Latest news with #Supertubes
The Herald
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald
Gabriela Bryan and Connor O'Leary win Corona Cero Open J-Bay
'I don't have any words,' said O'Leary. 'I'm just so happy with how I performed today. "[Richard] 'Dog' Marsh has been telling me that it's coming this year, but it's been hard to believe sometimes. All the stars aligned for this one, so I'm stoked. It felt good to have so many people cheering for me, and then to perform for them. 'I intended to do some of the best backhand surfing you've ever seen, and to compete with a fellow goofy in the Final, hopefully it inspires other goofy-foot surfers that they can compete against the best in perfect right-hand point breaks.' O'Leary took the win over Yago Dora (BRA) in an all-goofy-foot battle at Supertubes. O'Leary's flawless backhand attack saw him earn the event's only 10-point ride (out of a possible 10) to knock out three-time J-Bay winner Filipe Toledo (BRA) in an exhilarating semifinal to advance to his first final for 2025. O'Leary had a huge challenge ahead, with Dora seemingly unstoppable in J-Bay and his third final for the season. Locking into a classic leg burner, O'Leary scored an excellent 8.17 and 7.50 for a total of 15.67 (out of a possible 20) for the win. World No 2 Bryan earned her third CT win of the season and the fourth of her career in dramatic fashion, defeating world No 1 Molly Picklum (AUS) by the narrowest of margins. After an early exit at the VIVO Rio Pro, Bryan lost the Yellow Leader Jersey to Picklum and flew out to SA to reset and get in a few extra reps at Supertubes. 'I don't think it's sunk in yet,' said Bryan. 'I came here early, putting in a lot of time here, and it paid off. I'm so stoked. It's been a dream of mine to win here at J-Bay. It's an iconic wave and one of my favourites in the world. 'The Yellow Jersey comes with a lot of pressure, so I definitely had less pressure in that Final. I personally like chasing something that I want to go after. The only time I want to be wearing Yellow is the first event next year.' Bryan clinched her place in the WSL Final 5 and will compete for the World Title in the Lexus WSL Finals Fiji. — World Surf League
TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- General
- TimesLIVE
J-Bay hosts community lunch on Mandela Day to spark year of hope
While the world's top surfers took on Supertubes in the J-Bay Open, something equally powerful was stirring on land this Mandela Day: a mass gathering around shared tables, cooked with love and served with dignity. More than 1,500 residents of Jeffreys Bay and Pellsrus came together at Pellsrus Primary School for the first J-Bay Community Lunch, where a hot meal carried the weight of a much bigger dream: to feed 200 people every week for a year. Organised during the WSL J-Bay Open by The House of Mandela, the Faulkner Family Trust and a growing coalition of local churches, artists, surf leaders and residents, the lunch was a call to action and a grassroots tribute to Madiba's spirit of ubuntu: 'I am because we are.' Rooted in the philosophy of umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu — a person is a person through other people — the gathering emphasised that true strength lies in community. 'Food grown, cooked and shared by communities builds lasting bonds more than anything else,' said Kweku Mandela-Amuah, event director and grandson of Nelson Mandela.
The Herald
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald
SA's Jordy Smith eliminated by rookie in J-Bay
Rookie Frenchman Marco Mignot delivered a devastating blow, taking out world No 1 Jordy Smith in front of his home crowd and stripping him of the yellow leader jersey in the Corona Cero Open J-Bay on Sunday. The event continued on Sunday to complete the men's round of 16 with three-to-five foot lines rolling through at Supertubes. With a dissipating swell, conditions slowed down throughout the morning, and organisers decided not to run the women's quarterfinals on Sunday. The competition has been called off for Monday and Tuesday, and the next call will be made on Wednesday at 7.45am for a possible 8.03am start. On Sunday, Mignot stayed busy building a solid score, while Smith opted to wait for a bigger set wave, which never arrived. Smith left it too late, needing a near-excellent score in the dying minutes, and Mignot advanced to his second quarterfinal appearance on the Champions Tour (CT). 'If you take on No 1, and you beat him, it's a bigger reward,' Mignot said. 'I always want to surf against the best and push myself. These moments are special, to share them with Jordy, the king of J-Bay, but I'm super happy to take the win. 'Before coming here, I was watching clips of Jordy, because I think he's the best out here.' Drawing each other again but on a different continent, Americans Griffin Colapinto and Cole Houshmand got a rematch in Supertubes after facing each other in the final of the VIVO Rio Pro just over a week ago. Colapinto got to work quickly to build a score, and shut it down with a 7.50 (out of a possible 10) for his powerful turns and drawn-out carves on a big J-Bay wall. Coming under pressure from João Chianca (BRA) in the first heat of the round of 16, world No 2 Yago Dora (BRA) started on the back foot. A quick equipment change saw a shift in momentum as Dora knew he had to get a big score on the board. Relying on his aerial prowess, Dora raced down the line, launching himself into the golden light of the morning and navigating the landing for an excellent 9.00. 'I broke the tip of my fin, and that was my magic board,' Dora said. 'I didn't want to change boards, so I just caught a wave in to change the fin. 'There was a long lull, so I tried to stay patient and wait for an opportunity. It was a weird wave, so I knew I would have to go big again. 'The second best feeling in surfing is flying through the air and landing in the flats, it's so scary, so when you pull it off, it feels so good.' With Smith knocked out of the event, Dora has moved into the No 1 position, but Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) can still challenge him for the yellow leader jersey in J-Bay as both advanced to the quarterfinals. — World Surf League
The Herald
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald
Action-packed day sees first eliminations at Corona Cero Open J-Bay
The Corona Cero Open J-Bay continued with an exciting day of action with classic four-to-six-foot conditions at the world-renowned Supertubes on Saturday. Day two of the competition saw the event's first eliminations with the competition of the men's and women's opening and elimination rounds. As the penultimate stop of the Championship Tour's regular season, the event is a huge opportunity for surfers to make moves into the WSL Final 5 to have a chance to compete for the World Titles at Cloudbreak, Fiji. The next rounds of the event will heat up this race after seeing surfers now sitting in the Top 5 and surfers just below all through to the next round. The crowds lined the beach as World No 1 Jordy Smith (SA) and local wild card Luke Thompson (SA) paddled out for their matchup in the men's elimination round. It was fireworks from the start, with Thompson getting the better of Smith in the first exchange. Smith accepted the challenge and went full throttle on a long Supertubes runner to score an excellent 9.43 (out of a possible 10) with a couple of huge turns. Thompson found another gear to go excellent himself, but the 'Big Bru' did enough to get the win with a total of 16.43 (out of a possible 20). 'We both started out pretty good,' said Smith. 'I really just wanted to find a bomb and shut down the heat. Sure enough, I got that wave and rode it almost into my living room! It's incredible the support down here. That's what it's all about: to inspire SA and the next generation coming through. I told Luke that I'll see him here in 12 months, and I really hope his dream comes true.' Reigning World Champion Caity Simmers (US) survived the dreaded elimination round, coming up against local wild card Sarah Baum (SA). Coming off an early exit at the Vivo Rio Pro, Simmers has been tapping into the support from her family, who are travelling with her in SA. 'I kind of have a weird relationship with this wave,' said Simmers. 'I just tried to put that behind me and have fun surfing. My whole family is here, so it helps to switch off. I got to watch my brother win the US Surfing Championships back home, and now he's here with me. He's been surfing better than me out here, and he definitely pushes me to be better.' 2023 world champion Caroline Marks (US) continues her run of good results in J-Bay with another Quarterfinals appearance after she eliminated 2024 world junior champion Luana Silva (BRA) in Heat 2. A clutch performance from two-time World Champion Tyler Wright (AUS) saw her advance over rookie Erin Brooks (CAN) to round out the quarterfinals. Wright was trailing Brooks, when she found a medium-sized wave and surfed it down the point to get a 7.07 and edge out Brooks. World No 2 Yago Dora (BRA) put on a show at Supertubes in his opening round heat, showcasing his good read of the waves to connect big, flowing turns and finding a solid section to punt a huge frontside rotation, earning an excellent 9.33. Dora is nipping at the heels of Jordy Smith (SA) for the No 1 spot and will be a force to be reckoned with in J-Bay. 'I was kind of scared to hit the ramp, because the wave was solid and I had so much speed,' said Dora. 'I had the best feeling in surfing, just floating in the air and landing into the flats. You can really get creative on this wave, it's the perfect wave, but the lines are always changing a little bit, so it's still unpredictable and you have to adapt quickly.' Joining Dora in the Round of 16 are Brazil's Filipe Toledo, Italo Ferreira and Joao Chianca. Toledo won his opening round heat to go straight through to the Round of 16, while Ferreira and Chianca had to face the elimination round, overcoming Matthew McGillivray (SA) and Joel Vaughan (AUS), respectively. Current World No. 6 Griffin Colapinto (US), No. 7 Jack Robinson (AUS), and No. 8 Barron Mamiya (HAW) are also through to the next round and will be ones to watch in the Final 5 battle after their respective heat wins on Sunday. Colapinto and Mamiya fought through the Elimination Round to dispatch Alejo Muniz (BRA) and Seth Moniz (HAW), respectively, while Robinson got the early win in the Opening Round with a strong 14.83 two-wave total (out of a possible 20). SA's madman Matthew McGillivray (SA) dropped into Jeffreys Bay in style, skydiving from 7,500 feet in his wetsuit and rash vest, ready to paddle out for his opening round heat. McGillivray, a former CTer, is known for his extreme sports hobbies outside surfing, such as skydiving and base jumping. Unfortunately, Italo Ferreira (BRA) eliminated McGillivray from the competition in Heat 3 of the elimination round. — World Surf League
The South African
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The South African
Jeffreys Bay icon dies while surfing the waves that inspired his art
The Jeffreys Bay community is in mourning following the sudden passing of Stephen Bibb, a cherished local artist and surfer, who died on Friday morning while surfing – an act that encapsulated his deep bond with the ocean and the creative spirit it gave him. Stephen Bibb wasn't just a painter; he was a visual poet of the sea , a storyteller whose brush captured the soul of surf culture and the transformative power of water. His vibrant artworks – many depicting the iconic Supertubes – made him a household name in J-Bay and far beyond. Bibb lived only a few blocks from the shoreline, his studio forever infused with the scent of sea spray and the soundtrack of waves breaking. His daily surf sessions were sacred, shaping both his life and artistic vision. Works like 'Ocean Dreams' and 'Carpark Section JBay' became beloved local landmarks in paint – capturing moments of serenity and surf stoke with vivid, flowing energy. His art was born from personal darkness. Bibb often spoke of a period in his life marked by grief and depression. A life-altering moment occurred during a surf session when a pod of dolphins surrounded him. He described the experience as a 'ball of glowing white energy' rising within him – an awakening that catalysed his spiritual and artistic rebirth. From that moment forward, dolphins became a recurring symbol in his work – representing joy, healing, and connection. Bibb's style was unmistakable: glowing line-ups, barreling waves, retro kombis, and soulful ocean moments. His work, once sold in local surf shops and co-ops, gained international popularity through platforms like Displate, making his art accessible to a global audience. Mediums ranged from oils and acrylics to digital art and etched metal. Yet no matter the format, each piece carried his unmistakable reverence for the sea. Bibb wasn't just a painter – he was a mentor, a community supporter, and a quiet force of good. He donated art to anti-crime initiatives, worked with local schools and surf clubs, and inspired countless young artists who found courage in his story. Locals remember him as gentle, humble, and always smiling – especially when the swell was up. Bibb passed away doing what he loved most: surfing the waves that gave him life and voice. Though his death is a heartbreaking loss, many feel peace knowing he left this world embraced by the ocean that so deeply shaped him. He is survived by his family, friends, fellow surfers, and an international community of art lovers who saw the sea through his are underway for a community paddle-out ceremony and a memorial exhibition of his work in Jeffreys Bay. 'The sea has a spirit of its own. It teaches, it heals, and if you listen closely, it paints through you,' – Stephen Bibb. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
