The next stop for the ASP World Tour is Ocean Beach, San Francisco for the Rip Curl Pro Search event. Jordy, currently placed 6th on the World Tour rankings, has no chance of scooping a crown in the 2011 race, but this very lack of pressure might be the impetus that will see him win another World Tour event this year. After missing the Hurley Pro Trestles and the Quiksilver Pro New York, two events that really would have suited Jordy, the young Mr Smith finds himself in a position where he can not catch up to the leaders of the world tour, and therefore the stress of the title race is gone.
Combined with this is the incredible confidence that Jordy has shown in Hawaii. Paddling out at maxed out Sunset with big sets closing out in the channel, taking off and pulling in at big Pipe, showing no fear on big drops when other surfers are nervously pulling back. It was Shaun Tomson who told us that, “to succeed as a professional surfer you need to be able to dominate in Hawaii. You need to throw yourself over the ledge at Pipe and you need to be able to take off on beasts at Sunset. Right now, Jordy is showing the ability to do both.” Those are big words from one of the best Hawaiian surfers ever.
Despite the fact that the season is drawing to a close and Kelly Slater is going to walk away with his 11th title, the surfing is far from over.
So with the World Title out of the way, what else could Jordy win this year? Well, apart from the Rip Curl Search title there’s still the Triple Crown. The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing comprises the Reef Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa, the Vans World Cup Of Surfing at Sunset Beach, and the Billabong Pipe Masters. Already mentioned that Jordy kills it at Sunset and Pipe, but he is also one of the best surfers in the water at Haleiwa. It sounds like a challenge, and Jordy loves a challenge. A win at the Triple Crown will kill the disappointment of his mid-year injury. Despite the fact that the season is drawing to a close and Kelly Slater is going to walk away with his 11th title, the surfing is far from over.
For the record:
Here is what will need to happen for Slater to be celebrating a World Title in San Francisco. If Slater finishes 9th or better at the Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco, he clinches his 11th ASP World Title. If Slater faces a very early exit, say a second or third round defeat, Owen Wright and Adriano de Souza would have to reach the Finals in order for the World Title race to head to the North Shore of Hawaii, home of the Billabong Pipe Masters. Joel Parkinson and Taj Burrow are still technically in the World Title race, although their path to a World Title involves having to win both remaining contests and Slater to be eliminated in the opening rounds of both events. Wright and de Souza could technically still be in the hunt if they just make the Finals and Slater is eliminated in the opening rounds, although both surfers would then need Slater to lose in the opening rounds at Pipeline and then win that contest outright.
The Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco will be webcast LIVE via http://www.live.ripcurl.com
.jpg "Surfing Safari with Jordy Smith")
.jpg "From their playground to his - SEARCH Projects surf with Jordy")
.jpg "From their playground to his - SEARCH Projects surf with Jordy")
.jpg "From their playground to his - SEARCH Projects surf with Jordy")
.jpg "From their playground to his - SEARCH Projects surf with Jordy")
.jpg "From their playground to his - SEARCH Projects surf with Jordy")
.jpg "From their playground to his - SEARCH Projects surf with Jordy")
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