A bittersweet 2017 for Jordy
Bells win, J-Bay joy but no world title
RINGING the famous bell at the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach in Australia and posting a perfect 20-point heat score at the Corona Open J-Bay were, by Jordy Smith’s own account, highlights of his rollercoaster of a year in 2017.
His lowest point? Not winning the world title after being locked into a tight and intense 10-month world title race. He couldn’t hide his disappointment after his loss to 11 time world champion Kelly Slater in the Billabong Pipeline Masters, the final event of the 2017 season.
Losing in round three to the greatest surfer of all time immediately ruled him out of world title contention and Smith reluctantly settled for fourth place in the world rankings.
Despite the disappointment, Smith still counts the experience gained from the 2017 world title race as invaluable as he prepares for another shot at the world title, now just weeks away.
“I always learn,” said Smith after a free surf in uMhlanga last week when asked about his epic four-way duel last year with reigning world champion John John Florence, Gabriel Medina and Julian Wilson.
“I never lose, I only run out of time. And then learn from it.
“With the ocean being so unpredictable you really have to take it as it comes. Unfortunately there are some things that are out of our control. At the same time it was a great year.
“I won Bells and posted a perfect 20 points at J-Bay. Those goals meant a lot to me, so looking back on the year I wouldn’t change any of it and it puts me right where I’m supposed to be now. Everything happens for a reason.”
As Smith celebrates his 30th birthday tomorrow one would have expected him to have already notched up at least two or three world titles by now given his meteoric rise through the world junior ranks and the World Qualifying Series.
Since stepping up to the big leagues in 2008 Smith has twice finished a season ranked second in the world, in 2010 and 2016.
If there’s ever been stumbling blocks in his quest to be the best, it’s the results in events with big backhand barrels, like Pipe and Teahupoo, that have been a source of frustration for him.
Turning the weak points on tour into a position of strength is something that Smith is working hard on and as soon as he turns those results around it’s going to be a game changer for a surfer who rules right hand point breaks like no one else.
Last year he notched up one of his better results at Teahupoo and the progress made in that space is clearly evident.
“It’s something that I am working on, but it doesn’t happen overnight,” agreed Smith when questioned about his performances at Pipe and Teahupoo.
“It’s a process. I feel I am pretty good but it’s just that we compete against the very best in the world so it’s a lot harder than just getting a couple of good waves. It takes time.”
Apart from fine tuning his backhand barrel riding techniques, Smith is committed to upping his game on all fronts.
“When you wake up every morning and do things to make you an all round better human being, then you’re doing the right thing.
“It’s pretty easy. To ask yourself those questions and be brutally honest with yourself.”
While winning a world title is high up on Smith’s priority list, another goal he’s focused on is the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo where surfing has been included in the Summer Games for the first time.
“I would love to go to the Olympics; to be the first South African surfer to represent our country would be an honour for me and I’m working towards that.”
Smith’s bid for the 2018 world title begins on March 11 at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast where he previously placed runner-up to the now retired Australian Taj Burrow.