Wave of Unity theme marks Ballito Pro’s return
The Ballito Pro will return to Willard Beach on KZN’s North Coast from July 4 to 18.
Black News 
The world’s longest-running surfing event, the Ballito Pro, will return to Willard Beach on KwaZulu-Natal’s North Coast from July 4 to 18.
Organisers say this year’s event, themed “Wave of Unity”, will bring together elite surfing competition, music, youth development programmes and environmental initiatives.
Thousands of visitors are expected to travel to KwaDukuza for the two-week sporting and lifestyle event.
Event organiser Collette Bundy says the theme was inspired by South African surfer Luke Thompson’s victory at the 2025 Ballito Pro.
Bundy says, “It’s called the Wave of Unity because we were capitalising on the fact that in 2025 Luke Thompson won the Ballito Pro, and it was the inspiration from him walking up the beach with the South African flag. So we’ve basically created a campaign around that, including the fact that we’re celebrating the 2026 FIFA World Cup. So it’s all about national pride, our strengths, our rising spirit, with South African surfing and sportsmanship in general…”
The Ballito Pro remains one of South Africa’s premier surfing events and is expected to attract local and international competitors, spectators and tourists to the North Coast.
PODCAST | The Ballito Pro:
