INTERNATIONAL NEWS - Johanne Defay will spend the next few weeks buzzing after capturing the second Championship Tour win of her career Tuesday.
By eliminating Courtney Conlogue and Carissa Moore, two of the top three surfers on the Jeep Leaderboard, she also jumped into the world title race. She's climbed to World No. 4 after her personal best in Fiji.
Her success in Fiji shouldn't be surprising: The French surfer, now in her third year on the CT, has always done well there. Her comfort in Cloudbreak's heavy lefthanders traces back to her roots at Saint-Leu, a solid lefthander where she earned her heavy-wave stripes.
"My dad learned how to surf on Réunion," she said. "I was doing gymnastics but when I was around seven old, my dad said, 'I'm going to bring you surfing.' It started like that, with my local surf club, at my closest beach to home."
Those early days with her dad led to a strong junior career, and eventually the CT. But despite a steadily rising rank, Defay has largely been surfing in the shadows of her celebrity peers.
Those early days with her dad led to a strong junior career, and eventually the CT. But despite a steadily rising rank, Defay has largely been surfing in the shadows of her celebrity peers.
And with her strong French accent, big smile and upbeat demeanor, it's easy to mistake her for an easygoing girl who's happily cruising just below the radar.
Don't be fooled. The 22-year-old has a clear sense of who she is and what she wants -- and she's finally risen up into the spotlight, where she belongs. Here are some of the career moments that have led to her to World No. 4.
Don't be fooled. The 22-year-old has a clear sense of who she is and what she wants -- and she's finally risen up into the spotlight, where she belongs. Here are some of the career moments that have led to her to World No. 4.
