CELEBRATE SOUTH AFRICA’S RICH SURFING HISTORY AT THE MR PRICE PRO BALLITO ‘SHAPING THROUGH THE AGES’ EVENT

 

While South Africa is world renowned for its spectacular waves, South African surfers have also been under the international spotlight ever since the Gunston 500 kicked off in Durban in 1969. It seems inevitable, therefore, that the country’s surfboard manufacturers are of an equally high caliber. These talented craftsmen all have two things in common - they do what they love, and they love what they do.

 

From humble beginnings to shaping surfboards for the world’s leading surfers, the ‘Shaping Through The Ages’ event will be a window into the lives of the crème of South Africa’s shapers who have stood the test of time and pioneered surfboard development and design to what it is today. The event will also pay tribute to shaping legends Spider Murphy, Mike Larmont and Graham Smith.

 

The ‘Shaping Through The Ages’ event will also encourage pride in the art and craft of surfboard design, as well as inspire shapers of generations to come. After all, two of the shaping legends attending the event, Durbanites Spider Murphy and Mike Larmont, know exactly what it’s like to start out with the bare minimum in tools and experience. Spider fondly remembers the early days when there were no tressles, no tools and no shaping bays. His very first board, born from the desire for something smaller and lighter, took him two days to complete. As for Mike Larmont, his first creation was crafted in his parents’ garage, using his mother’s bread-knife, and his sense of achievement on completing it was so great that it sparked a lifetime passion.

 

Surfboards that best illustrate the span of each shaper’s career will be on display at the La Montagne Hotel from July 2 - 4. The surfboard collection will also feature boards to demonstrate the  progression of wave-riding from the ancient Hawiian style ‘alaia’ surfboards to recent designs - including various iconic boards like Shaun Tomson’s Pipeline ‘Gun’ from the 70’s and Jordy Smith’s very first pro board.

 

On the evening of July 3, Spider Murphy, Graham Smith and Mike Larmont will all be in attendance and will be interviewed about their career highlights and experiences shaping for world champions and title contenders. This will be a rare occasion for those interested in surfboard design to meet the experts and interact with them.

 

The ‘Shaping Through The Ages’ event is just one of the highlights of an action-packed Mr Price Pro Ballito Beach Festival which will run from July 1 – 7 and will feature fashion shows, cooking competitions, extreme sport demonstrations, free evening music concerts and much more.

 

In addition to South Africa's top shapers taking surfing fans down memory lane at the Shaping Through the Ages event another highlight of the evening will be a presentation by leading Coastal Ecologists who will be looking at the changing nature of surf breaks in the face of climate change and human interventions.

 

The RedCap Foundation, which aims to inspire South Africa’s youth to become healthy engaged citizens, has been identified as the official non-government organisation to benefit from fund raising and awareness programs at the Mr Price Pro Ballito - including the ‘Shaping Through the Ages’ event. For more information about the RedCap Foundation log on to www.redcapfoundation.org

 

ENDS/

High resolution images available on request 
 

Mike Larmont (Image credit: Pierre Tostee)
 

Graham Smith (Image credit: Ryan Janssens)
 

Spider Murphy (Image credit: Pierre Tostee)
 

Johno Hutchison (Image credit: Pierre Tostee)
 

Hugh Thompson (Image credit: Pierre Tostee)
 

Mike Larmont (Image credit: Pierre Tostee)