With Billabong mired in such financial difficulties that it couldn’t even afford to properly finance the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay thus resulting in the contest being downgraded to a 6-Star event, the Mr. Price Pro Ballito, once the warm up event to J-Bay, has been upgraded to an ASP Prime status thus becoming the main event for the South African leg of the ASP.  In clean head high conditions, Glen Hall, who claims Ireland as his home country even though he lives in Australia, won the Mr. Price Pro Ballito to suddenly put himself in the thick of the race to qualify for the ASP World Tour.

Hall defeated Nathanial Curren in the Final of the Mr. Price Pro Ballito at Willards Beach, South Africa to earn the biggest victory of his career.  For Hall, a victory was the only result he was going to be satisfied with.

“It’s the biggest win of my career by far, I kinda felt like if you got the wave out there you could get the score and I was just praying for a wave at the end,” said Hall. “Nathaniel is an amazing surfer and I was pumped to have a Final against him. It was always going to be a tough heat but I’ve learnt never to be content with second and to always push for more until you’ve won.”

Hall seems to be finding the most success at ASP Prime Events.  Earlier this year, Hall reached the Finals of the Nike Lowers Pro before succumbing to eventual winner Gabriel Medina.  With his continued success at ASP Prime Events, Hall is now 16^th in the overall World Rankings.

“It’s still a long road ahead and I’m just going to keep trying and see where I end up,” said Hall. “I’m not doing J-Bay and I’m proud of my choice. I came here and put all eggs into one basket because if you are here to qualify it’s about the Primes. That’s my focus so I’m taking it to the next event in America.”

Video highlights of the Mr. Price Pro Ballito are below.  Photos courtesy of  Kelly Cestari with the ASP.  The attention in South Africa shifts to the Billabong Pro J-Bay, which is now just a 6-Star event.  The contest window opens July 10^th and closes July 15^th.  Visit billabongpro.com for more information.