South African surfer Jordy Smith has claimed the top spot on the World Surf League (WSL) table after winning the Margaret River Pro in Australia and already has eyes on adding to his wins when the WSL returns to Jeffreys Bay in July, Cape {town} Etc reports.
The victory in Australia is the second of the season for the Durban-born Smith, who claimed his first in 2025 at the Surf City El Salvador Pro in April. Smith is also currently the oldest on the WSL Championship Tour, but that hasn’t stopped him from being in the hunt for his first world championship title.
Smith, who is already looking forward to competing on home ground in July, says, ‘I feel great! I’ve still got to go to a few more events before J-Bay and perform there, but will hopefully be heading back to South Africa in the top 5. I’ve got a lot of confidence and want to perform my best in front of my family and friends in J-Bay and make South Africa proud.’
The next three stops of the Championship Tour have all previously been happy hunting grounds for Smith. First up is Trestles, California, where he won in 2014 and 2016, followed by Rio de Janeiro, which he won in 2013. The tour will then make its only stop in Africa, with the Corona Cero Open J-Bay from 11–20 July, where Smith has won on two previous occasions.
WSL’s Africa Media Manager Bianca van Aardt says, ‘It is phenomenal to have Jordy Smith as the world number one right now, following a second win of the season. It is so good to see the South African back on top and in the conversation for a world title, going into the next three events where he has won before. It’s going to be really exciting to see him at Supertubes in J-Bay, a wave where he really is the best and the man to beat.’
Smith will face fierce competition in J-Bay, which returns to the Championship Tour calendar after a break in 2024 due to a scheduling clash with the Olympics. Hot on his heels are several former world champions, all eyeing a win at the iconic right-hand point break. Among them is 2019 champion Italo Ferreira, currently sitting second in the rankings with one victory to his name this season at the Surf Abu Dhabi Pro earlier this year.
Waves won’t be the only thing pumping in J-Bay this winter, though, with the J-Bay Surf Festival set to deliver nearly two weeks of world-class music, food, and family-friendly fun.
Once the surfing is done for the day, the action will get going for the party animals. The ParkOFF Music Festival this year features electrifying performances by top local and international artists, including:
- Zakes Bantwini (Grammy-winning Afro-house maestro);
- Dino Moran (African house and techno pioneer);
- Dean Fuel and Niskerone (crowd-favourite electronic DJs);
- Plus Italy’s Tribal Need and other top local acts.
But it’s not only about the action on the water. Sports enthusiasts and adventure junkies alike are sure to love the other activities on offer:
- Mountain biking and trail running races for all levels (10–60 km routes for MTB, 5–10 km for trail runs);
- A high-stakes Jiu Jitsu tournament featuring the biggest prize pool in SA history;
- The popular J-Bay Skins Fishing Competition with prizes and bragging rights up for grabs.
This year’s event conveniently spans two weekends of the school holidays, making it easier than ever for families and festivalgoers to make the trip. With up to 70 000 visitors expected, locking in your travel plans now is key.
‘We’re expecting the biggest crowd yet,’ says organiser Ari Kraak. ‘The energy, the entertainment, it’s all dialled up this year. If you’re after a beach holiday with top class entertainment, then Jeffreys Bay is where you need to be. The ParkOFF Music Festival will see the likes of Zakes Bantwini and Italy’s Tribal Need amongst other top local acts, keeping everyone dancing late into the night.’
To stay up to date on the tickets, make sure you follow the Park Off Music Festival on Instagram. Updates on the event line-up for the J-Bay Surf Festival can be found on the Surf Festival’s Instagram.
Jeffreys Bay Tourism is excited to welcome visitors to the town and can be contacted for any accommodation enquiries or for more information about the area. They can be reached on WhatsApp via: 064 966 9933 or on email: [email protected].
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Picture: Supplied
