The J-Bay Open, Stop No. 6 on the 2016 Samsung Galaxy World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), commenced on Wednesday and the world’s best surfers took to the water for a full day of exciting action at Jeffreys Bay.
Competition ran through Round 1 and the opening four heats of Round 2 as the WSL Top 34 battled for a place in Round 3 in 1.0 – 1.5 metre (3 – 5 foot) waves groomed by a strong offshore wind.
Competion has resumed in more good surf on Thursday.
All eyes were on three-time WSL Champion Mick Fanning (AUS) who surfed in the opening heat of the day -- his first heat at Jeffreys Bay since the dramatic J-Bay Open Final last year where he encountered a three to four metre Great White shark on live television. Despite suffering an ankle injury during a free-surf session last week, Fanning looked confident and claimed a solid victory over Alejo Muniz (BRA) and Conner Coffin (USA), finding one of the longest rides of the day, for a 7.50 to secure his win
“It’s been a big week actually,” said Fanning. “I got here early but then hurt my ankle so had to sit on the sidelines and watch the amazing waves go through. The medical staff have worked wonders and I’ve got it taped up. I feel good when I’m up and riding and each day my ankle gets better and better. It’s great to get back out there.”
Jordy Smith (ZAF) looked fired up for his first heat at Jeffreys Bay. The two-time event winner and lone South African on the men’s CT pulled together an impressive combination of manoeuvres to deliver two excellent scores - an 8.10 and 8.33. Despite a near-perfect 9.27 from opponent Wiggolly Dantas (BRA), Smith took the win, sending Dantas and Adam Melling (AUS) to Round 2.
“You really have to surf out of your skin at J-Bay to get good scores,” said Smith. “It was a great heat and there were lot of opportunities. Last year I didn’t really get the opportunity to surf my best so it feels good to be back. It’s incredible to be home and have the crowd behind me. Every time you do a big turn you hear the crowd erupt and it feels great -- it’s good to be home.”
Jeffreys Bay local Steven Sawyer (ZAF), the only other South African in the J-Bay Open thanks to the wildcard he was awarded for winning the JBU Supertrial at Supertubes in June, was relegated to third spot in his opening heat against Jeep rankings leader Matt Wilkinson and fellow Australian Davey Cathels.
With Cathels taking the heat win, Sawyer and Wilkinson met again in the Heat 1 of Round 2 and Sawyer had the opportunity to cause a major upset when he only needed a average score, but fell early in his final ride.
“It’s definitely a setback being ill but it wouldn’t have changed the end result I don’t think,” Sawyer said. “I was falling and doing silly things out there. I was just waiting for that bomb but was uncomfortable on the waves I got. It’s bit of a bummer because I know I could have done it, but I’ll have to come back next year.”
The South African finished the event in equal 25th place and Wilkinson will advance on to Round 3. Wilkinson’s victory will see him retain the Jeep yellow jersey heading into the next event on the CT, the Billabong Pro Tahiti.
“That was a super tricky heat,” said Wilkinson. “I’m lucky I can keep this jersey. I was so excited out there but I kept falling, so luckily I got through it.”
Julian Wilson (AUS), who was in the final with Fanning last year, looked untouchable in the penultimate heat of Round 1 and delivered the day’s biggest scores. Wilson showed skilful wave selection and earned two excellent nine-point rides for a combination of barrels and carves. His near-perfect 18.77 heat total sees him move directly to Round 3, while his opponents Nat Young (USA) and Jack Freestone (USA) will surf again in elimination Round 2 when competition resumes.
“It’s so nice out there today, there’s plenty of swell for the opening day and it’s incredible to be back,” said Wilson. “It’s one of the best heats I’ve had all year and the conditions are really nice. I’m just enjoying the waves here and it feels good to have a strong heat.”
Another of the day’s top performances came from replacement surfer Sebastian Zietz (HAW). A huge opening score (a 9.17) from Zietz gave him an early lead over Stuart Kennedy (AUS) and Michel Bourez (PYF) in the final heat of Round 1. The Hawaiian quickly found an excellent back-up score for an impressive combination of attacking carves and left his opponents searching for opportunities.
“I am excited to be here in J-Bay and make it out of that heat,” said Zietz. “My boards were feeling good and after Fiji I got down here early to get my feet in the wax. I’m stoked to advance to Round 3 and looking forward to catching more waves.”
Current World No. 2 Gabriel Medina (BRA) was on top form, winning his Round 1 heat with a 17.27 heat total. Medina kept busy throughout the 35 minute bout and dominated from start to finish with a combination of powerful turns and high-risk manoeuvres earning the 2014 WSL Champion an excellent 9.10. Dusty Payne (HAW) and Alex Ribeiro (BRA) were both left in a combination situation and sent to Round 2.
“I like J-Bay. It is a tricky wave, but at the same time it is good,” Medina said. “I found a good board and tried to go for the set waves. I am feeling good. After Fiji I have not been surfing and that was my second surf, so it feels good to surf well and make the heat.”
11-time WSL Champion Kelly Slater (USA) defeated Filipe Toledo (BRA) and Matt Banting (AUS) in Round 1 Heat 7 and will advance to Round 3.
“Jeffreys Bay is so special because there aren’t many point-breaks that barrel like here,” said Slater. “It was weird because I had a feeling I would get the wave to win the heat. I was just trying to find anything to give me a score.”
John John Florence (HAW) recovered from his Round 1 loss by storming to victory in Round 2 Heat 2 against Alex Ribeiro (BRA). The Hawaiian rode just two waves and built a 17.27 heat total to advance to Round 3.
“The first time I came to J-Bay I think I was 12 or 13-years old,” Florence said. “I’ve been coming here every year since. This is one of my favourite places in the world. Going into Round 2 is always pretty stressful, but I am stoked because the waves are firing right now. It is a little less windy than it was this morning and it is fun to get some nice, open-faced waves.”
Toledo stormed through his Round 2 heat, taking to the air and netting an impressive 16.54 heat total to eliminate Kai Otton (AUS) from the competition.
“I’ve really been working a lot and trying to improve at places like J-Bay,” said Toledo. “I’m super excited to be here and surfing in perfect waves like this. Surfers like me love to do airs and crazy manoeuvres but I know if I want to be a world champ I have to improve my other types of surfing like barrels.”
Reigning WSL Champion Adriano de Souza (BRA) also won through Round 1 to secure his place in Round 3. De Souza defeated Otton and Josh Kerr (AUS) in Heat 4.
“Before the event started, I saw the forecast and I’ve surfed this wave so much over the past ten days,” De Souza said. “I’ve been learning a lot here and know I need to apply what I’ve been doing in the last few weeks. I am happy to move on. It was a tricky heat against Kai and Josh, as they both have an amazing history here at J-Bay.”
Surfline, official forecaster for the World Surf League, are calling for:
Medium size SW swell mix trends down Thursday and into Friday morning as wind eases significantly. A potentially larger SW swell could move in for the weekend of the 9th-10th, although wind conditions do look more problematic with at least some periods of onshore flow. At this point the early to middle part of next week looks pretty slow, with some fun to possibly mid size SW swell around the last three days of the waiting period.
The J-Bay Open has a competitive window from July 6 - 17, 2016 and will be webcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com as well as the WSL app.
Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow at 6:30am local time for a possible 7am start.
J-Bay Open Round 1 Results:
Heat 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) 13.67, Alejo Muniz (BRA) 10.80, Conner Coffin (USA) 9.97
Heat 2: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 13.33, Miguel Pupo (BRA) 12.06, Ryan Callinan (AUS) 8.43
Heat 3: Kanoa Igarashi (USA) 15.64, John John Florence (HAW) 13.24, Keanu Asing (HAW) 12.60
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 14.76, Kai Otton (AUS) 10.80, Josh Kerr (AUS) 7.00
Heat 5: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 17.27, Dusty Payne (HAW) 12.77, Alex Ribeiro (BRA) 12.27
Heat 6: Davey Cathels (AUS) 11.33, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 10.33, Steven Sawyer (ZAF) 7.43
Heat 7: Kelly Slater (USA) 12.26, Filipe Toledo (BRA) 12.00, Matt Banting (AUS) 9.43
Heat 8: Kolohe Andino (USA) 14.16, Jadson Andre (BRA) 12.66, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 12.50
Heat 9: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 16.43, Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 15.10, Adam Melling (AUS) 9.40
Heat 10: Caio Ibelli (BRA) 15.26, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.60, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 12.90
Heat 11: Julian Wilson (AUS) 18.77, Jack Freestone (AUS) 10.17, Nat Young (USA) 7.50
Heat 12: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 17.90, Michel Bourez (PYF) 9.90, Stuart Kennedy (AUS) 9.74
J-Bay Open Round 2 Results:
Heat 1: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 8.47 def. Steven Sawyer (ZAF) 7.93
Heat 2: John John Florence (HAW) 17.27 def. Alex Ribeiro (BRA) 11.77
Heat 3: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 16.54 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 14.34
Heat 4: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 10.50 def. Keanu Asing (HAW) 3.87
J-Bay Open Round 2 Upcoming Match-Ups:
Heat 5: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Ryan Callinan (AUS)
Heat 6: Nat Young (USA) vs. Alejo Muniz (BRA)
Heat 7: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Matt Banting (AUS)
Heat 8: Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA)
Heat 9: Conner Coffin (USA) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 10: Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Heat 11: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Jack Freestone (AUS)
Heat 12: Dusty Payne (HAW) vs. Stuart Kennedy (AUS)