Brazil’s Laura Raupp started her Ballito campaign on the right foot by winning the World Surf League O’Neill SMTH Shapes Ballito Pro Junior at Willard Beach, Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal on Friday, June 28, 2024.
“I’m happy to get the win in the Pro Junior, starting on the right foot ahead of the QS and the Ballito Pro Challenger Series and I’m feeling really good.”
WSL Ballito Pro Junior Champion, Laura Raupp
Basque surfer Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri finished runner-up, and both surfers used this event as an opportunity to practice and dial in their equipment ahead of the Ballito Open presented by Flojos Qualifying Series (QS) 1,000, starting on Saturday, and the Ballito Pro presented by O’Neill Challenger Series, kicking off on Monday.
The Final endured really tricky, onshore conditions with the peaks of the waves shifting all over the lineup, making wave selection critical.
Gonzalez Etxabarri was on fire during the whole event and got off to a quick start, finding the better waves and building on her score, while Raupp waited out the back for better opportunities needing only a small score, but it wasn’t until the final few minutes when she locked in a 5-point ride which was enough to snatch the win over Etxabarri.
“I’m super happy to be here, it’s my third time in Ballito,” Raupp said. “The final was pretty hard, the conditions weren’t helping!”
“I was happy to be in the final with Annette, another European surfer who rips. The heat before I surfed with Anon, who is a really good friend and she also rips, but I’m glad I found the best wave and could show my surfing to everyone.”
Raupp defeated good friend and the defending women’s winner, Japan’s Anon Matsuoka in their semi-final matchup, when Matsuoka fell just short of making it to another final.
Etxabarri dispatched Lily Heny (RSA) in their semi-final clash. Heny was the top performing South African in the event, but couldn’t find any decent rides in the semi-final, which saw Etxabarri lock in a consecutive Pro Junior Final appearance.
“I feel super happy! It was really tricky, but I feel good, I was competing in this event to prepare for the upcoming Ballito Open QS 1,000.”
WSL Ballito Pro Junior Runner-Up, Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri
Competitors will now reset and prepare for the Ballito Open presented by Flojos QS 1,000 which starts tomorrow and runs through to 30 June, before the Challenger Series kicks off on 1 July.
The O’Neill SMTH Shapes Ballito Pro Junior is supported by O’Neill, SMTH Shapes, KwaDukuza Municipality, Surfing South Africa, The North Coast Courier, Monster Energy, SMG and Coca-Cola.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com
O’Neill SMTH Shapes Ballito Pro Junior Women’s Final Results
1- Laura Raupp (BRA) 8.00
2- Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) 7.17
O’Neill SMTH Shapes Ballito Pro Junior Women’s Semifinal Results
Heat 1: Laura Raupp (BRA) 11.10 DEF. Anon Matsuoka (JPN) 4.77
Heat 2: Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) 12.67 DEF. Lily Heny (RSA) 2.63
O’Neill SMTH Shapes Ballito Pro Junior Women’s Quarterfinal Results
Heat 1: Anon Matsuoka (JPN) 13.00 Def Sarah Scott (RSA) 3.93
Heat 2: Laura Raupp (BRA) 10.67 Def. Louise Lepront (RSA) 6.66
Heat 3: Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) 6.50 Def.Gabriella Herbst (RSA) 1.40
Heat 4: Lily Heny (RSA) 3.43 Def. Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) 1.37
O’Neill SMTH Shapes Ballito Pro Junior Women’s Round of 16 Results
Heat 1: Anon Matsuoka (JPN) 13.17 Def. Louise Lepront (RSA) 7.50, Leah Lepront (RSA) 5.00, Aimee du Preez (RSA) 4.93
Heat 2: Laura Raupp (BRA) 11.67 Def. Sarah Scott (RSA) 6.70, Emily Jenkinson (RSA) 6.10, Adriel Wolmarans (RSA) 2.67
Heat 3: Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) 11.00 Def. Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) 10.10, Anastasia Venter (RSA) 8.67, Zia Hendricks (RSA) 4.07
Heat 4: Lily Heny (RSA) 6.90 Def. Gabriella Herbst (RSA) 6.70, Mayah Potgieter (RSA) 5.04, Gemma Hanafey (RSA) 4.34
O’Neill SMTH Shapes Ballito Pro Junior Women’s Round of 24 Results
Heat 1: Anon Matsuoka (JPN) 12.97 Def. Laura Raupp (BRA) 11.50, Demi Rowe (RSA) 3.84
Heat 2: Emily Jenkinson (RSA) 6.30 Def. Aimee du Preez (RSA) 4.94, Indiphile Osinachi (RSA) 2.20
Heat 3: Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) 9.07 Def. Mayah Potgieter (RSA) 5.47, Camilla Heuer (RSA) 2.73
Heat 4: Lily Heny (RSA) Def. Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK)
Original Copy: WSL Africa, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Brazil’s Laura Raupp started her Ballito campaign on the right foot by winning the World Surf League O’Neill SMTH Shapes Ballito Pro Junior at Willard Beach, Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal on Friday, June 28, 2024. Photo: Kody McGregor/World Surf League
Photo 2 Caption: Laura Raupp and Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri pictured smiling after their series achievements. Photo: Pierre Tostee/WSL
Photo 3 Caption: The Basque Country’s Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri was super excited to finish runner-up at the Ballito Pro Junior. Photo: Pierre Tostee/WSL
Photo 4 Caption: Laura Raupp started her Ballito campaign ideally by winning the WSL O’Neill SMTH Shapes Ballito Pro Junior on Friday. Photo: Kody McGregor/World Surf League
Photo 5 Caption: Lily Heny was the top performing South African in the event, but couldn’t find any decent rides in the semi-final. Photo: Kody McGregor/WSL
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