Record entries for Mr Price Pro Ballito

THE Mr Price Pro Ballito will roll out the red carpet for the world’s best surfers with a remarkable 23 of the world’s Top 32 entered into this year’s ASP Prime event, from July 2-8.

Entries officially closed on June 5, and organisers are ecstatic with the 147 entered surfers representing 21 countries.

ASP Africa operations manager Colin Fitch said: “We’re looking forward to hosting some of the finest international surfing talent and with 26 South African surfers pitted against them in the main event, surfing fans can look forward to some very exciting competition.”

The event will feature three of the top 10, including current World No 4 Adriano de Souza (Bra), 2011 runner-up and World No 5 John John Florence (Haw) and 2010 Mr Price Pro winner and current World No 7 Jordy Smith (SA).

2011 Mr Price Pro Champion Patrick Gudauskas (USA) will also return to the KwaZulu-Natal north coast to defend his title and has fond memories of Ballito after clinching his victory in flawless 68ft barrels last year.

“It was probably one of the best events I’d ever competed in for waves, it was so good!” said Gudauskas. “We go on free surf trips and get waves not half as good as that, so it was a special event to be a part of and to win it was the best thing ever! It is definitely one of those events everybody holds in really high regard for waves, so I’m really excited to go back.”

Older brother of 2009 Mr Price Pro Champion Tanner, the Gudauskas brothers join the Irons brothers, three-time World Champion Andy and younger sibling Bruce Irons, as the only pair of brothers to win the event.

“Bruce and Andy had won it before and I remember always watching it growing up and thinking it would be great to win it with one of my brothers, so it’s definitely a special event for us,” Gudauskas said.

ASP World No 21 Travis Logie (Dbn) joins Jordy Smith (Dbn) in leading the South Africans into battle and can expect to do very well given both their experience at elite level and intimate knowledge of their local break.