Gabriela Bryan (HAW) and Connor O’Leary (JPN) won the Corona Cero Open J-Bay, Stop No. 10 on the World Surf League (WSL) 2025 Championship Tour (CT) on July 18.
It was all-time Supertubes conditions, with solid four-to-six-foot surf in offshore wind, with the world’s best putting on a high-performance show in front of thousands of surf fans lining the beach.
Molly Picklum (AUS) and Yago Dora (BRA) finished runners-up after producing some of the top performances throughout the week.
Reflecting on the success of the event, Kouga Local Municipality Executive Mayor Hattingh Bornman said, “It is with immense pride and enthusiasm that I reflect on the success of the 2025 edition of the World Surf League Corona Cero J-Bay Open.”
He said that welcoming some of the world’s finest surfers, visitors, and supporters to the breathtaking shores of Jeffreys Bay has once again reinforced their reputation as a “premier surfing and tourism destination”.
Bornman said that more than just a sporting spectacle, the JBay event was a powerful platform to showcase Kouga’s world-class hospitality, vibrant community spirit, and unwavering commitment to promoting tourism on both local and international stages. He further said that the event not only entertained the larger surfing community, but also gave a significant boost to the local economy and job creation during the winter months.
“Kouga continues to position itself as a top destination for both leisure and business travel, with offerings that rival the best in the world. We remain focused on growing our tourism sector and expanding opportunities for our residents,” said Bornman.
He further congratulated all the winners of this year’s Corona Cero Open J-Bay, saying their incredible performances inspired all in attendance.
“I want to thank the WSL and the amazing local organisers of the event for their incredible hard work to set up what was our largest and best-attended event ever. We look forward to building on this success and welcoming the world back to Jeffreys Bay in 2026 for another unforgettable event,” said Bornman.
The next stop on the 2025 CT will be the Lexus Tahiti Pro, the final regular-season event before the one-day, winner-take-all Lexus WSL Finals in Cloudbreak, Fiji.
Only the Top 5 men and Top 5 women on the world rankings will compete in the event.
Following the finals on July 18 at Jeffreys Bay, there are now four men’s spots and two women’s spots remaining.
The seeding and final positions will all come down to the world-renowned Teahupo’o from August 7 through to August 16.
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