Mr Price Pro .. What do you think?

[Coatesman]

Since hearing the news that Mr Price Pro is coming to Ballito I have come across a number of guys all with different takes on the whole scene.

My initial response was great now we will have some one on our side to move the rocks.
The feed back I have got so far is that no one jumping off there seat to help.

And more and more I am being confronted with this one .... 'The Crowd Factor' Just this morning on Salties beach chatting to some locals they were all not happy. And I have to agree with them ... we are just not going to be able to surf our own breakes for over a month.

One guy had a valid point, He said "None of the local surfers were even involved in this." This is something that has been forced on us we have had no say at all. And what do we benefit?

Sure there will be financial rewards, but like one guy said were are doing ok and we like it the way it is.

I want to propose that we get some opinions and views down. Find out what can be done ...if any thing! And if so what are we going to benefit?

Big questions to a very Big turning point to surfing on our coast.

Coatesman

[Greg Simmonds]

Hi Chris,

Simmo Junior here...... Boet I believe we all get trapped in the past to some extent. Some memories give us that euphoric goosie and some we choose to forget. Bog Bay is indeed a magical place and hosting such an event would let many others share in the beauty it has to offer.

We have to separate the Economical aspect from our own selfish aspect..... Ballito as we know it thrives on the expectation of forein income and the influx of holiday makers,yet after 30 years still battles to be a fully sustainable town in terms of consistant revenue streams. Yes this would be another 1 week stint of forien influx, but I believe it will put Ballito on the Map as an area that suites holding events of such a nature. Just look at the amount of bed nights that would be fulled, the retail booost, the restuarants, the publicity, property prices and and and.....

In such economical times I feel Ballito should be Jumping to get such an event, yet Ballito just seems to be one of those towns a little trapped in the past. We should enbrace it, open our arms to the world and revell in the priveledge!

But great topic for discussion..... Maybe a little pro's and con's list can be put together....

Simmo!!!

[Steve Bredell]

Hi Chris,

The crowds are a factor but I don't think there is too much that can be done. If that is a major concern then we should leave the boulders rocks in place and possibly the contest will not get waves and not come back here.

I don't think that is the solution and we would be better off using the contest as an opportunity to get the rocks moved and make the banks come back.

My suggestions for accomplishing this as follows.

1)Arrange a sit down meeting with the town council or whoever makes the decision - don't waste time with some underling - get to a decision maker.

2)Emphasis should be placed on firstly how much better the main bathing area would become because the sand would get pushed in there much more regularly. A word of caution - whoever does the talking should be ready to answer questions regarding losing the granny pool and should be ready to state how dangerous it currently is.

3)The point should be made regarding the vaste improvement that the rock move would make to the quality of the waves and thus ensuring the success of the event and its return in the future with the resultant tourism spinoff.

4) Improvement to the beach erosion situation as the sand would get packed more regularly with south swells - less damage to property and wave action being tempered due to the banks being a bit of a restraint.

5) I suggest that if they agree to let the rocks be moved then we tell them that there will be no cost to the town and the balito surfing comunity wil pay for the removal. It would not be ridiculously expensive and we should get a cost estimate before going any further and have this ready. I'm sure that once the decision has been made then the surfing comunity would contribute and make it happen.(maybe even Mr.Price?)

Please make sure tho that whoever represents the surfers at that meeting not get overly emotional and blow it, you need a purely business approach with these people and if the situation is pitched properly should be a win-win for balito, the contest, swimmers and the local surfers

Regards

Steve Bredell
083 295 2928

[roger]

Hello Earthlings.

Yes Yes. This is all very worrying. At the end of the day its all about capitalism. The fat cats don't give a damn about the people that get affected whilst they line their pockets so you can do what you please- money talks. However, the good thing about removing the rocks is the fact that with more sand moving into the bays and a more consistent bank out at backline the higher seas that are predicted would inpact less greatly on the coast and the immediate front line properties.
A wave that breaks a hundred meters further out at sea will have a far lesser 'reach' on the land so to speak.
I think the best course of action would be to highlight this idea- that more sand results in less damage. The Mr Price Pro adds to the campaign as improved waves means a better event and thus larger revenues.
I definately do not think that the surfing community should offer to foot the bill unless it becomes the reason as to why the municipality refuses to do so.
During the month that the Mr Price Pro is in town I think I'll use the oppotunity to travel our coast a little, looking for less crowd waves and new breaks.
If not we could always engage in some friendly urban terrorism.No, just kidding folks-we bigger then that.
But if those rocks are ever going to move this is the time to strike!