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The 57th Ballito Pro Presented by O'Neill closed off in style on Saturday (18 July) after two action-packed weeks at Willard Beach, KwaDukuza, with Teresa Bonvalot (Portugal) and Cole Houshmand (USA) crowned champions of the opening stop on the World Surf League Challenger Series.
With world-class waves delivering some of the best conditions seen at Ballito in years, the 2026 edition will go down as one of the most memorable in the event's 57-year history.
Bonvalot makes surfing history
Portugal's Teresa Bonvalot became the first Portuguese woman to win the Ballito Pro, defeating compatriot Francisca Veselko in an historic all-Portuguese final. Returning to competition after surgery to remove sea urchin spines from her foot, Bonvalot said the victory exceeded all expectations.
"I don't have any words right now. It means so much, I'm super emotional. If you'd told me I'd win this event after everything that's happened, I would've said you were dreaming."
She added that sharing the final with fellow Portuguese surfer Francisca Veselko made the victory even more special: "To be in an all-Portuguese final shows how much women's surfing in Portugal has grown. My first event back after surgery has been incredibly special."
Houshmand returns to winning ways
American powerhouse Cole Houshmand also celebrated an emotional victory, defeating Brazil's Weslley Dantas in an explosive men's final. The Californian, who won the Ballito Pro in 2023, put on an amazing performance, responding to Dantas' aerial attack with a massive straight air that earned an excellent 8.90 and secured the title.
"This might be one of my best wins after the year I've had," said Houshmand. "I came here to find my rhythm again, and there's just something special about Ballito. I absolutely love this place."
The championship finals followed the festival's Mandela Day 67 Minutes for the Ocean beach clean-up, where people united to remove litter, ghost fishing gear and microplastics from Ballito's shoreline.
Final results for Ballito Pro
Women's final
- Teresa Bonvalot (Portugal) – 10.33
- Francisca Veselko (Portugal) – 9.10
Men's final
- Cole Houshmand (USA) – 13.23
- Weslley Dantas (Brazil) – 12.53
Surf meets soccer in crowd favourite
Earlier in the week, the festival introduced one of its new attractions, the Surf & Turf Challenge (Thursday, 16 July). The entertaining relay contest paired professional surfers with football legends in a unique event celebrating both the Waves of Unity campaign and South Africa's participation in this year's World Cup.
Each nation fielded one football star and two surfers, with competitors combining football skills and wave scores to determine the champions.
Surf & Turf Challenge Results
- Brazil
- South Africa
- Morocco
- United States
- Portugal
- Australia
Future football stars shine
The football celebrations also included the finals of the Behind Bafana Bafana U15 Soccer Development Programme, hosted in partnership with KwaDukuza Municipality. Following qualifying tournaments held in June, the province's best young footballers competed before enthusiastic Ballito Pro crowds at Willard Beach.
Tournament Results
- Shakashead FC
- Shayamoya FC
- Etete FC
Individual Awards
- Goalkeeper of the Tournament: Sanele Xulu
- Best Player: Andile Mngadi
- Top Goal Scorer: Lindelani Madikizela
- Administrator Award: Riccardo Moonsamy
More than sports
The festival element kept visitors entertained with free beachfront concerts, the Corona Sunset Sessions, retail and food villages, beach sports, yoga and Pilates, children's entertainment, art showcases, tourism activations and environmental initiatives including Litter4Tokens and Stop the Strangle, all reinforcing this year's message of unity.
If this year's event is anything to go by, Ballito's biggest week on the beach will be back even bigger.
Relive the action
Catch up on the Ballito Pro Presented by O’Neill Challenger Series on World Surf League, the free WSL app, and the WSL's YouTube channel.
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