- 2017-07-16
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SPORTS
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World Surf League: Corona Open J-Bay Kicks Off in South Africa
The sixth stop on WSL Championship, Corona Open J-Bay kicked off at Jeffreys Bay in Eastern Cape, South Africa on July 15.
The event ran Round 1 in excellent conditions at Supertubes.
Jeremy Flores (FRA) received 9.17 points with super tube ride in Heat 4 and Conner Coffin (USA) defeated local hero Jordy Smith (ZAF) with super tube riding of 9.37 in Heat 5.
Reigning WSL Champion John John Florence (HAW) performed two amazing tube ride with 9.70 and 9.67 in Heat 6 and advanced to Round 3.
11-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) and 2014's World Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA), both surfers showed incredible tube riding, gain 9.10 and 9.93 points, respectively.
John John Florence said;
“The waves are firing right now, this is the best J-Bay I’ve surfed during the contest. Being out there by yourself you can position yourself exactly where you want to take off and then you have this big open canvas in front of you, it’s crazy. My board is called the Ghost, I rode a 6’2 at Margaret River, and a 6’0 here and since we’ve started working on this board I haven’t found a wave where it doesn't work. It just gives you so much confidence throughout the practice surfs when you’re not trading off boards.”
Gabriel Medina said;
“I’ve been watching a lot of heats this morning so I really wanted to get the first big wave. I had so much fun surfing here today and I’m stoked to win that heat. It’s really fun to surf out here today. I tried to make sure I found the big waves. It’s really hard on your backhand when it’s fast, so you have to choose the right waves but you never know what J-Bay is going to do.”
Conner Coffin said;
“That was just so fun. We have so much swell coming and this morning was just pumping. Perfect conditions and just three people out - that’s the stuff I dream of. I think I’ve surfed that wave in my head so many times before. When it popped up I was just so excited so I just had to stay calm and the wave was incredible. I’ve been here for a while and there’s been waves every day so it’s been a good opportunity to surf out here. Jordy (Smith) is just my favorite surfer and I really look up to him so I knew it would be a tough battle out here and I would have to surf my best.”
Kelly Slater said;
“This place is so beautiful - brisk weather, great waves, long walls and a lot of speed on the waves. It’s such a fantastic place. This is surprising, I didn’t think we’d be surfing today but now we’ve got four or five really good days ahead and we’ll have a great contest. Before the heat I said that if I got a good wave I would claim it, so I did.”
Jeremy Flores said;
“That wave was so beautiful. When I was paddling I felt a bit of pressure because that was the best wave I’ve had an opportunity to be on for the past ten days so I knew I shouldn’t blow it. I don’t usually claim but I couldn’t help it - there’s so much energy in the crowd here. It’s hard to keep composed and really relaxed when conditions are so good. You need to really pace your flow and your speed out here because the rides are so long. This is what we’re on this tour for - to surf waves like this - and when we get them it changes everything!”
Corona Open J-Bay Round 1 Results:
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 14.32, Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 13.60, Miguel Pupo (BRA) 10.33
Heat 2: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 13.84, Owen Wright (AUS) 11.16, Josh Kerr (AUS) 9.00
Heat 3: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.83, Frederico Morais (PRT) 13.73, Jadson Andre (BRA) 12.57
Heat 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 17.00, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 12.27, Ethan Ewing (AUS) 9.93
Heat 5: Conner Coffin (USA) 17.04, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.76, Michael February (ZAF) 12.40
Heat 6: John John Florence (HAW) 19.37, Dale Staples (ZAF) 16.03, Ian Gouveia (BRA) 13.07
Heat 7: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 15.27, Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA), Kolohe Andino (USA) 7.83
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) 16.27, Julian Wilson (AUS) 15.84, Kanoa Igarashi (USA) 8.77
Heat 9: Jack Freestone (AUS) 16.00, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 13.66, Connor O’Leary (AUS) 11.00
Heat 10: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 18.83, Stuart Kennedy (AUS) 14.77, Caio Ibelli (BRA) 9.17
Heat 11: Mick Fanning (AUS) 17.23, Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 9.83, Joan Duru (FRA) 6.17
Heat 12: Michel Bourez (PYF) 16.67, Filipe Toledo (BRA) 15.17, Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 10.60
All photos copyright by World Surf League.- source : World Surf League
