SA surfer downs world stars

South African surfing star Jordy Smith produced one of his best performances to date when he ousted former nine-time world champion Kelly Slater and current world No3 Bede Durbidge in consecutive heats in an Australian competition on Thursday.

Jordy Smith blasts a fins-free turn off the top of a wave at Snapper Rocks on his way to the defeating Bede Durbidge of Australia and advancing to the semifinals of Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast on Thursday.

Facing American Slater in the fourth round of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast at Snapper Rocks in Queensland, Smith led throughout. He used his repertoire of radical fins-free manoeuvres, seemingly effortless floaters and deep tube rides to rack up 16.10 points out of 20.

He is the king of our sport so just being out there surfing in a heat with him, I said to my manager earlier, ‘I don’t even care if I lose,’” Smith said of his first man-on-man clash with Slater. “You don’t get many opportunities to surf against Kelly, and also I guess it’s another good birthday present for my Mom. It was her birthday yesterday, so just make it through a couple heats is pretty cool.”

Smith went on to defeat Australian Durbidge in their quarterfinal match-up, using a similar approach of smart tactics and committed surfing to overcome the Gold Coast local, who had posted the highest heat total of the event to date – 19.30 in the previous round.

Smith, still looking to make his first final at the top level of competitive surfing, takes on another rising star, Dane Reynolds (US), in the semifinals.

Times Live

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