CATCHING UP WITH JORDY SMITH
Nearly a decade after our 2015 interview with South African powerhouse Jordy Smith, the surf world is still watching him charge with style and strength.
Fresh off a massive win at the Surf City El Salvador Pro—where he and Hawai‘i’s Gabriela Bryan claimed the Final—Jordy reminds us why he remains a dominant force on the WSL Championship Tour. We caught up with him to talk about the win, his mindset, and how his journey has evolved since we last connected.
(Missed that first convo? Check it out here for a flashback to classic Jordy.)
Jordy Smith secured his seventh championship tour victory and first in eightyears as he overcame Matthew McGillivray in a historic all-South Africanfinal at the the Surf City El Salvador Pro.
Smith advanced through the men’s draw in impressive fashion, excellingas the waves improved in the final days of the competition. The 37-year-oldovercame American Cole Houshmand by a score of 15.67 to 10.00 in thesemi-finals to book a final against fellow South African Matthew McGillivray.
The first exhcanges came just moments after the horn sounded and Smithwasted no time showcasing his powerful form to post a 7.33 (out of apossible 10) over McGillivray, who fell on his opening maneuver.
Smith backed up his strong start and held a commanding lead headinginto the back half of the final. McGillivray was able to respond and get inthe heat with a 5.00, but as time dwindled, Smith found another PuntaRoca wall that allowed him to showcase more of his powerful style and posta 6.93 to take the win.
Victory in the fourth event of the 2025 World Surf League season hasmoved Smith to fifth in the rankings, a position he’ll be hoping to maintainor improve on to ensure a place in finals day in Fiji.
Smith, whose remarkable career spans 18 years among the world’s beston the CT, said:
“I think just for South Africa in general, this means a lot. Ican’t believe it, to be honest. If I could dedicate this to two people, my wifeand my father. I wanted to ride my father’s board in this final and win on it,and to do it is incredible. I just kept telling myself you can do it, you’regoing to do it. It’s just so hard to take it all, it’s been so long. I’m just happyto do it with another fellow South African. I can’t say enough good words about Matthew. He’s a long-time friend and to share a final with him is really special.”
Over in the women’s event, American Gabriela Bryan secured back-to-back Surf City El Salvador finals appearances and the second CT victory of her career. The 2022 Rookie of the Year eliminated reigning World Champion Caity Simmers in the semi-finals to book a place in the final against Isabella Nichols of Australia.
Bryan said: “That was such an insane rollercoaster final. I made some mistakes, but I was just thinking, ‘please give me one more wave, and I won’t mess it up.’ I’m feeling so good. I’ve had an amazing time in El Salvador. Right-hand point breaks are my favorite, and this is one of the best in the world. Getting to compete at it is amazing, and the crew I’m surrounded with is the best.”
The next stop on the 2025 Championship Tour will be the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy. The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach will hold a competition window from Friday, April 18, through Monday, April 28, 2025.
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