Jeffreys Bay – South African surfer Jordy Smith aims to strengthen his position at the top of the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour rankings as the prestigious global competition returns to local waters this month.
The WSL Championship Tour will head back to the iconic right-hand point break of Jeffreys Bay from July 11 to July 20 for the Corona Cero Open J-Bay.
The event makes its return to the calendar after a one-year absence due to a scheduling clash with the 2024 Olympics.
Smith, a Durban native, is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career, despite being one of the oldest surfers on tour at 37 years old.
Two event wins in the 2025 season have propelled him to the top of the rankings, placing him in contention for his maiden world title.
Following victories in El Salvador and Australia, “Big Bru,” as he is affectionately known, will head to J-Bay with the yellow leaders’ jersey firmly in his grasp.
Smith has been drawn in Heat 4, taking on US surfer Crosby Colapinto — whom he defeated in the semi-finals in Australia — and a yet-to-be-confirmed 24th seed.
“Coming home is the best part of my entire year,” says Smith.
“The fact that I get to be with my family in J-Bay during the event is really special. It’s my favourite event of the year. To come in wearing the yellow jersey is epic. It’s a testament to a lot of hard work and sacrifice this year, and we’ll just keep going for it!”
The town of Jeffreys Bay is expecting over 70,000 visitors during the nearly two-week period of the Corona Cero Open J-Bay and the J-Bay Surf Festival.
Despite the anticipated large crowds and a narrow lead at the top of the rankings, Smith feels that surfing at home alleviates the pressure.
“There’s not a lot of pressure when I come home because it feels like I am just surfing in front of my friends and family—people I’ve been around my whole life. So, very low pressure.”
J-Bay serves as the 10th stop on the WSL Championship Tour and is the only African event on the tour calendar.
It features the top 24 male and 12 female surfers, including Eastern Cape local Matthew McGillivray, who will face Smith’s championship rival Yago Dora and Connor O’Leary in Heat 3.
WSL Media Manager Bianca van Aardt expressed her excitement about the event.
“It’s so exciting to have the WSL Championship Tour back in J-Bay. The world’s best surfers are back at the world’s best right-hand point break, and this town really comes alive during this time. It’s the place to be this July.”
With the Championship Tour nearing its conclusion, the competition heats up as surfers aim for strong results at J-Bay.
The Corona Cero Open J-Bay is the penultimate stop of the season, with only the Lexus Tahiti Pro in August remaining before the top five rankings are locked in for the finals.
Securing a higher ranking heading into the finals is essential, as the top-ranked surfer advances directly to the title match. Conversely, lower-ranked surfers must battle their way through elimination heats.
The 2025 season will culminate in the WSL Finals — a one-day showdown at Cloudbreak, Fiji — where the top five male and female surfers will vie for the title of 2025 WSL Champion.
For more info, visit the J-Bay Surf Festival website: www.worldsurfleague.com.
For info about accommodation and other attractions, contact Jeffreys Bay Tourism via WhatsApp at 064 966 9933 or email info@jeffreysbaytourism.org.
