All photos credit @alanvangysen/ Monster Energy Drink

The MR PRICE PRO kicked off yesterday in Ballito, South Africa. The second PRIME rated event on the ASP Qualification Series is open to the top 96 ranked surfers in the world and Round 1 kicked off in great winter conditions, with light offshores and head high swell hitting the predominantly righthand sandbanks.

Brazilian surfers such as Filipe Toledo, Wiggoly Dantas and Alejo Muniz looked very comfortable advancing and a busy day of action allowed for the bulk of the first round to be completed. Hawaiian Torrey Meister pulled the move of the day, earning an 8.83 for a huge tail high reverse that jumped him into an advancing position.

Nic Von Rupp (Portugal) summed up the vibe amongst the competitors on day 1 of a PRIME event. “I didn’t have a great heat but still managed to get through. It was a low scoring heat and really that Round 1 is just one you want to get out of the way and put under the carpet. The most important thing is just to make the heat.”

To tune into the webcast LIVE visit www.mrpricepro.com.

Mr Price Pro Ballito Round of 96 Results:

Heat 1: Caio Ibelli (BRA) 15.10; Filipe Toledo (BRA) 10.66; Ricardo Christie (NZL) 9.17; Michael February (ZAF) 8.23
Heat 2: Tomas Hermes (BRA) 15.80; Nic Von Rupp (PRT) 9.50; Felix Messias (BRA) 8.50; Charles Martin (GLP) 4.47
Heat 3: Aritz Aranburu (ESP); Carlos Munoz (CRI); Dales Staples (ZAF); Santiago Muniz (BRA)
Heat 4: Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 14.26; Alex Ribeiro (BRA) 12.83 ; Steven Pierson (PYF) 12.30; Bino Lopes (BRA) 7.83
Heat 5: Heitor Alves (BRA) 13.23; Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 12.93; Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 12.27 Thiago Camarao (BRA) 11.44
Heat 6: Travis Logie (ZAF) 13.60; Dillon Perillo (USA) 13.44; Wade Carmichael (AUS) 12.87; Vincent Duvignac (FRA) 11.93
Heat 7: Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 13.74; Davey Cathels (AUS) 11.60; Keanu Asing (HAW) 11.44; Evan Geiselman (USA) 11.23
Heat 8: Frederico Morais (PRT) 14.34; David Van Zyl (ZAF) 12.77; Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 11.60; Maxime Huscenot (FRA) 10.80
Heat 9: Billy Stairmand (NZL) 14.77; Tim Reyes (USA) 13.43; Cory Arrambide 11.90 ; Halley Batista (BRA) 7.07
Heat 10: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 14.83; Thomas Woods (AUS) 14.73; Perth Standlick (AUS) 12; 14; Beyrick De Vries (ZAF) 6.13
Heat 11: Torrey Meister (HAW) 15.76; Matt Banting (AUS) 13.66 ; Garrett Parkes (AUS) 12.84; Willian Cardoso (BRA); 5.23
Heat 12: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.33; Krystian Kymerson (BRA) 12.70; Brandon Jackson (ZAF) 11.33; Mason Ho (HAW) 10.70
Heat 13: Stu Kennedy (AUS) 12.50; Kai Otton (AUS) 11.06; Shayne Sykes (ZAF) 9.57; Jesse Mendes (BRA) 8.93
Heat 14: Tom Whittaker (AUS) 12.70; Granger Larsen (HAW) 11.17; Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 10.34; Jean Da Silva (BRA) 9.90
Heat 15: Marlon Lipke (PRT) 11.20; Jadson Andre (BRA) 11.06; Chris Ward (AUS) 10.50; Masatoshi Ohno (JPN) 9.07
Heat 16: Adam Melling (AUS) 11.60; Joan Duru (FRA) 10.13; Jay Thompson (AUS) 9.94; Luke Davis (USA) 8.17

Upcoming Mr Price Pro Ballito Round of 96 Heats:

Heat 17: Jeremy Flores (FRA); Nathan Hedge (AUS); Brian Toth (PRI); Hiroto Ohhara (JPN)
Heat 18: Dion Atkinson (AUS); Marc Lacomare (FRA); Cooper Chapman (AUS); Michael Dunphy (USA)
Heat 19: Brett Simpson (USA); Damien Hobgood (USA); Marco Fernandez (BRA); Gavin Gillette (HAW)
Heat 20: Adrian Buchan (AUS); Glenn Hall (AUS); Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR); Dylan Lightfoot (ZAF)
Heat 21: Matt Wilkinson (AUS); Kiron Jabour (HAW); Hodeo Collazo (EUK); Jack Freestone (AUS)
Heat 22: Mitch Crews (AUS); Yadin Nicol (AUS); Gony Zubizarreta (ESP); Vincente Romero (ESP)
Heat 23: Mitch Coleborn (AUS); Conner Coffin (USA); Ryan Callinan (AUS); Hizunome Bettero (BRA)
Heat 24: CJ Hobgood (USA); Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY); David do Carmo (BRA); Slade Prestwich (ZAF)