Jordy Smith, “I’m focusing on the tour, nothing else.”

Words by Craig Jarvis 

The good people at the World Surf League announce their ‘school of 2016’ including the WSL wildcards recently. It was pretty much as predicted, with Jordy and Steph securing the wildcards along with Matt Banting. Jordy was in Hawaii for the end of the year run, he had a few good heats and a few average ones. On the North Shore Mr Smith could be found cracking lips, getting slotted and having fun at V-Land, Rockies, Pipe and everything in between.

When the wildcard news was released, Jordy showed some emotional relief posting on his Facebook: “It’s official. I’ve been rewarded with the wildcard next year for the 2016 WSL world tour. I’m extremely grateful and will be working my hardest to be the best surfer I can be.”

After what could be described as a bad year for the big fella, here he chats on how he was feeling, what he was thinking and where he felt this life was taking him.

Stab: You came to Hawaii to have a good go, and to see how it all felt. What did you think of your performances, and how did the injuries feel?
Jordy: Yeah well, I tried my best but it wasn’t the best contest run for me either, was it? The thing is my focus was somewhere else. My singular goal was to maintain good health, and to surf every single day while here. To that extent I achieved my goals.

Do you think that you have reached the goals you have set for yourself in the bigger picture, or do you still have many more goals ahead of you?
Well in the surfing world I most definitely have not yet reached my goal. I am working really hard for it though. Goals take hard work.

What are these goals?
Number one being a world title.

Another year down, and due to no fault of your own, another year when you were unable to go full-tilt for that world title. Many people do believe that there is a world title in you. How do you feel about another year down without a title and without even a title chase?
Well its just another year and another title gone. All it means to me, in my heart, is that I need to try harder for the next one.

In all truthfulness, could you say that the World Tour/Pro Surfing is a bit more complicated than you thought and that it is taking some time to figure it all out?
Yes of course. It is the ocean, and you can never quite figure it out. I do think, however, that there is a time and place for everything. I’m extremely positive about the future no matter what.

Power surfing and airs are the way forward, but both make a surfer prone to injuries. Do you think you might slow down and do fewer airs and throw less power to try and prevent injury?
I’m not sure if I will slow down. I don’t think that will be the way to win heats. I think I’ll just have to make wiser decisions.

Would you be satisfied to be known as this radical surfer, or do you want to be known as a professional contest winner?
Good question. The thing is, people are going to think of you in anyway they want. That’s not actually up to me… I just want to do my best surfing and ultimately achieve the goals I have set for myself.

You said that you couldn’t do both, so is there another movie, or is there another world title campaign coming up?
(Laughs) I did say that, didn’t I? Well, as mentioned, I’m focusing on the tour next year and nothing else.

Are you happy with the way the tour runs, and for all of the things that the WSL have done for the surfers?
Yes. It’s been amazing actually. We are treated well on tour, and it seems to be getting better.

If you could change one thing, what would you change about the way the tour is run?
There are not too many changes that I can think of. Maybe it would be good if we had a few more waves, as in high performance waves. I mean, we have great waves, so I’m not complaining, but a few more high performance venues would be great.