Tomson’s motivational message at Ballito Pro

FORMER world surfing champion Shaun Tomson will have plenty of memories as he hosts the 50th anniversary of the event now known as the Ballito Pro, which takes place at Willard Beach in Kwadukuza from June 25 to July 1.

Tomson has played a huge role in the history of the world’s longest-running professional surfing event.

His late father Ernie was instrumental in creating the Durban 500 in 1969 and Tomson won the Gunston 500 for six years from 1973 to 1978, a record that is unlikely to be surpassed at this or any other major international surfing contest.

The former Durbanite, now a motivational speaker, author and film-maker who lives in California, will spend more than a month in Kwadukuza conducting a Positive Wave Tour of motivational workshops leading up to and continuing after the festival.

Honoured

The tour will culminate with 67 minutes of work at a high school to celebrate the centenary of Nelson Mandela’s birthday on July 18.

He will also host a screening of Bustin Down The Door, at the Ballito Junction Regional Mall. Produced by Tomson in 2008, the film chronicles the often turbulent birth of professional surfing during the mid-1970s that led to his crowning as the second pro world surfing champion in 1977.

Tomson will be honoured at a glittering awards function on June 27 at Coco Der Mer in Ballito alongside the other South African winners of the event. They include two-time and defending champion Jordy Smith (2010 & 2017), Ricky Basnett (2006) and Gavin Rudolph, winner of the inaugural edition in 1969.

This year’s edition of the Ballito Pro Surf Festival also celebrates the 10th anniversary since it relocated from Durban to Kwadukuza.