Champions Crowned at O’Neill SMTH Shapes Rookie Rippers In Ballito

We Have Our O’Neill SMTH Shapes Rookie Rippers 2024 Champions.

  • Champions Crowned at O’Neill SMTH Shapes Rookie Rippers
  • Louise Lepront and Levi Epenetos claim the U18 division titles.
  • Lepront does the double and wins U16 Girls.
  • Rory Dace wins U16 Boys.

 Champions Crowned at O'Neill
Levi Epenetos claimed U18 Boys Victory at the O’Neill SMTH Shapes Rookie Rippers 2024
© Pierre Tostee/ Ballito Pro.

The day’s surfing was set against the backdrop of a balmy June morning on the north coast, with a slight bump in swell size as predicted, no wind for most of the day, and highly contestable conditions.

On the rocks

The mainly right-breaking wave at Willard’s Beach had given way to some clean left-handers coming through, and the goofy-footers (right-foot forward surfers) had their chance to shine. There were some tricky moments, with the waves tempting surfers to commit to final moves on the rocks, but discretion was the ultimate call for the high tide heats.

There were plenty of inspired performances during the morning, with Rory Dace (CSF) banking 12.50 points (out of a possible 20 points) in the Boys’ U16 Quarter-finals and Louise Lepront (Scottburgh) throwing down 12 points in her U18 Girls’ Semi-final. Further strong performances came from the likes of Sarah Scott (CPT), Matt Canning (DBN) and Kai Stubbs (CPT).

Louise Lepront takes the U16 and the U18 Girls’ divisions

© Kody McGregor / Ballito Pro.

The finals were a mixed bag. Some heats got plenty of waves, allowing for scintillating surfing and big moves. Other heats saw the ocean go tepid, with very few waves coming through and low scores predominating. These variable conditions kept the audience on the edge of their seats.

Stoked with the wins

Louise Lepront’s exceptional performance made her the star of the day, winning both the U16 and U18 Girls divisions. “The conditions were really good for the finals,” said Lepront after the results were announced. “I just went out there for both finals and tried to have some fun, and a few good waves came to me. Stoked with the wins.”

The U18 Men’s division winner, Levi Epenetos (Melkbos), was equally stoked. “I got some sick waves in the finals and am super stoked to take the win,” said Epenetos. “It was quite tight towards the end, but I remained peaceful and took it all the way. It has been great here in Ballito, with good waves, and it’s so good to be here.”

 Champions Crowned at O'Neill
 Champions Crowned at O’Neill  © Pierre Tostee / Ballito Pro.

 

Final Results

U12 Girls

  1. Adriana Canning
  2. Lila Prinsloo
  3. Lily Jameson
  4. Pippa Wang

U12 Boys

  1. Marcello Zedde
  2. Levi Vosloo
  3. Tyler Balfour
  4. Lazaro de Bruyn

U14 Girls

  1. Maya Malherbe
  2. Leah Lepront
  3. Camilla Heuer
  4. Charlotte Copson

U14 Boys

  1. William Neill
  2. Sebastian Copson
  3. Owen Heny
  4. Zach Epenetos

U16 Girls

  1. Louise Lepront
  2. Emily Jenkinson
  3. Taylor Emslie
  4. Nina Bone

U16 Boys

  1. Rory Dace
  2. Nathan Tayler
  3. Ashton Sangster
  4. Kai Stubbs

U18 Girls

  1. Louise Lepront
  2. Sarah Scott
  3. Emily Jenkinson
  4. Anastasia Venter

U18 Boys

  1. Levi Epenetos
  2. Luc Lepront
  3. Matt Canning
  4. Rory Dace

 The O’Neill SMTH Shapes Ballito Pro Junior, which starts tomorrow, promises to be an exciting event with many of the surfers who competed today entering straight into this event. Don’t miss the action!  

Surfing South Africa is the recognised governing body for Surfriding in South Africa. It is responsible for the activities of all its disciplines, such as surfing, longboarding, bodyboarding, kneeboarding, para surfing and SUP surfing. SSA is a member of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), the African Surfing Confederation (ASC) and the International Surfing Association (ISA). More on Surfing South Africa here – SSA

PW Harvey & Co and Old Mutual – Breakfast Talk

PW Harvey & Co and Old Mutual – Breakfast Talk

On Thursday, June 20th, over 50 St Francis locals gathered at the Links for a breakfast event hosted by PW Harvey & Co and Old Mutual. There was a buzz of anticipation in the air as attendees eagerly awaited insights from Gavin Harvey and his team on the topic of offshore investing. The talk focused on Berkshire Hathaway and the legendary Warren Buffett, with special guest speaker Hywel George from Old Mutual sharing his firsthand experience from attending Berkshire Hathaway’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).

PW Harvey & Co Rock Concert

Hywel captivated the audience by likening the AGM to a rock concert, detailing key lessons learned from Buffett himself during the two-day event. With this possibly being Buffett’s last AGM, there was a palpable sense of transition as the company’s leadership looks to the future. Hywel’s storytelling brought the excitement and significance of the event to life, especially for many of PW Harvey & Co’s clients who hold Berkshire Hathaway shares.

 

The GNU

Given the current political climate, the audience was keen to hear Hywel’s thoughts on South Africa’s political environment and its future outlook. He emphasized that the Government of National Unity (GNU) was the best option among those faced by the ANC, suggesting a potentially positive future for South Africa in the global market if stability can be maintained.

The event concluded with some fun banter between the South Africa-based PW Harvey team and Hywel George from Wales, anticipating the upcoming rugby match between the two.

Key Takeaways

The key takeaways from the event highlighted the importance of considering offshore investments due to the weakening Rand and the vast opportunities available globally. At the same time, it underscored the need for experienced professionals to assist in making sound financial decisions.

Overall, the breakfast talk was a blend of valuable insights, engaging stories, and a sense of community, making it a memorable event for all who attended.

PW Harvey & Co

Ernie Els Major Series Merlot 2021 – Wine Of The Week At The SuperSpar

Ernie Els Major Series Merlot 2021 – Wine Of The Week At The SuperSpar

Ernie Els Wines

From the renowned Helderberg region of Stellenbosch, we bring you an award-winning selection of wines. These wines are not just named after the South African golf legend Ernie Els, but are also the result of the masterful craftsmanship of winemaking legend Louis Strydom, adding a touch of prestige to every bottle.

Embodying the beloved character and esteemed reputation of our namesake, our four collections—Signature, Major Series, Big Easy, and Proprietor’s—offer wines that are not just iconic but also unique in their style, exclusivity, and generosity. Whether it’s a toast to exceptional achievement, a boost to the entertainment factor, or a celebration of great friendship, Ernie Els Wines always elevates the occasion to a level of excellence.

The winery was officially opened in 2005, and since then, it has focused on producing a range of wines, with a particular focus on Cabernet Sauvignon. Recent renovations have transformed the winery into an iconic symbol of the Helderberg region.

Major Series Merlot 2021

Rubied with a violet core. Vividly fragrant; black and red cherries, plum compôte, printer’s ink, wild raspberry leaf, forest. Molten cherries come to the fore of the palate, cresting on a wave of airy, pillowy tannins; then blackberries, plums, and tangy redcurrants. The wine rises in sapidity towards the finish, going savoury with crushed coriander spice in the echo.

Ernie Els Major Series Merlot 2021 is available at TOPS

 

One Billion Rand In Savings At The Spar

Unlock R1 BILLION MORE in SAVINGS with your #SPARRewards card! 🎉 SHOP massive deals at SPAR or on the SPAR2U app from 10 June – 22 July 2024

 

R1 Billion In Savings specials run until 22 July.

SuperSpar Specials include favourites like Weet-Bix, Nescafe, Milo, Twinsaver, Huggies and Omo.

See also: Lekker red wine to keep the cold away

O’Neill SMTH Shapes Rookie Rippers Kicks Off In Ballito

O'Neill SMTH Shapes

Matt Canning with a winning performance across two divisions © Tostee/Ballito Pro.

Willard Beach, Ballito – An icy winter morning greeted competitors on the opening day of the O’Neill SMTH Shapes Rookie Rippers event as excited junior surfers headed down to register.

 This popular contest starts two weeks of competition surfing in Ballito, around the Ballito Pro Festival.

 The waves were small and highly contestable, and the event had a full entry list, so it was early into the water for Heat 1.

 

O'Neill SMTH Shapes

Small but highly contestable for Day One of the O’Neill SMTH Shapes Rookie Rippers © Kody McGregor/Ballito Pro

First Heat

The first heat win in the first heat of the day, the U12 Boys Quarterfinal Heat 1, went to local surfer Tyler Balfour. He who took out Slayde Shooter (St Francis Bay) and James Gunning (Ballito).

Jumping forward to U16 Boys Round One Heat Three, Matt Canning (Durban) put on an explosive performance to outpoint his competitors and took a comfortable win, advancing to the following round. Canning went on to do the double, winning his U18 Boys Round One Heat as well, with another inspired performance in the small conditions.

Low Tide Conditions

The low tide around midday made the conditions punchy, allowing the surfers to go for aerial moves and other high-scoring manoeuvres. With the sudden-death format, junior surfing is always exciting and sometimes brutal. Ntokozo Maphumulo (Dbn) clutched a second place behind Clayton Turrel (South Coast) in their U18 Round One heat with a tight surfing and a huge forehand air reverse, He edged Ben Esterhuyse (CPT) into third and out of the event along with Rylan Jarvis (CSF).

 

Surprise advanced with Turrell © Kody McGregor/Ballito Pro.

 

The O’Neill SMTH Shapes Rookie Rippers will commence tomorrow (Wednesday, 26 June) at 7 am.

The O'Neill SMTH Shapes

Outside of the surfing arena, there is still plenty of action happening with a full festival programme at the Ballito Pro Festival activities, events, and entertainment. More here – https://theballitopro.com/

Liveheats

 The heats and schedule of the O’Neill SMTH Shapes Rookie Rippers can be viewed on Liveheats.

 Wave scores and heat results will be published on www.liveheats.com/surfing as they are posted by the judges on both days of the competition. These can be accessed on any mobile device, laptop, tablet or PC

 Surfing South Africa is the recognised governing body for Surfriding in South Africa. It is responsible for the activities of all its disciplines, such as surfing, longboarding, bodyboarding, kneeboarding, para surfing and SUP surfing. SSA is a member of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC). The African Surfing Confederation (ASC) and the International Surfing Association (ISA). More on Surfing South Africa here – SSA 

 

Verified by MonsterInsights