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Jordy amped for surf season

Ballito - Surfing sensation Jordy Smith is ready to solidify his stature on the ASP World Tour during the next few weeks, as the South African leg of the ASP World Tour kicks in.

The tour legs starts at the Mr Price Pro Ballito from June 30 to July 6.

Smith was the runner-up last year, falling to Australian Julian Wilson in the last minute of their final, with the Australian executing a massive aerial loop for victory in Ballito.

Smith considers Ballito one of his favourite surf spots.

“When it’s on, it’s a world-class wave. You can get ‘Backdoor-like’ barrels then as it drops it becomes really high performance, especially with the wind blowing into the rights.”

The next event after the Mr Price Pro is the JBay Open, an event that Smith has won twice in the past, in 2010 and 2011, and he is using the Mr Price Pro as preparation for the ASP World Tour event in Jeffreys Bay.  

“I’m really looking forward to trying to bring the trophy back to South Africa,” said Smith. “I love nothing more than winning in front of the home crowd and winning in Ballito would be the ultimate preparation for J-Bay. I want to win three in a row!”

The JBay Open has a waiting period from July 10-21, and is a World Tour-rated event. Gabriel Medina from Brazil is the current top seed on the our, with Michel Bourez from Tahiti in second. Kelly Slater is in third and still within striking distance to regain the number one spot on the world tour, going into the second half of the year. Smith is 11th on the World Tour, but a win at Jeffreys Bay will catapult him into a possible Top 5 ranking.

Smith's surfing has been the best form ever, but he has not been able to string together a run of good results, to set him up for the world title run.

This event, the JBay Open, is the midway point of the year’s tour and the perfect opportunity for Smith to make a big move.

The JBay Open surfing contest forms the anchor event for the JBay Winterfest, a festival that includes the surf events, a music festival, the VW Rally, the JBay Open mountain biking event and many others.

There will also be the specialty Oakley X-Over event, a cross-over event that includes surfing, mountain biking and golf. Invited athletes include Ryan Sandes, Jordy Smith, Greg Minnaar, Ryan O'Connor, Butch James, Ruan De Smidt, Raynard Tissink, David Miller, Kevin Evans, John Smit, Garreth McLellan and Bob Skinstad.

Smith is the obvious favourite to win the surfing division, but Skinstad might be the best all rounder in this event.

 - The JBay Open will be broadcast live via web.

 - For more on the JBay Winterfest, CLICK HERE.
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