WATER SPORTS
Words: Craig Jarvis ǀ Photo: © ASP/Cestari & ASP/Kirstin ǀ Video: TeamONeill
AFTER A BLEAK START TO THE 2014 WORLD TOUR, JORDY SMITH HAS FOUND FORM AND PLACED FIFTH AT THE MARGARET RIVER PRO, HELD IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA ON THE WEEKEND. Prior to that Jordy surfed an unlucky
event at Snapper Rocks, the Quiksilver Pro, where he found himself in an early round heat and the waves stopped coming. Jordy needed one average wave to advance, but the break in the swell resulted in no waves coming through for the duration of his heat. A second round loss is a difficult way to start the year.
Jordy Smith
Photo credit: © ASP/Cestari
REGAINS FORM
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HIS PERFORMANCE AT MARGARET RIVER WAS TRUE TO FORM HOWEVER, UTILISING HIS POWERFUL FRAME IN THE THICK AND POWERFUL MARGARET RIVER WAVES. Jordy powered his way
through the earlier rounds looking like he was destined for a final's berth, showing the power and style that has seen him win so many events worldwide. When the event moved across the bay to The Box, the notorious Margaret River slab, Jordy excelled. "I had fun in Margaret River, and it was great to take the event over to The Box," said Smith about the event. "Western Australia is a great place to be and I feel quite comfortable here."
Jordy Smith REGAINS FORM
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Photo credit: © ASP/Cestari
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Photo credit: © ASP/Kirstin
Jordy Smith REGAINS FORM
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AFTER THIS EVENT, THE WORLD TOUR ROLLS INTO TORQUAY FOR THE RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH, ANOTHER EVENT THAT JORDY LOVES. HE HAS ALWAYS PLACED WELL AT BELLS BEACH AND LAST YEAR SAW HIM FINISH A VERY CLOSE THIRD. "The Torquay area reminds me a bit of Cape Town," said Jordy about the venue. "The weather’s similar, waves are similar, and the water isn’t that warm, so I’m also quite at home there."
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JORDY HAS CLIMBED BACK UP TO THIRTEENTH SPOT ON THE WORLD TOUR AND IS AIMING FOR A TOP-FIVE FINISH AT LEAST. LAST YEAR HE FINISHED IN FOURTH PLACE AND SPENT MOST OF THE YEAR IN THE TOP FIVE.
Jordy Smith REGAINS FORM
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After Bells Beach, the tour moves away from Australia and heads for Rio, the event that Jordy won last year, before heading all the way over to Fiji, home of Jordy’s most favourite waves in the world, in Restaurants. Then the tour does something we have all been hoping and waiting for, it returns to Jeffreys Bay for the J Bay Open World Tour event. For the first time since 2011, we will have a World Tour event in South Africa again and Jordy already has the rare honour of wining two events back-to-back at Supertubes in 2010 and 2011. He will be the favourite going into this event. • To watch the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach live webcast, visit www.aspworldtour.com
Photo credit: © ASP/Cestari
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