Hossegor - South African surfer Jordy Smith had his world title hopes dashed by an untimely fifth round defeat at the Quiksilver Pro France.
Smith has been on form the whole year and has been consistently making the quarter-finals or better, and has been the most talked about surfer in the quest for the 2013 world title.
The event was held in difficult beach break conditions, and despite scoring the highest wave score for a barrel ride aerial combination, Smith was defeated by young wonderkid Felipe Toledo from Brazil.
In a fairly aggressive heat, Toledo jostled Smith for a few waves that should have gone to the young Capetonian, but he lost in a few paddle battles and was edged out of the event.
Smith is currently sitting fourth on the world series, and with two events to go - the Rip Curl Pro Portugal and the Billabong Pipe Masters Hawaii - he has no mathematical way of getting to the top of the rankings by year end.
Smith has had an excellent year on the world tour, winning the X-Games Surf as well as winning the Billabong Pro Rio, and constantly placed near the top in all of the big events.
Australia's Mick Fanning defeated Brazil's Gabriel Medina 16.66 to 15 in the final.
Smith has been on form the whole year and has been consistently making the quarter-finals or better, and has been the most talked about surfer in the quest for the 2013 world title.
The event was held in difficult beach break conditions, and despite scoring the highest wave score for a barrel ride aerial combination, Smith was defeated by young wonderkid Felipe Toledo from Brazil.
In a fairly aggressive heat, Toledo jostled Smith for a few waves that should have gone to the young Capetonian, but he lost in a few paddle battles and was edged out of the event.
Smith is currently sitting fourth on the world series, and with two events to go - the Rip Curl Pro Portugal and the Billabong Pipe Masters Hawaii - he has no mathematical way of getting to the top of the rankings by year end.
Smith has had an excellent year on the world tour, winning the X-Games Surf as well as winning the Billabong Pro Rio, and constantly placed near the top in all of the big events.
Australia's Mick Fanning defeated Brazil's Gabriel Medina 16.66 to 15 in the final.