Jordy Goes Forth

LESS IS MOORE: Carissa cruises to the top of the WSL CT World Ranking. Photo WSL / Meirs

World Title points were collected in Newcastle for the first time in almost three decades after the spot was awarded the second stop of a Covid-affected year on the World Surf League Championship Tour.

Jordy bowed out after defeat by American Conner Coffin in the Round of 16. Reigning four-time WSL Champion Moore marked her 24th CT win - tying former world champ Wendy Botha for the most CT Moore will be remembered for her game-changing air reversewins - against plucky CT rookie Isabella Nichols, who had earlier vanquished her Aussie compatriot Stephanie Gilmore.

Moore will be remembered for her game-changing air reverse in the Quarterfinals and her event topping 17.74 heat total in the Semifinals. Although a slower heat, Moore dominated the Final in fun 3-5ft waves and dedicated her win to her family, "in particular, to my grandma,” Moore said: “She passed away just before we came to Australia, so this one is for her. This just feels amazing to be standing number one at the end of this event. I really didn’t expect it. It was a really fun final with Isabella (Nichols). I want to congratulate her on such an awesome result in her rookie season. I’m looking forward to the next event, and hopefully, keep some momentum.”

NEARLY NICHOLS: Isabella Nichols stormed into her groove in her rookie year. Photo WSL / Cestari

Looking unstoppable in the first of four CT events in Australia leg, Moore now wears the yellow Leader Jersey heading into the Narrabeen event, which starts in six days. Although Nichols struggled to find a rhythm in the Final her performances all through the event were admirable and finishing second in a CT event in only her second appearance is a massive statement and a shot over the bow of the rest of the Championship Tour competitors. Nichols heads to the Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic sitting at World No. 3 on the rankings.

“This is crazy, I really didn’t expect to make it this far,” said Nichols. “Every heat I made was a bonus We were out there having a chat and a laugh so it was really funand to have a heat against not only Steph (Gilmore) but Carissa (Moore), my two idols, has been so surreal. This is the best job ever. I felt like I didn’t get a decent opportunity, which was a bummer, but only so many things can go your way. Carissa definitely outsmarted me tactically and it was really cool to see how she went about that heat. We were out there having a chat and a laugh so it was really fun. I’m looking forward to the next three events now.”

Reigning WSL Champion Italo Ferreira (BRA) now moves up the men’s rankings to World No. 1 after beating two-time WSL Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA) in a heated Final. After losing to Medina at the Billabong Pipe Masters, Ferreira got one back on his compatriot to claim the event win: “Wow what an event. I love to surf heats with Gabriel (Medina). He is a machine and he pushes me so much, so it’s always fun to compete against him. I know I’m number one now but that doesn’t matter, as long as I have a spot for the Rip Curl WSL Finals at Trestles, then I have a shot at another Title.”

CROWDS AGAIN: Fans teem the beach to celebrate Italo's win over Gabby. Photo WSL / Cestari

En route to his Final, Ferreira took down Brazilians Filipe Toledo in the Semifinals and Deivid Silva in the Quarterfinals. This victory marks the 26-year old’s seventh CT win. Medina, who has historically struggled with his Australian leg campaign, is now one to watch in the next three events with an extended lead over current World No. 3 John John Florence (HAW). Heading into a predominantly left-hand beach break, Medina will again be in conditions that will showcase his surfing capabilities and will no doubt display the type of aerial antics that earned him a near-perfect 9.70 in the Semifinal against Morgan Cibilic (AUS).

In the closest heat of the event, local hero Ryan Callinan (AUS) fell out of the draw during the second Quarterfinal to Morgan Cibilic (AUS). The competitors tied with 10.37 two-wave totals (out of a possible 20), but the tie-breaker went to Cibilic with the highest single-wave score, a 5.70. It was a bittersweet result for the Merewether locals as it meant one of their favorites was out of the event. Eventually, Cibilic went down to Medina and another major WSL event was run in Newcastle without a local winner.

Next Stop: Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic Pres. by Corona

The next stop on the 2021 WSL CT will be the Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic pres. by Corona. The event waiting period will open on April 16 and run through April 26. All the action will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app.

WOUNDED GULLS: Mark Richards was there to present two signature boards. Photo WSL / Cestari

Women’s Final:
1: Carissa Moore (HAW) 15.73
2: Isabella Nichols (AUS) 8.34

Women’s Semifinals:
HEAT 1: Isabella Nichols (AUS) 13.20 DEF. Keely Andrew (AUS) 12.13
HEAT 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) 17.74 DEF. Caroline Marks (USA) 10.17

Men’s Final:
1: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 14.94
2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 13.27

Men’s Semifinal:
HEAT 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 15.77 DEF. Morgan Cibilic (AUS) 14.07
HEAT 2: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 16.10 DEF. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 11.57

Men’s Quarterfinals:
HEAT 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 10.27 DEF. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 10.07
HEAT 2: Morgan Cibilic (AUS) 10.37 DEF. Ryan Callinan (AUS) 10.37
HEAT 3: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 12.67 DEF. Deivid Silva (BRA) 12.40
HEAT 4: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 13.83 DEF. Conner Coffin (USA) 13.0

2021 WSL Women’s CT Leaderboard Top 5:
1: Carissa Moore (HAW) 17,800 pts
2: Tyler Wright (AUS) 12,610 pts
3: Isabella Nichols (AUS) 10,410 pts
4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 9,490 pts
5: Caroline Marks (USA) 8,695 pts
5: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 8,695 pts
5: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 8,695 pts

2021 WSL Men’s CT Leaderboard Top 5:
1: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 16,085 pts
2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 15,600 pts
3: John John Florence (HAW) 11,330 pts
4: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 8,065 pts
4: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 8,065 pts
4: Ryan Callinan (AUS) 8,065 pts

{gallery}SLIDESHOW/2021/april/finals-day{/gallery}