Rising star Conner Coffin, 18, of Santa Barbara, California has earned the sixth wildcard into the upcoming ASP Prime Mr Price Pro Ballito from July 2-8 and will be looking to make the most of the opportunity to pit himself against the world’s best.

Coffin, a recognized talent who has risen to the top of the American NSSA (National Scholastic Surfing Association) Championships, was over the moon upon receiving the news while on surfari in Bali Indonesia recently.

“Ballito looks amazing! To have the chance to surf perfect waves against the best surfers in the world, as a wildcard, makes this a huge opportunity for me,” Coffin said. “I was super excited to hear the news because I have always wanted to surf in Ballito.”

Boasting a progressive and polished style honed on some of California’s most iconic point breaks, Coffin is looking forward to gaining as much experience as he can get in an effort to qualify for the elite World Championship Tour in the coming years.

“This year my primary focus is on the ASP Junior events but I’m doing some Six Stars and Primes in order to gain experience and get my foot in the door for when I am putting my 100% focus toward making the tour,” Coffin explained. “Right now it is just about gaining experience, confidence, and having fun!”

With an affinity for powerful, barreling waves, Coffin’s surfing style is well suited to the hollow waves of Willard’s Beach, Ballito. Coffin makes the pilgrimage from Indonesia, where he is currently on a surf shoot for his sponsors, to the tip of the African continent to test his skill against the world’s finest.

“I have never been to South Africa and Ballito looks incredible! From what I’ve heard the waves all around there are the kind of waves that I really enjoy surfing, so I’m really looking forward to the adventure. I also know that last year the waves absolutely pumped for the contest so I’m hoping it does that again this year!”

Five talented South African surfers will join Coffin as event wildcards including Greg Emslie (East London), Steven Sawyer (Jeffreys Bay), Brendon Gibbens (Kommetjie), Beyrick De Vries (Umhlanga) and Chad Du Toit (Durban).

Eight local surfers will compete in the trials for the remaining two spots into the main event. They are David Van Zyl (Dbn), Matthew Bromley (CT), Klee Strachan (SKZN), David Weare (Dbn), Michael February (CT), Casey Grant (Scottburgh), Davey Brand (CT) and Daniel Redman (Umdloti) who will compete in two four man heats prior to the first heat of round one on Monday July 2, 2012.