WATER SPORTS
Words: Craig Jarvis ǀ Photos: Various ǀ Video: Courtesy of Billabong
Jordy at the last event he competed in, the Rip Curl Pro Portugal. Photo credit: © ASP/Cestari
Jordy Smith finishes 4th on World Tour rankings
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Kelly Slater at the Pipe. Photo credit: © ASP/Kirstin
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An incredible day of surfing in giant waves at Banzai Pipeline in Hawaii on Saturday, 14 December 2013 saw Australian surfer Mick Fanning win his third world title. Jordy Smith, who was absent from the event due to an injury, still finished 4th on the world rankings.
In massive and perfect conditions, Mick Fanning did what was needed to win the crown by advancing through to the semi-finals of the most prestigious event on the World Tour. The Billabong Pipeline Masters is held annually in one of the most treacherous and famous waves in the world and in this case was the showdown for the 2013 world title.
With Mick holding onto his world title crown, he let the foot off the gas just enough for Kelly Slater to edge into the final of the event and win it in style against Hawaiian surfer John John Florence. Slater was disappointed with his second place finish on the World Tour, but the Billabong Pipe Masters win was good consolation. To dispel any rumour-mongers, Slater openly stated that he would be returning to the World Tour for 2014, gunning for his 12th world title at the age of 42. The young Hawaiian surfer John John Florence was victorious in the Vans World Cup of Surfing, a series that takes place over three events in Hawaii. While Jordy was out of the mix for the exciting season finale, he has been working hard at fixing his injury and is preparing for a big year in 2014. “Obviously it’s been a bit frustrating not being in Hawaii,” said Jordy of his absence on the North Shore of Oahu. “I feel I had a positive year and was in the hunt for the world title for most of the year. My injury kind of put paid to it all, but I still feel good about my year.”
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Jordy is confident that he will be ready when the tour starts again in February in Australia, and is set to once again pursue his goal of a world title. “I like the waves of Snapper Rocks in Australia and I always do quite well there. This year I’m hoping for a better result than last year,” said Jordy. “In the meantime I am training and getting ready for the year ahead.” A 4th on the world tour without surfing the last event is an incredible result for a South African, and Jordy’s previous best result was a runner-up position in 2010.
The last time a South African won the Men's world title was Shaun Tomson in 1977. Martin Potter from
Durban was representing Australia when he won the world title in 1989. •
For more on the ASP World Tour and the 2013 year-end ratings, go to www.aspworldtour.com
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Jordy in action in Portugal. Photo credit: © ASP/Kirstin
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