La Lucia surfer David Weare will make a welcome return to international competition at the upcoming Mr Price Pro Ballito 2011, where he will be among the local favourites hoping to take out this year’s crown.
A former ASP World Tour campaigner, who competed at elite level for two years in 2006 and 2009, Weare has been awarded one of six wildcards into the R1.7 Million event, where he will face top international surfers in a just a few weeks’ time.
“I’m super psyched to have made it into this event,” Weare said. “It’ll be good to see all the crew and get to surf against them again.”
One of South Africa’s best aerialists, this progressive pro surfer turned businessman believes he will have no problems slotting back into competition mode during the Mr Price Pro Ballito 2011.
Competitor
“I’m still a competitor at heart so I’ll definitely be giving it my all in this event!” Weare said. “With only 96 guys in this event, you know the standard is going to be high, it’s going to be exciting and there’s going to be a lot of action going down in Ballito.”
Weare was no stranger to the winner’s podium scalping victories on the ASP World Qualifying Series at events in Trestles, California in 2005, Newquay, England in 2006 as well as the 6 Star Quiksilver Pro in Durban in 2008.
Retiring at the end of 2009, Weare threw himself into his business and family life, the father of two reaping the rewards of time at home and enjoying all that South Africa has to offer.
“I love this new chapter in my life, being at home full time now. I’m actually getting to take advantage of the waves we get on our coast, spending more time with my girls and I’ve been able to get stuck into my business properly too. I’ve got a great balance going right now and it all feels great.”
While Weare admits to having made some great memories and surfed some incredible waves overseas, he says that some of the best waves are right here in South Africa.
“We have an amazing country and some of the best waves are right on my doorstep.”
Weare joins some of South Africa’s finest surfing talent in taking on the internationals for the chance to win R270 000 at the Mr Price Pro Ballito from July 4-10, 2011.
For more information about the Mr Price Pro Beach festival and the free music concert on July 8 and 9 see the event website.
** Greg Emslie (East London), Davey Brand (Cape Town) and Steven Sawyer (Jeffreys Bay) will make their way into the event courtesy of Mr Price wildcards while Klee Strachan (Winklespruit), Brendon Gibbens (Cape Town) and David Weare (Durban) will take on the worlds’ best courtesy of ASP Africa wildcards.
A total of seven South African surfers have also qualified for the main event via their ASP World ranking. They include World No. 5 Jordy Smith (RSA), former ASP World Tour campaigner Travis Logie (Dbn), Shaun Joubert (Mossel Bay), former ASP World Tour campaigner Royden Bryson (Cape Town), Brandon Jackson (Durban North), Rudy Palmboom (Bluff) and Dale Staples (St Francis Bay).
Eight South African surfers will compete in the trials for the remaining two spots into the main event. The trialists are Beyrick De Vries (Umhlanga), Chad Du Toit (Dbn), Kyle Lane (Umhlanga), Frankie Obherhozer (Scottburgh), Mathew Bromley (Cape Town), Alan Johns (Ballito), Sean Holmes (CT) and Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay).
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