Matt Canning with a winning performance across two divisions © Tostee/Ballito Pro.   Willard Beach, Ballito - An icy winter morning greeted competitors on the opening day of the O'Neill SMTH Shapes Rookie Rippers event as excited junior surfers headed down to register. This popular contest starts two weeks of competition surfing in Ballito, around the Ballito Pro Festival. The waves were small and highly contestable, and the event had a full entry list, so it was early into the water for Heat 1. Small but highly contestable for Day One of the O'Neill SMTH Shapes Rookie...

Louise Lepront and Levi Epenetos claim the U18 division titles. Lepront does the double and wins U16 Girls. Rory Dace wins U16 Boys. Levi Epenetos claimed U18 Boys Victory at the O'Neill SMTH Shapes Rookie Rippers 2024 © Pierre Tostee/ Ballito Pro. The day's surfing was set against the backdrop of a balmy June morning on the north coast, with a slight bump in swell size as predicted, no wind for most of the day, and highly contestable conditions. The mainly right-breaking wave at Willard's Beach had given way to some clean left-handers coming through, and the goofy-footers (right-foot...