J-BAY TO TOLEDO BUT WILKINSON STILL LEADS
BYRON Bay’s Matt Wilkinson will hold on to the World Surf League tour lead after his main rivals failed to capitalise on his quarter-final wipeout at the J-Bay Open yesterday.
Defending world champion John John Florence had a chance to regain the tour leader’s yellow jersey if he had advanced to the semi-finals or further but was knocked out in the quarters by eventual runner-up Portugal’s Frederico Morais.
South Africa’s Jordy Smith also failed to make it past the quarters and will remain in third place on the competition ladder.
Filipe Toledo won the contest, capping an outstanding week in which he was almost untouchable on tour.
Despite J-Bay turning on pumping conditions, Toledo brought his aerial game and reeled off several perfect scores as he marched relentlessly towards the final.
He was just short of perfection again in the finals, posting a 9.17 on his second wave of the day to put pressure on Morais and then backed it up with an 8.83 to seal the win.
Morais was far from outclassed though, notching the highest score of the heat – a 9.40 – to fall just short of taking his first title.
Toledo shoots up the rankings to fifth place after his win to sit just behind Wilkinson, Florence, Smith and Owen Wright.
Surfers were forced to survive more than just the massive waves at J-Bay, with athletes taken from the water twice during the contest after sharks were spotted.
Those involved in the drama included Fanning and Julian Wilson, whose final was halted two years ago after Fanning was attacked by a great white shark.
Fanning was searching for a record fifth win at J-Bay but his quarter-final exit leaves him in 11th place and likely to need at least two title wins from the final five events if he is to be an unlikely contender for a fourth world title.
Wilkinson leads by just 250 points from Florence heading into the Billabong Pro at Teahupo’o in Tahiti next month.