Jordy ankle injury 'just a strain'

Jordy Smith needs no introduction. He carries Saffa world title hopes on his broad shoulders. Looking at the way points accumulated in the last eight events, Jordy is the only person with a chance of usurping King Kelly from his 10th crown.

However, according to reports, it looks like he will be okay, despite initial fears that he was out of the ASP title race.

“Jordy rolled his ankle last night at a charity event in Santa Cruz,” Garth Tarlow, O’Neill’s Director of Sports Marketing, said. “He’s withdrawn from the O’Neill Cold Water Classic to prevent further injury to his ankle. The injury is not a bad one, and the official diagnosis is a minor ankle sprain. We just want to be sure that he’s 100% healed for Puerto Rico.”

Jordy's tweet caused a flurry of reactions. With the Puerto Rico Rip Curl Search Event coming up - the 9th out of 10 stops on the ASP world tour - an injury would pretty much assure Kelly Slater an unprecedented 10th world title.

Based on some figures released by the ASP, if Jordy gets anything under a 5th in the next event,  Kelly will claim the title on the spot. If Kelly gets a 5th or 9th, Jordy would need to win the event to take the title race to Hawaii.

Parko, who has missed out on several events due to a nasty heel cut before the J-Bay event, said: "Did Kelly just win his 10th world title? Cause jordy just had a bad injury."

Somebody else tweeted: "Hahaaa Jordy Smith hurt couldn't compete today cause of a hardcore dodgeball injury #coldwaterclassic LOL! Sounds fake but true!"

Fantasy surfer: "Jordy possibly out for Rip Curl Search event. Legit injury, or reverse Slater Jedi mind trick?"

Occy81 (Not the real Occy) : "as much as I want 2 see kelly slater take out his 10th world title, I hope it isn't just because of jordy's injury. I want it 2 go 2 hawaii."