Surf dog bites as Hawaiian bags second title at Margs
Melissa Woods |
With Margaret River Pro record-holder Carissa Moore in her corner, Gabriela Bryan has followed in the footsteps of her fellow Hawaiian by winning successive titles in the west.
Aged 37, Jordy Smith then set himself up to become the oldest men’s world champion since Kelly Slater achieved the feat as a 39-year-old in 2011.
Five-time world champ Moore won three times at Margaret River, including consecutively in 2013-2014 and in 2023 before her retirement.
Bryan became the second woman to claim two titles there in the Championship Tour era by defending her 2024 crown with a commanding win in the final over Caitlin Simmers on Tuesday.
The victory kept the yellow rankings leader jersey out of the hands of the Californian teenager.
However it wasn’t enough to stop Australian Isabella Nichols taking out the Aussie Treble – awarded to the best surfer over the three-stop Australian swing, including Bells and Burleigh Heads.
Smith joked he now could trade in his 1992 Volkswagen Jetta after winning a new car for topping the men’s tally with victory in the final against American Griffin Colapinto.
Bryan revealed before her decider that Moore, who became a mother earlier this year, had texted her almost daily with words of encouragement and advice.
They resonated with the 23-year-old, earning a massive score of 9.50 for her first wave of the final, which was her best score since making her CT debut in 2019.
Simmers also opened with a strong 7.17 but Bryan was able to top that, giving her a winning total of 17.33 to 12.84.
It’s Bryan’s second title of the year after also winning in El Salvador, where coincidentally Smith also triumphed.
“I just kind of went out there like, ‘I’ve got to surf my heart out’, and that’s what I did on that (9.50) wave and then I was lucky enough to get a back-up before it went flat so I’m so stoked,” Bryan said.
“It’s incredible (to go back-to-back) … it’s a really cool accomplishment and to have ‘Riss (Moore) also do it, she’s one of my really good friends and she’s always giving me words of wisdom and I appreciate it so much.”
Earlier Bryan eliminated local hope Bronte Macaulay in the semis, with the veteran coming out of retirement to take a wildcard for the event.
While the women revelled in some swell, the waves sadly went flat for the men’s final.
Competing in his 15th year on tour Smith, the self-described “absolute surf dog”, latched on to an early wave which proved the decider.
He picked up a score of 8.50, which he backed up with a 3.50, while Colapinto only managed one wave for the final, posting a 4.83.
The South African will now wear the yellow leader’s jersey, which he took from Italo Ferreira, at the next tour stop at Lower Trestles in California.
He’s previously won there, plus at upcoming venues – Rio and J-Bay – so is well positioned to claim his first world title after finishing runner-up in 2010 and 2016.
Smith dedicated the win to legendary surf film-maker Jack McCoy, who died during the competition, aged 76.
“I’m so stoked,” said father of two Smith.
“This is for my family and for Jack McCoy, he’s someone that’s inspired me throughout my whole life with all his his movies, his videos.
“This is for his family, I’m sending all my love.”
AAP
