J-Bay is special for a number of reasons. For starters, J-Bay is the real deal. This isn’t a Central American compromise or a WSL sales pitch on the next best right-hand point-break. After a 3-year hiatus, the prestigious cobblestone-coated right-hander is back on the Cream Tour, and the timing couldn’t have been any better.
After a few (too many) lackluster events with mediocre waves, the Dream Tour seemed more like a running joke than a league of the World’s best surfers. Outdone by its B-roll competition, the Challenger Series, on numerous occasions this year, the WSL needed a venue to pick up the slack. J-Bay has entered the chat.
Even Kelly showed up, ditching the Kandui kingdom for African wildlife after bailing on the Bitcoin Cup and the backwash ramps in Rio. It shows that Slater isn’t just the GOAT but also a human Surfline. If it pumps, he’ll be there. If not, he won’t. Cancel your subscription now. You’re welcome!
Much is at stake in South Africa. With only two more events to go, Final Five implications are in full swing. Toledo on the men’s side and Carissa on the women’s side have already clinched their spot in Sunny California, but after that, it’s really anyone’s game, which adds to the entertainment.
And an entertaining first day of competition it was! The ladies kicked off a full day in the office with the Queen of Point-breaks in the water first thing in the morning. Unfortunately, Steph Gilmore couldn’t find anything past a couple of throwaways, slipping into Elimination Round at an event that (should) suit her to a T. But this wasn’t the only upset of the day. I promise!
None of the Aussies made their first Round Heats. Issy Nichols came just short in a pretty scrappy Heat against Caroline Marks and Jo Defay, while Tyler underwhelmed against Tati Weston-Webb and Lakey P.
Heat Two of the women’s was money, though. World Number 1, Carissa Moore, and CT Rook of the Year Gabriela Bryan pushed each other into Heat of the Event contention.
Carissa opened up the affair with a 6.33, only for Gaby to drop a 6.67 a few minutes after. This went on for a while, both ladies going blow for blow until Riz put a stop to it with one turn that banked her the first excellent score of the event.
On the men’s side, local knowledge paid off(kinda). Matty McG took out the first Heat of Round One with a pair of solid scores sending Grif and Jaddy into Sudden Death. One other ZA boy that impressed despite finding himself in Round 2 was Luke Thompson. The 18-year-old ISA junior Bronze medalist impressed with a pair of 7s and a steezy no-claim claim concealed in a casual paddle-in. Where were you hiding, bru?!
Perhaps the biggest headscratcher of Round One was Filipe’s loss against Nat Young. Natty came through clutch with one of the highest combined heat scores of the day, sending the current World number 1 to the Elimination Round.
On the other side of the draw, Jack Rob, Ethan Ewing and Connor O’Leary made their early Round Heats, keeping their Final Five reservations open. Robbo has all but qualified for the Super Bowl, dropping excellent scores like it’s the easiest thing in da world!
Speaking of Super Bowl. The second woman in Jo Defay has qualified for the Final Five, taking out Ultimate Surfer Tia Blanco, who in her 3rd CT event still can’t get over the Sudden Death hump.
Steph Gilmore found her “Schnappa” mojo cruising past Courtney Conlogue with a pair of high 7s. At the same time, Tyler Wright got the better of Lakey P by virtually surfing two waves.
And just like that, Day 1 is a wrap!
Check out our World Shapers Cup leaderboards & WSC squads here.
Women’s side of things
Round 1
Heat 1
Brisa Hennessy – 10.33
Steph Gilmore – 9.03
Courtney Conlogue – 9.03
Heat 2
Carissa Moore – 14.50
Gabriela Bryan – 14.17|
Tia Blanco – 7.24
Heat 3
Caroline Marks – 14.66
Jo Defay – 12.17
Isabella Nichols -11.67
Heat 4
Tati Weston-Webb 13.33
Lakey Peterson- 12.97
Tyler Wright- 10.13
Elimination Round
Heat 1
Johanne Defay – 13.10
Tia Blanco – 6.64
Heat 2
Steph Gilmore -14.87
Courtney Conlogue – 10.34
Heat 3
Tyler Wright – 11.84
Lakey P – 5.50
Heat 4
Gabriela Bryan – 10.94
Isabella Nichols – 10.83
Men’s side of things
Round 1
Heat 1
Matty McGillivray -15.33
Griffin Colapinto – 14.84
Jadson Andre – 9.83
Heat 2
Yago Dora 13.84
Italo Ferreira 13.10
Jordy Smith 10.50
Heat 3
Jack Robinson – 15.17
Luke Thompson – 14.77
Kolohe Andino – 6.64
Heat 4
Nat Young – 14.50
Filipe Toledo – 10.40
Joshe Faulkner – 7.13
Heat 5
Ethan Ewing – 14.34
Barron Mamiya – 12.50
Jackson Baker – 6.30
Heat 6
Kanoa Igarashi – 11.54
Caio Ibelli – 9.93
Seth Moniz – 9.10
Heat 7
Samy Pupo – 12.57
Callum Robson – 9.77
Jake Marshall – 9.43
Heat 8
Connor O’Leary – 14.33
Miggy Pupo – 13.56
Kelly Slater – 9.07
