Confidence and patience brings Round 1 victory to Jordy Smith at Volcom Fiji Pro
South Africa’s Jordy Smith got off to an ideal start at the Volcom Fiji Pro, the fourth of ten stops on the 2012 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Tour, after claiming top honours in the opening heat of Round 1 at the main venue of Cloudbreak
in Tavarua, Fiji, on Sunday, June 3.
The comprehensive victory over Hawaii’s Fredrick Patacchia and America’s Brett Simpson carried Smith into the third round, consequently relegating his two rivals to Round 2.
The expectations from the latest elite tour event were high as the ASP Top 34 got ready to continue their campaign for the coveted ASP World Title. The surfing conditions on hand during the opening day of the competition turned out to be perfect, with high-performance
six-to-eight foot waves gracing the event site.
The action kicked-off at Cloudbreak with a three-man battle between Smith, Patacchia and Simpson for the Round 3 spot.
Smith, current No.7 on the ASP World Title rankings, got off to an ordinary start, scoring a 4.67 off his first business-wave. However, he did well to hold on to his confidence and continued to search for a more potent scoring opportunity to capitalise on.
Dropping into a deep back-hand barrel, the South African powerhouse earned a 9.00 from the judges to move to a heat-total of 13.67 points. The score kept him well ahead of his rivals until the end to earn him a convincing victory.
“It was pretty hard out there at first and I’m stoked that I caught two quick ones,” Smith said. “On that one 9, it just opened up real perfect. I lucked into it on the way back out when the boys got stuck inside and it just held open and I came out and
got a couple of turns in. I’m pumped, it’s my first time back to Cloudbreak since my rookie year and I couldn’t have had a better start. It felt fun out there and the waves are just pumping.”
The 30-year-old Patacchia did not get off to the sort of start that he was hoping for. An early 1.17 on the score-board, followed by a much-more promising 6.50-point ride got him to a heat-total of 7.67 points. The dismissal effort forced him to settle for
second place.
Simpson only managed to score one wave during the course of the battle and that too failed to bring him much joy as he only managed to score a 3.67 off it. Finishing in third place, he accompanied Patacchia into the second round to surf again for the Round
3 spot.
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