John John was always going to be the world champion. Jordy, without wishing to detract from his excellent performance all year, was merely a hindrance, and Kolohe was just a mathematical number. Medina was a ghost, and the magic had left Wilko a long time ago. It was all about John John when he started turning on in Portugal. His performance in the big left barrels, his comfortable approach to surfing heaving barreling Supertubos, and the way the stars were aligning, all seemed pointed to his victory.
In the cold Portugal morning Commissioner Logie sent the boys out at 8.05, just to make sure that they got the best window of the remaining waiting period. It was still pretty darn good out there, despite a bit of a scrappy appearance.
Kolohe and John John started off with an almost interference, a leash entanglement of sorts, with Kolohe taking a dive on a mid-peak hussle. It looked like a possible interference, but it wasn't called and the two of them went at it.
There were plenty of waves and there were some good barrels. And at the end of it, JJF had the upper hand and was heading for the finals.
Jordy had to make the finals and he had to beat John John in that final to take the race to Hawaii and Pipeline. It wasn’t the best heat, but there were some great waves and Jordy was hungry. Connor on the other hand was slow and careful in his approach as opposed to Jordy’s workload approach. He selected fewer waves and did ok on them, with good barrels followed by one massive rail gouge back into the whitewater to kick out. No air moves, nothing really progressive, just solid tubes. Not as solid as his last score, however. A larger nugget appeared, and he made the late drop to stand tall, as tall as 170cm is, in the wave of the final and a nine-point ride. Jordy couldn't match him as the timer ran out, and the champagne came out from the Hawaiian’s corner.
“It has been such a fun year,” said John John in acknowledgement of his title, “and I have had such good support and energy throughout. We've had some sick waves as well. I’m so stoked. I’ve worked my whole life towards this and I have so many people to thank for this. The title was my goal this year.””
Jordy was a good sport about it all. He has, after all, displayed some of the best competitive surfing of his life, and his approach an attitude will make him a feared competitor next year. Too bad it didn't go to Hawaii as it would have been good to see him take that hunger with him all the way to Pipeline, and is it is, Pipe will be good but somewhat anti-climactic.
“I’m just glad to be back surfing at my best and to end with a title shot is really an achievement so I’m happy with this year,” said Jordy after the semi-final. ”I’m still fighting to try to get second so I’ll continue up to Pipe.
Jordy posted this image to his Insta account, so he wasn’t too bummed.
There was shouting, there was cheering, there was more champagne, and then there was a final to surf. Conner had been charging all week, desperate to secure his spot on the 2017 Championship Tour, and with no QS backup. Holding a couple of 25ths, he really needed a big result here, and he managed a second behind an absolutely rampant Florence.
After opting for the barrels over the last few heats, John John took to the air for the final heat of the day, and it was quite the spectacle, with one double-grab flip the best move, and he stomped it then fell off. Not that he had a care in the world. A world title to take home to Hawaii, no doubt a very healthy bonus to get him and his family through the summer, and the thrill of Pipe and The Triple Crown in his back yard still to come.
Second placed Conner never really got out the gates in the final, with one scoring wave under the belt, while John John picked up a 9.5 for a massive full-rotation alley-oop into compulsory floater maneuver. It was a one-sided affair, but Connor did rise up on the Jeep leaderboard to 19th from 24th advancing five places and finding himself on the right side of the cut-off with one event to go.
“This feels amazing, I love Portugal,” said Conner. “The waves are so fun and the people are amazing, food’s good, it feels kind of like California and I feel right at home here. I had a lot to do here in this event to stay on tour for next year so that was my goal. ”
So John John will be going home for the Hawaiian season as the world champion.
Well done champ.
