SOUTH Africa’s Jordy Smith moved to the top of the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) rankings after posting a career-best third place finish in the Billabong Pro Tahiti on Sunday.
The 28-year-old Durbanite, who started the event ranked No. 3, recorded hard-fought victories over Conner Coffin (USA) and reigning WSL Champion John John Florence (Hawaii) on the final day before losing out to eventual winner, Julian Wilson (Australia) in their semifinal encounter.
“I am still learning a lot and I wish I had figured it out earlier in the event. I am stoked to be in the top spot. Obviously, it is a long way to go, but it is sick to be in the front there,” Smith said.
Smith will be eager to keep his lead over the world’s best surfers and improve his World Title campaign at the next event, the Hurley Pro at Trestles, which is close to his adopted home town of San Clemente in California and where he is also the defending event winner,
The Billabong Pro Tahiti was won by Julian Wilson (Australia) who defeated Gabriel Medina (Brazil) in the final held in 1.5 to two metre waves at the fabled break of Teahupo’o to clinch his third CT victory and best result in Tahiti.
The next stop on the 2017 World Surf League Championship Tour will be the Hurley Pro and Swatch Women’s Pro which run from 6 to 17 September at Lower Trestles in San Clemente, California.
