson (USA) vs. Joh Azuchi (JPN)
HEAT 2: Carlos Munoz (CRC) vs. Edgard Groggia (BRA) vs. Eli Hanneman (HAW) vs. Brodi Sale (HAW)
HEAT 3: Morgan Cibilic (AUS) vs. Lucca Mesinas (PER) vs. Ketut Agus (INA) vs. Jordan Lawler (AUS)
HEAT 4: Jacob Willcox (AUS) vs. Mateus Herdy (BRA) vs. Keanu Asing (HAW) vs. Kai Martin (HAW)
HEAT 5: Jadson Andre (BRA) vs. Alejo Muniz (BRA) vs. Reef Heazlewood (AUS) vs. George Pittar (AUS)
HEAT 6: Jake Marshall (USA) vs. Mikey McDonagh (AUS) vs. Adin Masencamp (RSA) vs. Leo Casal (BRA)
HEAT 7: Jett Schilling (USA) vs. Frederico Morais (POR) vs. Ian Gouveia (BRA) vs. Josh Burke (BRB)
HEAT 8: Samuel Pupo (BRA) vs. Evan Geiselman (USA) vs. Jorgann Couzinet (FRA) vs. Rafael Teixeira (BRA)
HEAT 9: Jackson Baker (AUS) vs. Lucas Silveira (BRA) vs. Marco Mignot (FRA) vs. Billy Stairmand (NZL)
HEAT 10: Eithan Osborne (USA) vs. Joan Duru (FRA) vs. Luke Thompson (RSA) vs. Daniel Emslie (RSA)
HEAT 11: Imaikalani deVault (HAW) vs. Deivid Silva (BRA) vs. Te Kehukehu Butler (NZL) vs. Krystian Kymerson (BRA)
HEAT 12: Ezekiel Lau (HAW) vs. Crosby Colapinto (USA) vs. Jackson Bunch (HAW) vs. Nolan Rapoza (USA)
HEAT 13: Maxime Huscenot (FRA) vs. Timothe Bisso (FRA) vs. Kauli Vaast (FRA) vs. Kian Martin (SWE)
HEAT 14: Kolohe Andino (USA) vs. Gatien Delahaye (FRA) vs. Miguel Tudela (PER) vs. Dimitri Poulos (USA)
HEAT 15: Dylan Moffat (AUS) vs. Cole Houshmand (USA) vs. Jarvis Earle (AUS) vs. Guillermo Satt (CHL)
HEAT 16: Nat Young (USA) vs. Joel Vaughan (AUS) vs. Justin Becret (FRA) vs. Hiroto Ohhara (JPN)2023 Ballito Pro pres. by O’Neill Women’s Round of 48 Results:
HEAT 1: Anon Matsuoka (JPN) 12.00 DEF. Jessie Van Niekerk (RSA) 9.10, Francisca Veselko (POR) 8.33, Anastasia Venter (RSA) 7.47
HEAT 2: Philippa Anderson (AUS) 12.97 DEF. Laura Raupp (BRA) 10.76, Nyxie Ryan (AUS) 10.60, Pauline Ado (FRA) 9.30
HEAT 3: Nadia Erostarbe (EUK) 12.77 DEF. Sol Aguirre (PER) 11.67, Leilani McGonagle (CRC) 9.33, Camilla Kemp (DEU) 6.97
HEAT 4: Bella Kenworthy (USA) 12.90 DEF. Zoe Benedetto (USA) 9.33, Erin Brooks (CAN) 9.10, Louise Lepront (RSA) 6.77
HEAT 5: Puamakamae DeSoto (HAW) 10.90 DEF. Kirra Pinkerton (USA) 10.37, Yolanda Hopkins (POR) 7.10, Adriel Wolmarans (RSA) 3.362023 Ballito Pro pres. by O’Neill Women’s Round of 48 Remaining Matchups:
HEAT 6: Ellie Harrison (AUS) vs. Carolina Mendes (POR) vs. Sara Wakita (JPN) vs. Zoë Steyn (RSA)
HEAT 7: Nanaho Tsuzuki (JPN) vs. Natasha Van Greunen (RSA) vs. Sophia Medina (BRA) vs. Sarah Scott (RSA)
HEAT 8: Ariane Ochoa (EUK) vs. Ella McCaffray (USA) vs. Eweleiula Wong (HAW) vs. Kira Hofmeyr (RSA) |
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EARLIER UPDATES BELOW
- Competition was Called ON At Ballito Pro presented by O’Neill
- Challenger Series Started July 1st nn Ballito S. Africa
- Men’s Round of 80 Started, Followed By Women’s Round of 48
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