Latest news with #JordySmith
The South African
14-07-2025
- Sport
- The South African
UPSET ALERT: Jordy Smith stunned at J-Bay
South Africa's world No 1 surfer Jordy Smith was eliminated from the Corona Cero Open J-Bay on Sunday in the Round of 16. The loss saw Smith relinquish the Yellow Leader Jersey, as the field narrows heading into finals day. The Corona Cero Open J-Bay, stop number 10 on the 2025 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour, continued in three- to five-foot Supertubes conditions. However, a fading swell prompted organisers to call off competition for Monday, 14 and Tuesday, 15 July. The next call will be made on Wednesday, 16 July at 07:45 for a possible 08:03 start. French rookie Marco Mignot shocked the local crowd as he outmanoeuvred Smith in tricky conditions, advancing to his second quarter-final appearance on the Championship Tour. While Smith waited for a set wave that never arrived, Mignot stayed busy, racking up a solid scoreline and leaving Smith needing a near-excellent wave in the dying moments. 'If you take on No 1 and beat him, it's a bigger reward,' said Mignot. 'I always want to surf against the best and push myself. Before coming here, I was watching clips of Jordy, because I think he's the best out here.' On Monday Jordy Smith took to social media to write: 'Didn't go the way we wanted but I am so grateful for all the support that has been poured into me this last week. Really appreciate every single one of you guys. The show must go on and so we continue to show up and keep swinging 💪🏼' Meanwhile, Griffin Colapinto (USA) got revenge on compatriot Cole Houshmand in their Round of 16 rematch, just a week after facing each other in the final of the VIVO Rio Pro. Colapinto controlled the heat early and sealed it with a 7.50 ride, thanks to powerful turns and clean carves down a J-Bay wall. 'This one matters because I want to make the Final 5,' said Colapinto. 'He's like a big brother to me, but I'm in that position now where every heat is important.' Brazil's Yago Dora, now the new world No 1, continued his charge at J-Bay. After breaking the fin on his favourite board in his heat against compatriot João Chianca, Dora changed equipment and responded with a huge aerial move that scored an excellent 9.00, securing the win. 'I didn't want to change boards, so I just changed the fin,' said Dora. 'There was a long lull, and I tried to stay patient. The second-best feeling in surfing is flying through the air and landing in the flats. It's scary, but when you pull it off, it feels so good.' Although Dora now holds the Yellow Jersey, Japan's Kanoa Igarashi remains in contention for the top spot after also advancing. Heat 1: Yago Dora (BRA) 14.57 defeated João Chianca (BRA) 13.67Heat 2: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 13.34 defeated Jack Robinson (AUS) 9.76Heat 3: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 13.50 defeated Crosby Colapinto (USA) 9.33Heat 4: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 14.37 defeated Cole Houshmand (USA) 12.57 Heat 5: Marco Mignot (FRA) 14.57 defeated Jordy Smith (RSA) 11.17 Heat 6: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 14.97 defeated Barron Mamiya (HAW) 10.60Heat 7: Connor O'Leary (JPN) 12.83 defeated Italo Ferreira (BRA) 12.33 Heat 8: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 12.00 defeated Jake Marshall (USA) 10.00
The Herald
14-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald
SA's Jordy Smith eliminated by rookie in J-Bay
Rookie Frenchman Marco Mignot delivered a devastating blow, taking out world No 1 Jordy Smith in front of his home crowd and stripping him of the yellow leader jersey in the Corona Cero Open J-Bay on Sunday. The event continued on Sunday to complete the men's round of 16 with three-to-five foot lines rolling through at Supertubes. With a dissipating swell, conditions slowed down throughout the morning, and organisers decided not to run the women's quarterfinals on Sunday. The competition has been called off for Monday and Tuesday, and the next call will be made on Wednesday at 7.45am for a possible 8.03am start. On Sunday, Mignot stayed busy building a solid score, while Smith opted to wait for a bigger set wave, which never arrived. Smith left it too late, needing a near-excellent score in the dying minutes, and Mignot advanced to his second quarterfinal appearance on the Champions Tour (CT). 'If you take on No 1, and you beat him, it's a bigger reward,' Mignot said. 'I always want to surf against the best and push myself. These moments are special, to share them with Jordy, the king of J-Bay, but I'm super happy to take the win. 'Before coming here, I was watching clips of Jordy, because I think he's the best out here.' Drawing each other again but on a different continent, Americans Griffin Colapinto and Cole Houshmand got a rematch in Supertubes after facing each other in the final of the VIVO Rio Pro just over a week ago. Colapinto got to work quickly to build a score, and shut it down with a 7.50 (out of a possible 10) for his powerful turns and drawn-out carves on a big J-Bay wall. Coming under pressure from João Chianca (BRA) in the first heat of the round of 16, world No 2 Yago Dora (BRA) started on the back foot. A quick equipment change saw a shift in momentum as Dora knew he had to get a big score on the board. Relying on his aerial prowess, Dora raced down the line, launching himself into the golden light of the morning and navigating the landing for an excellent 9.00. 'I broke the tip of my fin, and that was my magic board,' Dora said. 'I didn't want to change boards, so I just caught a wave in to change the fin. 'There was a long lull, so I tried to stay patient and wait for an opportunity. It was a weird wave, so I knew I would have to go big again. 'The second best feeling in surfing is flying through the air and landing in the flats, it's so scary, so when you pull it off, it feels so good.' With Smith knocked out of the event, Dora has moved into the No 1 position, but Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) can still challenge him for the yellow leader jersey in J-Bay as both advanced to the quarterfinals. — World Surf League
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ewing into J-Bay quarters as surfing finals loom
Ethan Ewing is through to the J-Bay quarter-finals as the Australian battles for a World Surf League finals berth. Sitting fifth in the world rankings, Ewing became the lone Australian to reach the men's quarters at Jeffreys Bay in South Africa as countryman Jack Robinson's finals push was dented in a round-of-16 defeat. Advertisement South Africa's world No.1 Jordy Smith was the biggest casualty of the round, taken out by French rookie Marco Mignot in a huge upset. The women's last eight had already been decided and their quarters will have a strong Australian contingent, with world No.1 Molly Picklum, Tyler Wright and Isabella Nichols in contention. The competition has been put on hold for two days ahead of the men's and women's events potentially being decided on Wednesday. The top five in the WSL men's and women's rankings will contest the final at Fiji's Cloudbreak from August 27. After J-Bay, the tour heads to the fearsome Teahupo'o break in Tahiti - last year's Olympics venue - for round 11, where the finalists will be confirmed. Advertisement Ewing beat American Jake Marshall in the lowest-scoring heat of the round of 16 to set up a quarter-final duel with Australian-born Japanese surfer Connor O'Leary, who ousted Brazil's former world champion Italo Ferreira. Sixth-ranked American Griffin Colapinto won through to the quarters to keep the pressure on Ewing, while Robinson will not improve on his No.7 spot after falling to Italian Leonardo Fioravanti.
The Herald
13-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald
Action-packed day sees first eliminations at Corona Cero Open J-Bay
The Corona Cero Open J-Bay continued with an exciting day of action with classic four-to-six-foot conditions at the world-renowned Supertubes on Saturday. Day two of the competition saw the event's first eliminations with the competition of the men's and women's opening and elimination rounds. As the penultimate stop of the Championship Tour's regular season, the event is a huge opportunity for surfers to make moves into the WSL Final 5 to have a chance to compete for the World Titles at Cloudbreak, Fiji. The next rounds of the event will heat up this race after seeing surfers now sitting in the Top 5 and surfers just below all through to the next round. The crowds lined the beach as World No 1 Jordy Smith (SA) and local wild card Luke Thompson (SA) paddled out for their matchup in the men's elimination round. It was fireworks from the start, with Thompson getting the better of Smith in the first exchange. Smith accepted the challenge and went full throttle on a long Supertubes runner to score an excellent 9.43 (out of a possible 10) with a couple of huge turns. Thompson found another gear to go excellent himself, but the 'Big Bru' did enough to get the win with a total of 16.43 (out of a possible 20). 'We both started out pretty good,' said Smith. 'I really just wanted to find a bomb and shut down the heat. Sure enough, I got that wave and rode it almost into my living room! It's incredible the support down here. That's what it's all about: to inspire SA and the next generation coming through. I told Luke that I'll see him here in 12 months, and I really hope his dream comes true.' Reigning World Champion Caity Simmers (US) survived the dreaded elimination round, coming up against local wild card Sarah Baum (SA). Coming off an early exit at the Vivo Rio Pro, Simmers has been tapping into the support from her family, who are travelling with her in SA. 'I kind of have a weird relationship with this wave,' said Simmers. 'I just tried to put that behind me and have fun surfing. My whole family is here, so it helps to switch off. I got to watch my brother win the US Surfing Championships back home, and now he's here with me. He's been surfing better than me out here, and he definitely pushes me to be better.' 2023 world champion Caroline Marks (US) continues her run of good results in J-Bay with another Quarterfinals appearance after she eliminated 2024 world junior champion Luana Silva (BRA) in Heat 2. A clutch performance from two-time World Champion Tyler Wright (AUS) saw her advance over rookie Erin Brooks (CAN) to round out the quarterfinals. Wright was trailing Brooks, when she found a medium-sized wave and surfed it down the point to get a 7.07 and edge out Brooks. World No 2 Yago Dora (BRA) put on a show at Supertubes in his opening round heat, showcasing his good read of the waves to connect big, flowing turns and finding a solid section to punt a huge frontside rotation, earning an excellent 9.33. Dora is nipping at the heels of Jordy Smith (SA) for the No 1 spot and will be a force to be reckoned with in J-Bay. 'I was kind of scared to hit the ramp, because the wave was solid and I had so much speed,' said Dora. 'I had the best feeling in surfing, just floating in the air and landing into the flats. You can really get creative on this wave, it's the perfect wave, but the lines are always changing a little bit, so it's still unpredictable and you have to adapt quickly.' Joining Dora in the Round of 16 are Brazil's Filipe Toledo, Italo Ferreira and Joao Chianca. Toledo won his opening round heat to go straight through to the Round of 16, while Ferreira and Chianca had to face the elimination round, overcoming Matthew McGillivray (SA) and Joel Vaughan (AUS), respectively. Current World No. 6 Griffin Colapinto (US), No. 7 Jack Robinson (AUS), and No. 8 Barron Mamiya (HAW) are also through to the next round and will be ones to watch in the Final 5 battle after their respective heat wins on Sunday. Colapinto and Mamiya fought through the Elimination Round to dispatch Alejo Muniz (BRA) and Seth Moniz (HAW), respectively, while Robinson got the early win in the Opening Round with a strong 14.83 two-wave total (out of a possible 20). SA's madman Matthew McGillivray (SA) dropped into Jeffreys Bay in style, skydiving from 7,500 feet in his wetsuit and rash vest, ready to paddle out for his opening round heat. McGillivray, a former CTer, is known for his extreme sports hobbies outside surfing, such as skydiving and base jumping. Unfortunately, Italo Ferreira (BRA) eliminated McGillivray from the competition in Heat 3 of the elimination round. — World Surf League
Daily Maverick
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
Surfing's finest converge on Jeffreys Bay as Jordy Smith aims for historic ‘home' victory
With age comes experience, says Jordy Smith, the oldest man on the circuit, who is looking to clinch his first WSL title. The best surfers in the world have descended on the coastline of the Eastern Cape and, in the men's competition, will be looking to topple home favourite Jordy Smith for the next nine days (11-20 July) at the Corona Cero Open J-Bay 2025. Smith holds a marginal lead over second-placed Brazilian Yago Dora on the World Surf League (WSL) standings, with nine rounds of competition behind the surfers and two regular rounds left. Jeffreys Bay — an hour's drive from Gqeberha — is back hosting a World Surf League (WSL) event this year after the Olympic Games in 2024 meant a reshuffle in the calendar and the Eastern Cape town missed out on any action last year. For Smith, the yellow jersey wearer and a local star, it's an opportunity to compete in front of his loved ones again. Smith grew up in Durban but recently moved to J-Bay — as the town is colloquially known. 'Being here at home in J-Bay, number one in the world, it's one of the best feelings I could ask for,' the 37-year-old said on the eve of the start of the first day of action in Jeffreys Bay. 'Obviously being in this beautiful place in J-Bay, it's something that all surfers from all over the world love. Every year they come out here; not only have we got amazing waves, but the people, the vibe, the energy, it's all really high. 'The ocean activity is really good and now the only thing left to do is win the contest.' Smith won back-to-back in his new home in 2010 and 2011, but hasn't won a WSL tour in Jeffreys Bay since. Family first The past few years on the waves have been slow for Smith, having not won a WSL leg since 2017 when he clinched victory at Bells Beach in Australia. But this year he's back at it and timing his waves perfectly, with two first-place finishes so far. First in El Salvador at the start of April, and then at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro in May. Smith is looking to claim three tour event victories in a year for the first time this week in Jeffreys Bay. What has been the oldest man on tour's key to success in the latter part of his career? 'Fortunately in our sport obviously there's a lot of endurance, but for the most part there's a lot of experience that plays a big part,' he said. 'I've been going to a lot of these locations for over 20 years, so I do have a lot of experience at these places, and sometimes experience beats youth.' Smith also has a young family, which has broadened his outlook in life. His wife Lyndall gave birth to their second son a few weeks before he sealed his first tour victory in eight years in El Salvador. 'I have a young family now and that really kind of puts things at ease in my mind about what's important in this world,' he said. 'When I paddle out there, I know in my heart that it's not the only thing that matters. There is a bigger meaning to life. 'That might have just kind of made things a lot lighter for me to be able to compete… Knowing that I've still got to wake up and change my kid's nappy, you know, life's going to roll on.' His eldest, who's about four years old, is starting to come to grips with his father being famous but doesn't quite understand what he does. 'He thinks that I just draw a lot on everyone's T-shirts and do a lot of scribbles on paper, but he's kind of slowly getting the vibe,' Smith said. 'But for the most part, I just want to be a great father to him and set a good precedent.' 'Led the way' Outside of the role model he is for his family, South African surfers idolise Smith as a trailblazer in their field. 'Just watching him this year has been so inspirational for me and for all the other South African surfers, seeing what he's capable of achieving and just how he's continued to improve every year,' Matthew McGillivray said to Daily Maverick. McGillivray just missed the mid-season cut, finishing 23rd after seven events – despite finishing second behind Smith in El Salvador — with only the top 22 continuing. Despite this, the 28-year-old who was born in the Eastern Cape is participating at the Corona Cero Open J-Bay as a wildcard. 'He's led the way and taught us a lot,' McGillivray said about Smith. 'We're lucky to have him as a role model. 'There's so much support behind him. Everyone wants him to win that world title. 'Every time he does well, everyone's so stoked. It's such a good thing for the country. 'We're rooting for him, this is a favourite for him and he's looking good going into the final five in Fiji at the end of the year.' The last time a South African won the World Title was Shaun Tomson in 1977, when the WSL was known as the International Professional Surfers Circuit Tour. Smith is a shoo-in to qualify for the WSL finals in Fiji, which he needs to win to be crowned world champion, despite so far being the most consistent surfer on the circuit. 'It would mean a lot,' Smith said on what it would mean to get over the line. 'It's been a long time since South Africans have won a world title. 'It would be a lot of hard work, not just for me, but there's so many family members and so many people that have supported me for so many years.' Smith has that support in abundance and in front of him in J-Bay for the next nine days as he looks to make the people — in a city he recently started calling home — proud. DM
