Did Jadson Andre Just Qualify For The 2020 CT… Before The 2019 Tour Started?

Jadson Andre is a fucking monster.

Over the past month he’s surfed in three QS 6,000 events – Fernando de Noronha, Newcastle, and Manly – and finished 1st, 2nd, and 2nd, respectively.

Jadson’s runner-up finish at today’s Vissla Sydney Surf Pro (which, we must give a huge congrats to local boy Jordy Lawler, who took out his first QS victory today, and Alessa Quizon, who’s paving her path to requalification with a women’s division victory) all but guarantees his qualification for the 2020 Championship Tour.

Despite having just three of his five possible QS event scores for 2019, Jadson’s already got more points than last year’s lowest CT qualifier, Jack Freestone. All Jadson has to do is show up at two of this year’s QS 10,000 events and he’ll push into the 16,000 point range, which grants him a very high likelihood of qualification. Should he make one or two more heats in major events this year, he’s a bona fide lock. 

Jadson carries his board upside down and doesn’t rock a single recognizable sticker. The dude legit gives no fucks and it’s terrifying his competitors.

“Jadson’s been on and off Tour a lot in his career, so to start the season like this will give him tons of confidence heading into Snapper,” Kelly Slater said while commentating on the Vissla Pro webcast. “It’s gonna make him super relaxed on the CT this year, which will probably help him competitively.”

Professional surfing, as we’ve come to learn, is as much of a mental practice as it is physical. The “best” surfer in any heat isn’t necessarily the most talented, but instead, the one who is currently most in form. Form, of course, being the physical manifestation of a confident mental state and good surfboards.

And right now, Jadson Andre has both. 

Because if we’re being honest, Jadson’s surfing hasn’t changed much since 2010, when we watched him dismantle the soon-to-be 10x World Champion Kelly Slater on Santa Catarina’s long, sloping lefts.

The Brazilian’s approach is built upon two unwavering pillars of shred: a grossly consistent frontside air rev (seen above) and a ferocious backside snap (below).

The people can’t look away!

The former is quite helpful on the Q (especially today in Manly) but would be considered outdated on the modern CT. The latter is ageless and will always have a place in surfing’s excellent range.

If the Tour was comprised mostly of non-barreling lefts, I think Jadson would be in trouble with his particular skill set. But seeing as how the first four events of the season are at primarily right-breaking waves, I reckon he and his lethal nooner could give the Top-34 some grief. 

“I’m having a blessing right now,” Jadson told the on-beach commentator after his win, “and I think my surfing is showing that.”

Fucken-A brother, which is why he’s going straight to the top of my Snapper fantasy team.

As he should yours.