The eight remaining Round 3 heats of the J-Bay Open were contested in small surf at Supertubes today – Tuesday, 14 July. Tempers flared, some upsets were witnessed, and a Round 4 match-up featuring three world champions has been set up after a tense day of competition.

Gabriel Medina top-scored in Round 3.

The day started with the onshore wind already threatening to blow the apparently dying swell out. But as the sun came out the wind died, the swell continued to pulse (barely) and the action was darn good considering. The first two heats of the day were contested in slightly bumpy and testing conditions, with Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) getting the better of last year’s finalist Joel Parkinson (AUS) in the first heat of the day, before Adriano De Souza (BRA) ended Dane Reynolds’ (USA) run in the event in the following match-up.

Conditions improved quickly in the next heat (Heat 7 of Round 3), while reigning champ Mick Fanning (AUS) took on CJ Hobgood (USA). Mick started with a stutter when he fell on his first ride, but quickly backed it up with an 8.67 to put CJ on the ropes. The Floridian tried to answer back but the wave ran away from him and didn’t allow him the chance, while Mick picked up a good score on his next wave to take control of the heat by putting CJ in a combination situation. The 2001 World Champ grabbed a 7.83 halfway through the heat to dig himself out of combo land, but ultimately couldn’t match the reigning champ by the final horn and was eliminated.

Reigning champ, Mick Fanning is looking good for back-to-back titles.

An all-goofyfoot battle followed that with last year’s standout screwfoot at J-Bay, Matt Wilkinson (AUS), taking on reigning world champ Gabriel Medina (BRA). The first ten minutes was a tit for tat battle with each surfer scoring an excellent 9-plus ride, but Gabriel kept his foot on the gas while Wilko tapped-off. By the end of the heat, Gabriel had four 9-plus rides in the bag for a solid 19.07 heat total – the day’s highest.

Kelly Slater (USA) then took on compatriot Kolohe Andino in Heat 9, and Kolohe tried to take the early initiative by grabbing the first two waves in the heat. He fell on the first and the second didn’t allow anything, while the wave behind it offered enough for Kelly to score a 7.33 to claim the early lead. Kelly kept control of the heat until the end, which frustrated Kolohe enough to punch his board in anger after the final hooter. He then disappeared into the dunes to inflict more damage on his equipment away from the lenses of the webcast cameramen.

On his way to victory in Heat 9 of Round 3, Kelly Slater took to the air.

Josh Kerr (AUS) made a vital priority mistake early on in his heat against Keanu Asing (HAW), which ultimately cost him in the inconsistent surf. Bede Durbidge (AUS) and Michel Bourez (PYF) then matched each other’s heat scores in the following heat to both finish on 15.67 totals. Due to his 9.50 last wave score, Michel got the nod and advanced after a count back.

Filipe Toledo and fellow Brazilian Alejo Muniz contested the last heat of Round 3 before competition came to an end for the day. Filipe started strong with an 8.33 shortly after the buzzer, but Alejo Muniz, fresh off a win at the Ballito Pro presented by Billabong, answered back with an 8.03 of his own. This pattern repeated itself halfway through the match-up, with Filipe striking first to score an 8.90, but Alejo answered back even stronger with a 9.80 to take the win.

With just 15 heats remaining in the event it’s possible to complete the J-Bay Open in one full day. And with five days still remaining in the waiting period, contest organisers will be looking for the best possible conditions to get competition underway again. Looking ahead at the forecast there’s a possibility that some heats may be surfed on Thursday, but it’s likely we’ll be going the distance on this one with another decent swell showing up on the weekend.

Go to www.worldsurfleague.com for all the heat reviews, results and highlights from Round 3 of the J-Bay Open.

J-Bay Open Round 3 Results:
Heat 5: Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 15.13 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.40
Heat 6: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.17 def. Dane Reynolds (USA) 11.90
Heat 7: Mick Fanning (AUS) 17.50 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 13.83
Heat 8: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 19.07 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 16.07
Heat 9: Kelly Slater (USA) 14.16 def. Kolohe Andino (USA) 12.27
Heat 10: Keanu Asing (HAW) 14.83 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 12.33
Heat 11: Michel Bourez (PYF) 15.67 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 15.67 (Bourez won on count back to the best single ride)
Heat 12: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 17.83 def. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 17.23

J-Bay Open Round 4 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Adrian Buchan (AUS), Kai Otton (AUS), Julian Wilson (AUS)
Heat 2: Nat Young (USA), Wiggolly Dantas (BRA), Adriano de Souza (BRA)
Heat 3: Mick Fanning (AUS), Gabriel Medina (BRA), Kelly Slater (USA)
Heat 4: Keanu Asing (HAW), Michel Bourez (PYF), Alejo Muniz (BRA)

Check out the official press release below.

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WORLD CHAMPIONS SET UP ALL-STAR MATCH-UP AT J-BAY OPEN
Medina Flies, Fanning Carves and Slater Powers into Round 4 Clash of the Champions

Reigning WSL Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA) displays his exceptional aerial prowess as he soars above the lip of the wave on his way to Round 4 in the J-Bay Open at Supertubes in Jeffreys Bay today (Tuesday).

JEFFREYS BAY, South Africa (Tuesday, July 14, 2015) – Competition resumed at the J-Bay Open today as organisers completed the remaining eight heats in Round 3 at the sixth stop on the 2015 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) in small but fun waves at Supertubes in Jeffreys Bay.

Reigning World Champion Gabriel Medina was the standout performer of the day producing an outstanding display of aerial prowess in his duel with Matt Wilkinson (AUS). The 21-year-old Brazilian took to the air above the waves with his patented aerial prowess to rack up three near-perfect scores of over nine points out of a possible 10, the best two of which netted a heat tally of 19.07 out of 20, the highest of the event to date.

“That was a pretty fun heat,” said Medina. “I got a lot of waves. The year has been pretty tough for me and it feels good to make this Round 3. Now it’s a no-loser round so it’s more relaxed. You can choose your waves and do your thing. I just want to keep going and keep the ball rolling.”

Defending event winner and former three-time world champion Mick Fanning (AUS) was another who reveled in the conditions, generating exceptional speed to carve deep rail turns that earned a pair of scores in the excellent range (over 8.00 out 10) and leaving opponent CJ Hobgood (USA) needing a near-perfect score when the heat ended.

“I knew I had to put it all together and I got a couple of 8’s which settled the nerves a little,” said Fanning. “But still, C.J. (Hobgood), he’s a World Champion, he’s a hero of mine and he never gives up. That’s what I love about him. I still had to keep my head on the whole way through.”

11-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) is the most successful surfer at Jeffreys Bay with four CT wins and used his experience and wave knowledge to deliver smooth, powerful surfing that was too much for Kolohe Andino (USA) match.

“J-Bay is one of those waves you grow up wishing you could surf,” said Slater. “I just have great memories here and it’s a really fun place. This morning was tough, that first heat with Parko (Joel Parkinson) and Wiggolly (Dantas), I would have been scared to be in that heat. The conditions are alright now, there’s just few waves but the swell is dying.”

By all progressing to Round 4, Medina, Fanning and Slater have set up an all-star match-up when competition resumes with the trio owning 15 World Titles and seven J-Bay Open wins between them.

Jeep ratings leader Adriano de Souza (BRA) took on wildcard Dane Reynolds (USA) and both surfers kept busy through the heat but De Souza netted a heat high 7.00 and left the former World No. 4 searching for a 6.21. The J-Bay Open marks the third CT appearance of the year for Reynolds and he was eliminated in 13th place while De Souza moved through to Round 4.

“Every day is different and you have to prepare yourself for any kind of conditions,” De Souza said. “I wanted to compete yesterday in amazing conditions but I surfed early this morning just to try it out. I realized the sets were slow and I would have to try to put pressure on him (Reynolds), so that’s what I did and it worked. I hope I walk away with a good result, that’s what I’m looking for here.”

The other four heats completed today all produced upsets as Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) overcame former two-time event winner and 2012 World Champion, Joel Parkinson (AUS); Hawaiian rookie Keanu Asing ousted World No. 8 Josh Kerr (AUS); Michel Bourez (PYF) returned from injury to eliminate Bede Durbidge (AUS) and injury replacement Alejo Muniz, winner of the Ballito Pro QS 10,000 last week, rode the best wave of the day to earn a 9.80 and sideline current world No. 2 and fellow Brazilian Filipe Toledo.

Organisers will reconvene on Wednesday morning to make the call on when to recommence competition.

The J-Bay Open is webcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com.

The world’s best surfing is also be broadcast LIVE on Fox Sports in Australia, MCS Extreme in France, EDGE Sports in China, South Korea, Malaysia and other territories and on Globo TV in Brazil.

The J-Bay Open is the showcase event at the J-Bay Winterfest, a multi-sport and music festival in Jeffreys Bay from July 8 – 19. More details at www.jbaywinterfest.com.

J-Bay Open Round 3 Results:
Heat 5: Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 15.13 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.40
Heat 6: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.17 def. Dane Reynolds (USA) 11.90
Heat 7: Mick Fanning (AUS) 17.50 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 13.83
Heat 8: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 19.07 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 16.07
Heat 9: Kelly Slater (USA) 14.16 def. Kolohe Andino (USA) 12.27
Heat 10: Keanu Asing (HAW) 14.83 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 12.33
Heat 11: Michel Bourez (PYF) 15.67 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 15.67 (Bourez won on count back to the best single ride)
Heat 12: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 17.83 def. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 17.23

J-Bay Open Round 4 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Adrian Buchan (AUS), Kai Otton (AUS), Julian Wilson (AUS)
Heat 2: Nat Young (USA), Wiggolly Dantas (BRA), Adriano de Souza (BRA)
Heat 3: Mick Fanning (AUS), Gabriel Medina (BRA), Kelly Slater (USA)
Heat 4: Keanu Asing (HAW), Michel Bourez (PYF), Alejo Muniz (BRA)