Surfing | Ballito Outreach Tag Team Event presented by O'Neill and Sea Harvest A Great Success

Bather's Beach, Ballito - while the Ballito Open, presented by Flojos QS 2000 surfing event, was taking place at Willard, the iLembe Surfriders Association gathered competitors for the Ballito Outreach Tag team event at Bathers Beach alongside all the action.

A fun yet competitive event, the Tag Team contest comprised surfers from iLembe District in association with Small Steps, Genesis Wave of Hope (Ugu District), Girls Surf Too (eThekwini District) and Surfers Not Street Children (eThekwini District).

A fun and spirited contest, this outreach event is a bold reflection of iLembe's commitment to transformation, youth development, and inclusive sporting opportunities.

The Tag-Team format inspires team spirit alongside competitiveness, and the gathered surfers cheered and encouraged each other in their bids for victory and bragging rights.

The day started a little chilly, but as the sun warmed the land and the wind subsided, it soon turned into a typical balmy winter's day on the north coast, with beaches packed with spectators. With schools on holiday, all the beaches were alive, and the event was very well attended. 

The conditions were on the small side, and the wind was initially light offshore, making for ideal, highly contestable conditions for this event. Clear water, good right and left-handers, and a few dolphins in attendance set the scene, with spectators aplenty. The waves in Ballito have been good for days now, with morning land breeze offshores making way for calm afternoons and light onshore winds by the end of the day, ideal for running surf events. 

After some exciting heats and loads of support, it was Surfers Not Street Children who took the team title from iLembe District, with Genesis Waves for Hope in third and Girls Surf Too in fourth.

The event really wasn't about winning or losing but rather about participating, cheering, and having a wonderful couple of hours on the beach with friends.   

As the host district, iLembe is spearheading this initiative to highlight the vital work being done to uplift under-resourced youth through surfing.

This event celebrates social change, community partnerships, and grassroots development, led from the heart of iLembe.

Organisations and surfers:

#iLembe District in association with Small Steps:

Surfers:

1) Sbonginkosi Mthenbu

2) Nqubeko Nzuza

3) Wonderboy Sipingo

4) Andile Makhatini

5) Nonhlanhla Ntuli

# Genesis Wave of Hope (Ugu District):

Surfers:

1) Enhle Nyembezi

2) Thando Sashi

3) Kwanele Sashi

4) Okuhle Hadebe

5) Esam Nyembezi

# Girls Surf Too (eThekwini District)

Surfers:

1) Buhle Ntuli 

2) Asina Ntuli

3) Thia Moodley

4) Sbabalwa Osinachi 

5) Chantel Songca

# Surfers Not Street Children (eThekwini District)

Surfers:

1) Trevor Mnetsi 

2) Khanyisani Mgu

3) Sbusiso Ngiba 

4) Junior Ngcobo

5) Zipho Mseleku

The Ballito Outreach Tag Team Event, proudly sponsored by Sea Harvest and O'Neill, was hosted by the iLembe Surfriders Association in partnership with Surfing South Africa and The World Surf League.