Update

SURFING NEWS - The Corona Cero Open J-Bay, stop No. 10 on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour, has officially been called on at Supertubes in Jeffreys Bay. 

With clean three-to-five foot surf and favourable offshore winds, competition begins today (Friday 11 July) with the women’s Opening Round at 13:03 (local time), followed by Heats 1 to 4 of the men’s Opening Round. All heats today are scheduled for 35 minutes.

Australia’s Luana Silva will paddle out in the first women’s heat as she aims to build on her impressive second-place finish at the VIVO Rio Pro. 

Silva missed the Mid-season Cut in 2023 and is now set to make her long-awaited debut at J-Bay against world No. 4 Bettylou Sakura Johnson (Hawaii) and Isabella Nichols (Australia).

World No. 1 and 2023 J-Bay runner-up Molly Picklum (Australia) will compete in Heat 2 alongside Canada’s Erin Brooks and local wildcard Sarah Baum (South Africa).

Portugal’s Francisca Veselko, currently leading the Challenger Series, earned a wildcard into her first J-Bay CT event. She’ll take on world No. 2 Gabriela Bryan (Hawaii) and two-time world champion Tyler Wright (Australia) in Heat 3.

Defending J-Bay champion Lakey Peterson (USA) faces a tough match-up in Heat 4, surfing against reigning world champions Caitlin Simmers and Caroline Marks, both from the United States.

Jordy Smith of South Africa during the press conference prior to the commencement of the Corona Cero Open J-Bay on July 10, 2025 at Jeffreys Bay. Photo: Kody McGregor/World Surf League

Men’s draw heats up
In the men’s draw, Heat 1 will see 2019 J-Bay runner-up Italo Ferreira (Brazil) face off against Jake Marshall (USA) and Seth Moniz (Hawaii).

South African favourite and current world No. 1 Jordy Smith will headline Heat 4, going up against his friend and local wildcard Luke Thompson, along with Crosby Colapinto (USA).

Heat 5 will feature Ethan Ewing (Australia), who finished runner-up at J-Bay in 2023.

Lower Point came alive this week as the WSL’s Rising Tides programme returned to J-Bay. More than 20 young girls joined top Championship Tour surfers for a memorable session in the water.

Tyler Wright, Gabriela Bryan, Erin Brooks, Francisca Veselko, and Lakey Peterson surfed alongside girls from local initiatives such as Surfers Not Street Children and The Surfer Kids, as well as representatives from Mozambique. The initiative, presented by Body Glove, has been running since 2019 and continues to inspire the next generation of female surfers.

Women’s Opening Round
Heat 1: Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) vs. Isabella Nichols (AUS) vs. Luana Silva (BRA)
Heat 2: Molly Picklum (AUS) vs. Erin Brooks (CAN) vs. Sarah Baum (RSA)
Heat 3: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) vs. Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Francisca Veselko (POR)
Heat 4: Caitlin Simmers (USA) vs. Caroline Marks (USA) vs. Lakey Peterson (USA)

Men’s Opening Round
Heat 1: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Jake Marshall (USA) vs. Seth Moniz (HAW)
Heat 2: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Joel Vaughan (AUS) vs. Alejo Muniz (BRA)
Heat 3: Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Connor O’Leary (JPN) vs. Matthew McGillivray (RSA)
Heat 4: Jordy Smith (RSA) vs. Crosby Colapinto (USA) vs. Luke Thompson (RSA)
Heat 5: Ethan Ewing (AUS) vs. Cole Houshmand (USA) vs. Marco Mignot (FRA)
Heat 6: Griffin Colapinto (USA) vs. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) vs. Rio Waida (INA)
Heat 7: Jack Robinson (AUS) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Joao Chianca (BRA)
Heat 8: Barron Mamiya (HAW) vs. Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Alan Cleland (MEX)

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