Jordy Smith downs Adriano de Souza to clinch Billabong Rio Pro victory – Surfing News
South African sensation, Jordy Smith, walked away a winner from Billabong Rio Pro after getting the better of Brazil’s Adriano de Souza in the final at Barra da Tijuca in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Sunday, May
19, 2013.
The win lifted him to the No. 2 spot on the 2013 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Championship Tour rankings.
“This win feels unbelievable,” Smith said. “It’s another dream come true. I knew I could win a World Tour event, but I had to prove to myself that I could do it away from South Africa. Thanks to crowd and Adriano
(de Souza). He’s been ripping the whole event. Thanks to all of my friends and family for all of the amazing support.”
Both Smith and De Souza had been in prime form throughout the course of the third of ten stops on the 2013 ASP World Championship Tour, asserting their domination over their opponents in heat after heat as they
progressed through the competition.
Neither of them had an easy outing during their quarter-final and semi-final heats, with the South African surfer having to go through Australia’s former-two ASP World Champion Mick Fanning, while the Brazilian
encountering America’s 11-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater in their semi-final and quarter-final heats respectively.
After surviving their heats against arguably two of the best surfers in the business, both Smith and De Souza had earned themselves a much-deserved shot at the Billabong Rio Pro title.
The two-to-four foot waves on offer at the primary event site created an ideal stage for an exciting finish to what had been a thrilling event.
As the final got underway, De Souza made his intent known almost immediately after getting hold of a solid wave to put his impressive skills on display and earning an 8.47 for the effort.
He went on to add another 7.87 points to his account, which took him to a two-wave total of 16.34 points, which appeared to be a real solid score under the circumstances.
Despite the pressure of competing in the final and staring at a heat-total of 16.34 points of his rival, the 25-year-old Smith rose to the occasion and stole the show with a couple of exquisite manoeuvres.
Locking his first business-wave, the South African surfer executed a massive front-side air to earn a 9.33 from the judges and then went on to back it up with a stail-fish air-reverse for an 8.50, consequently
moving ahead of his rival to a heat-total of 17.80 points.
The ASP top 34 will continue their campaign for the coveted World Title at Volcom Fiji Pro, which is scheduled to kick-off from June 2.
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