Jordy Smith gunning for his first world title

THE name of the 2019 men’s world surfing champion will be announced at the Billabong Pipeline Masters between 8 and 20 December, and that name could be South African, Jordy Smith.

Brazilian Italo Ferreira currently leads the Jeep Rankings, but he’s closely followed by five strong opponents, including Red Bull surfer, Smith.

The Durbanite has finished second twice on the Championship Tour (CT) and within the top five, five times.

Smith, who won the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Championships in 2003 and was ISA World Champion in 2006, has had a very consistent year, making two finals (Oi Rio Pro and MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal) and finished third, three times.

In 2019, aged 31, Smith came back leaner and more determined than anyone has seen him in the past decade. He has also been spending a lot more time in Hawaii, getting in tune with the infamously dangerous wave that is pipeline.

Alongside Smith and Ferreira, the other contenders include defending world and Pipe Master’s Champion Gabriel Medina, Filipe Toledo, and Kolohe Andino.

After 10 WSL events over the past seven months, these five surfers are separated by a mere 6 000 points. It could turn out to be one of the tightest world title races in the professional history of the sport.

There are various scenarios at play. In broad sweeps, Jordy needs to make the final and hope Ferreira doesn’t.