A day of firsts!
Gabriel Medina, wherever he is, woke up right before the last frame of the Corona Cero Open J-Bay stunned. “An all-goofy final? Mind blown! Release the Epstein Files!” he commented, or some variation thereof. Surf fans, wherever they are, equally shocked. Jeffreys Bay, South Africa, is, of course, is one of the world’s greatest rights and so to have two screwlegs fighting for the elephant tusk “historicitacity,” to quote the great Jesse Mendes.
Yago Dora, current World Surf League number one, mowed through Leo Fioravanti in the quarters, Grif Colapinto in the semis to meet Connor O’Leary, thirteen heading into the finals, who made it past Ethan Ewing in quarters, Filipe Toledo, in semis.
Conditions very fine. Clean.
Gabby Bryan took down Molly Picklum, on the women’s side, after the Australian completely blew it by not paddling on a last second bomb. World number two upsetting world number one heading into Teahupo’o.
Then time for Dora versus O’Leary.
Dora getting the action started with a leg-burning cooker, head high, tagging the lip over and over again. Up and vertical, not too tight. He was rewarded with a crisp 7.00.
Joe Turpel took time to fat shame O’Leary, while Dora was paddling back out, discussing how his boards need to have much more volume to support the “bigger frame.”
The World Surf League, then, refused to show his opener which was, apparently, a 3.33.
Dora swung back again, showcasing flair but then O’Leary-time. Turpel warning the wave to “look out” for the girth.
The sumo wrestler was lauded with an 8.17.
Back and forth the two left-footers went, trading waves, trading leads until the end, Dora never mounting a true challenge.
To be honest, the day felt like it belonged to O’Leary and, thus, he is rewarded with his first Championship Tour victory.
Omedetō
