Jordy top of WSL standings

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 (HAW) on the final day before losing out to eventual winner, Julian Wilson (AUS) in their semifinal encounter.

 

“I am still learning a lot and I wish I had figured it out earlier in the event,” Smith said. “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. This is a new year and I just want to bring something new, something fresh, and keep trying my hardest.”

 

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 (AUS) who defeated Gabriel Medina (BRA) in the final held in 1.5 to 2 metre waves at the fabled break of Teahupo’o to clinch his third CT victory and best result in Tahiti. The victory moves Wilson up from 8th to 5th place on the Jeep Leaderboard heading into Trestles.

 

“It has been a few years,” said Wilson. “It is so special to win. I am ecstatic and I have nothing left in me. I am just so happy and relieved to finally win an event again. It took so many good waves to win this event and I was lucky enough to get those. I was already enjoying myself on tour and even more so now. I cannot wait for the rest of the year.”

 

The exciting final saw an all-out battle between Medina and Wilson. The Brazilian took the lead with an incredible 17.87 combined score including a near-perfect 9.20 and an excellent 8.67. Wilson was stuck in a combination situation and needed two new scores with time running out but he fought back with a critical 8.10 and an outstanding 9.23. Still trailing by 1.09 points, Wilson found his way out of a deep tube to earn a near-perfect 9.73 for the win in the dying minutes of the clash.

 

The runner-up finish for Medina is his best result this season. The 2014 WSL Champion and event winner has struggled to excel past the Semifinals in 2017, but his final appearance today proves that Medina is back in the game heading into the second-half of the season. The Brazilian superstar improved two places to 7th on the Jeep Leaderboard.

 

“I am stoked to make another final against Julian (Wilson),” said Medina. “He has been surfing really well the whole event and I think it is a little harder on your backhand, so good job to him. I am stoked. It feels good to be back in the game and now I am thinking about Trestles.”

 

The next stop on the 2017 World Surf League Championship Tour will be the Hurley Pro and Swatch Women’s Pro which run from September 6 through 17, 2017, at Lower Trestles in San Clemente, California.

 

Highlights from the Billabong Pro Tahiti can be found at WorldSurfLeague.com.

 

Billabong Pro Tahiti Final Results:

1 - Julian Wilson (AUS) 18.96

2 - Gabriel Medina (BRA) 17.87

 

Billabong Pro Tahiti Semifinal Results:

SF 1:Gabriel Medina (BRA) 15.16 def. Kolohe Andino (USA) 13.90

SF 2: Julian Wilson (AUS) 14.26 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 7.33

 

2017 WSL Men’s Jeep Leaderboard (After Billabong Pro Tahiti):

1 - Jordy Smith (ZAF) 37,850 pts

2 - John John Florence (HAW) 36,900 pts

3 - Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 35,950 pts

4 - Owen Wright (AUS) 35,350 pts

5 - Julian Wilson (AUS) 33,200 pts