South African surfer Jordy Smith is in strong contention on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour as the Australian leg reaches its final stop in Western Australia.
Following a win in El Salvador and two narrow fifth-place finishes at Bells Beach and the Gold Coast, Smith remains a consistent force in the rankings. As the Margaret River Pro approaches, the 36-year-old South African sits third on the leaderboard, eyeing a spot in the coveted Final Five.
Building Momentum Down Under
Smith, known for his laid-back attitude and explosive surfing, has shown strong form throughout the season. His victory at the Surf City El Salvador Pro served as a statement of intent, reasserting his capacity to challenge for the world title.
At the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro, Smith carried that momentum into Burleigh Heads, one of Australia’s most iconic right-hand point breaks. Despite a solid campaign, he fell just short of the semifinals after losing a tight heat to Japan’s Kanoa Igarashi by only 0.5 points.
The loss echoed a similar result at Bells Beach, where Smith was eliminated by wildcard Morgan Cibilic in the quarterfinals—again by a razor-thin margin of 0.03 points. Yet the consistency of these high placements keeps Smith within striking distance of the top spots.
Familiar Ground at Margaret River
As the tour moves to Margaret River for the third and final Australian event, Smith is well-positioned. The long, powerful right-handers at Main Break align with his forehand strength and power-based style. Should the contest shift to The Box—a heavy, hollow reef break—Smith’s experience and commitment in critical waves make him a strong contender.
Smith finished fifth at Margaret River in 2024 and is familiar with the intricacies of the break. His goal now is clear: secure enough points to lock in a place in the WSL Final Five, which would qualify him for the world title showdown at Trestles in California later this year.
A Proven Track Record at Trestles
While many consider Trestles more favorable for smaller, lighter surfers such as Filipe Toledo, Smith has proven otherwise. He won there twice—defeating Joel Parkinson in 2016 and John John Florence in 2014—demonstrating that he can excel at the high-performance wave.
Currently ranked third, Smith faces pressure from a strong chasing pack that includes Igarashi, Ethan Ewing, and Toledo. But with a career spanning over a decade and multiple tour wins to his name, the Durban-born surfer remains focused and unfazed.
Bells Beach Recap: A Battle of Inches
Smith’s connection to Bells Beach runs deep. He claimed victory there in 2017 and has multiple podium finishes at the iconic break. In this year’s Rip Curl Pro, he entered the event as a favorite after his El Salvador win and continued to impress as the competition moved from Bells to nearby Winkipop.
After dispatching Hawaii’s Imaikalani deVault and Australia’s Joel Vaughn, Smith again met Cibilic in the quarterfinals. The two surfers delivered a fierce heat in challenging, onshore conditions.
In the final minutes, Smith required a 7.43 to advance and delivered a dynamic ride, stringing together powerful carves across the Bells Bowl. The crowd and Smith himself believed he had done enough. But the judges scored the wave a 7.40—missing the mark by just 0.03 points.
True to form, Smith accepted the result with professionalism and grace.
As the tour shifts west, Smith remains one of the most experienced and dangerous competitors on the Championship Tour. His ability to navigate high-stakes heats, adapt to diverse wave conditions, and deliver under pressure bodes well for his prospects at Margaret River and beyond.
A strong result in Western Australia could all but guarantee him a spot in the Final Five—keeping his world title hopes very much alive.