The Mr Price Pro Ballito, South Africa's premiere beach extravaganza
2012/06/20
The Mr Price Pro Ballito, South Africa’s premiere beach extravaganza, is back at KwaDukuza’s Willards Beach from July 2 - 8.
Along with South Africa’s biggest surfing attraction, the PRIME rated Mr Price Pro Ballito ASP World Tour event, comes the Mr Price Pro Ballito Lifestyle Festival which has ‘something for everyone’ and celebrates adrenaline pumping extreme sports, beach culture and lifestyle events, music, arts as well as the unmistakable Ballito vibe with KwaDukuza’s wonderful warm weather.
The action packed extreme sports dairy includes the return of the legendary Brian Capper and his gravity-defying motorbike stunts between July 2 and 5.
Last year’s stint, which included a leap without the aid of a ramp over five audience members lying flat on the ground, had everyone holding their breath. This year’s adventure promises to be bigger and better. For the first time, World Advanced Aerobatic Champion Graham Dell flying his Red Bull Extra 300 and will show off his breath taking aerial exploits from July 6 to 8.
Added action packed sports also include the Mr Price BMX Riot Jam 10 featuring the country’s trick riders perfoming on a purpose built street park and a Stand Up Paddle Boarding (SUP) Paddle Battle showdown on the Zinkwazi lagoon. Accomplished and aspiring paddlers areexpected to line up in front of record crowds again this year.
Beach soccer and volley ball, together with dance displays, street running and indigenous sports will add to the mix. According to KwaDukuza municipality events co-ordinator, Collette Bundy, indigenous sports will see local youths competing in Dibeke, Khokho, Induku (stick fighting) as well as a tug-of-war. “This is an excellent platform to exhibit the skills, intense training and physical fitness of these athletes as well as display the local community’s rich indigenous heritage. This will certainly make the Mr Price Pro Ballito one of the country’s most unique and unforgettable beach events.”
The Mr Price Pro Ballito Festival also features daily fashion shows, the Miss Ballito Beach Mania competition and the Graffiti Wall. On Saturday 7th, the extreme sports arena will provide the canvas for an artistic jamboree as local artists spray up a storm and create an artwork that will be donated to KwaDukuza Municipality community institutions.
The film night under the stars on a glorious Ballito night will showcase the Africa Project. Billed as Africa’s greatest ever surfing movie, The Africa Project is the creation of master film maker Jason Hearn. Shot over two years, it showcases the best the continent has to offer - its surfers, its waves, its people, its cultures and its places and features surfers such asJordy Smith, Travis Logie, Royden Bryson, Franky O, Sean Holmes and Grant "Twig" Baker.
The Mr Price Pro Ballito’s shopping experience features arts and crafts and exhibitions as well as street styling, daily live entertainment, a food court and beer garden for retail revellers. The Kids Corner offers face painting,Bubbles of Joy, sandcastle building, a kiddies' beach dash and the Iciko Art Corner.
According to Bundy, this year’s focus will also be on educational and environmental awareness campaigns. “We are partnering with organisations such as Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, ORI, the Dolphin Coast Conservancy and uShaka Marine World to highlight the importance of our precious water resources. We will also expedite a recycling programme. As June is Environmental Awareness Month with the theme of “Marine Biodiversity”, we will be highlighting endangered and protected marine species.”
As in past years, the Mr Price Pro Ballito Festival will culminate in the muchanticipated Mr Price Pro Ballito free music concerts at Salt Rock Beach. Music lovers can chill to the sounds of Gangs of Ballet, Wonderboom, the Ard Mathews Trio, Shadow Club, Aking, Crash Car Burn and Flash Republic on the 6th and party into the night with Toya Delazy, Lloyd Cele, iscreamstix, Pascal & Pearce, Goodluck, Locnville and Dino Bravo on July 7.