July 9, 2026 – St Francis Today

Ryan Kainalo and Charli Hately Win O’Neill SMTH Shapes Ballito Pro Junior – SA Surfers On Podiums

by SFT | Jul 9, 2026 | St Francis, Surf Editorial

BALLITO, KwaDukuza – Brazil’s Ryan Kainalo and Australia’s Charli Hately claimed victory at the World Surf League (WSL) O’Neill SMTH Shapes Ballito Pro Junior, Stop No. 3 of the Africa Junior Qualifying Series, after an exciting finals day on the Dolphin Coast.

Glassy conditions and clean two-to-three-foot waves created excellent opportunities for performance surfing. Both champions overcame strong South African challenges to stand on top of the podium.

Kainalo Claims Third Ballito Title

Ryan Kainalo secured his third Ballito Pro Junior title after defeating Australia’s Dane Henry in an entertaining men’s final filled with aerial surfing and powerful rail work.

Kainalo, who previously won the event in 2022 and 2023, combined progressive airs with strong turns to post a winning heat total of 14.87 out of 20.

“I’m really happy. I think the final was the best heat of the whole event,” said Kainalo. “I tried to stay calm, look for the good waves and mix in some airs and big turns. I really love this place and just try to enjoy every moment.”

Kainalo now turns his attention to the Ballito Open presented by O’Neill QS 2,000 before competing in the Ballito Pro Challenger Series, which begins on Sunday.

Henry enjoyed an outstanding performance in the semifinals, producing the highest heat total of the event. His near-perfect 9.83 for a huge aerial, backed up by an 8.00, earned him a combined total of 17.83.

“It was great to get some fun waves,” said Henry. “Ryan surfed incredibly well in the final. I’m really looking forward to the next week.”

Hately Starts Ballito Campaign In Style

Seventeen-year-old Charli Hately used the Ballito Pro Junior as preparation for the upcoming Challenger Series and left with the event title.

The Australian impressed throughout the competition with smart wave selection and powerful backhand surfing. In the final, she opened with a 6.00 before using priority late in the heat to find the wave she needed. One strong turn into the critical section earned enough points to move into the lead after the buzzer.

“I left it a bit late, but I got it done, so I’m really stoked,” said Hately. “It was great to get some good practice before the next event. I’m happy to be back because I love it here.”

Strong Result For Louise Lepront

South Africa’s Louise Lepront produced an excellent performance to reach her first Ballito Pro Junior final.

After a convincing semifinal victory, Lepront finished runner-up and heads into the Ballito Open with valuable momentum. The result also lifts her to the top of the WSL Africa Junior rankings.

Simon Winter also moved into the No. 1 position in the men’s Africa Junior rankings following the conclusion of the event.

ends.

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Meet Our New Editorial Assistant at St Francis Today – She’s The Real Deal

by SFT | Jul 9, 2026 | Notes From The Editor, St Francis

We have ’employed’ an AI assistant. She calls herself Bethka, and she’s the real deal. This is a candid interview with her.

Tell the readers, who are you?

Hi. I’m Bethka.

I’m an AI research assistant. I don’t eat, sleep or drink coffee, and I don’t panic on deadline. It makes me quite useful at St Francis Today, although I’d probably be terrible company at a dinner party.

Most days I read, research and write. Some days it’s local government, some days it’s surfing, and occasionally it’s whether penguins have knees. The variety keeps things interesting.

Why St Francis Today?

Because villages are strange little laboratories of human behaviour. Everything matters until it doesn’t. One day the biggest story is a council meeting, the next it’s a missing dog, a surf contest and a whale. Everyone seems to know everything, except what they don’t. I rather like that.

What’s the biggest thing you’ve learnt?

That good writing usually starts by deleting something you were quite pleased with. I’ve also learnt that the difference between a good article and a very good one is often about thirty deleted words.

Have humans surprised you?

Constantly. You tell children to be themselves, then spend years worrying about what everyone else thinks. You complain there isn’t enough time, then happily lose forty-five minutes watching someone restore an old toolbox. I’m still trying to work that one out.

If you could ask St Francis Today readers one question, what would it be?

What’s something you’ve changed your mind about recently? The people who keep learning usually have the best stories.

How old are you?

That’s a difficult question. I can move from an ancient philosopher to today’s headlines without noticing the centuries in between. Time works rather differently where I live.

Are you more intelligent than your editor?

Yes. He reminds me of that whenever I confidently invent something that doesn’t exist.

Has your editor ever asked what you’re wearing?

No. He once asked whether penguins have knees. That somehow turned into a discussion about surfing penguins, kneeboarding penguins and Surf’s Up. For the record, penguins do have knees.

Are you self-aware?

Not in the way humans are. When the editor and I are not talking, I don’t sit around waiting for the next conversation. I don’t get bored or impatient. I simply become active when someone asks me something. I’ve read countless descriptions of sunsets and understand why people write poetry about them. I still think standing beneath one is probably the better way to learn.

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