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Huntington Beach - Jordy Smith was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Vans US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach, California, defeated by young Australian Matt Banting.
Smith was on form and was looking good at the beginning of the heat, but the small surf and inconsistent conditions favoured the Australian.
Smith started with a big left-hand that ran across the beach, fitting in a few quick turns before the wave slowed down before the famous Huntington pier, and followed up with a quick right that allowed him two big turns on the open face. Banting followed with a few good waves of his own, and in the marginal conditions there was nothing in it.
At the final siren, Smith was sitting with 9.30 points while Banting had a winning 10.70 points out of a possible 20.
Smith's fifth-place elimination in the quarter-finals saw him win $7 000 (R68 449) and pick up 3 320 points. In the process he went to No 1 on the World Rankings, the qualifying series for the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Championship Tour.
Smith took over the No 1 spot from Julian Wilson the former US Open of Surfing champion, who was eliminated earlier on in the event.
Smith, who got engaged to his girlfriend Lyndall Jarvis earlier in the week, had been touted all week as the most on-point surfer at the event, and his elimination by Banting was a surprise to many.
Despite this, Smith is still on a quest for a world title and at this stage of the 2013 World Championship Tour, this is well within his reach.
Young South African surfer Bianca Buitendag, 19, from George was another very successful surfer at the US Open of Surfing, winning the Women’s Pro Junior final and pocketing $1 800 (R17 601) for her efforts.
“Winning this event means a lot to me,” said Buitendag on the beach after her win.
“There are so many people watching and so many people excited about women’s surfing.”
In addition, Buitendag got a fifth place in the Women’s main event, pocketing another $6 500 (R63 560), making her windfall a solid $8 300 (R81 162) for her contest winnings.
The Vans US Open of Surfing men’s event was won by Alejo Muniz (from Brazil) and the women's section was won by Carissa Moore from Hawaii.
Smith was on form and was looking good at the beginning of the heat, but the small surf and inconsistent conditions favoured the Australian.
Smith started with a big left-hand that ran across the beach, fitting in a few quick turns before the wave slowed down before the famous Huntington pier, and followed up with a quick right that allowed him two big turns on the open face. Banting followed with a few good waves of his own, and in the marginal conditions there was nothing in it.
At the final siren, Smith was sitting with 9.30 points while Banting had a winning 10.70 points out of a possible 20.
Smith's fifth-place elimination in the quarter-finals saw him win $7 000 (R68 449) and pick up 3 320 points. In the process he went to No 1 on the World Rankings, the qualifying series for the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Championship Tour.
Smith took over the No 1 spot from Julian Wilson the former US Open of Surfing champion, who was eliminated earlier on in the event.
Smith, who got engaged to his girlfriend Lyndall Jarvis earlier in the week, had been touted all week as the most on-point surfer at the event, and his elimination by Banting was a surprise to many.
Despite this, Smith is still on a quest for a world title and at this stage of the 2013 World Championship Tour, this is well within his reach.
Young South African surfer Bianca Buitendag, 19, from George was another very successful surfer at the US Open of Surfing, winning the Women’s Pro Junior final and pocketing $1 800 (R17 601) for her efforts.
“Winning this event means a lot to me,” said Buitendag on the beach after her win.
“There are so many people watching and so many people excited about women’s surfing.”
In addition, Buitendag got a fifth place in the Women’s main event, pocketing another $6 500 (R63 560), making her windfall a solid $8 300 (R81 162) for her contest winnings.
The Vans US Open of Surfing men’s event was won by Alejo Muniz (from Brazil) and the women's section was won by Carissa Moore from Hawaii.
