Stab Magazine | Jordy Smith: "Adriano's the silent assassin"

Early Access For Stab Premium Members Live Now — Episode 1 of Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico

204 Views

Jordy Smith: “Adriano’s the silent assassin”

Words by Morgan Williamson  We’ve missed Mr Smith. He’s had an injury plagued year, but he’s back and surfing as well as ever. “For me this whole Hawaiian season’s purely a warm up,” Jordy tells me on the shaded lawn of the O’neill house on another sweltering day on Oahu. “I’m not putting any goals on it. I just want to go out and get the two best waves I can catch. That’s pretty much it.” He’s fresh out of the water after decimating Rocky Rights, it’s apparent the cat’s pumped to be back on his sled. “I’m just really happy to be surfing again,” he says. “I’ll literally surf one foot, two foot, ten foot… it doesn’t matter, I’ll surf anything because my froth level’s so high. Being injured for so long makes you appreciate any type of surf conditions. I’ve been so stoked and am trying to make the most of it.” In the water we witnessed Jordy reach 22mph on a horseshoeing left (we know this because he’s got a Trace stuck to his Merrick) and leap off the oncoming section like few can. The trajectory was huge, and the rotation, perfect. The flats beckoned, and at the last, minute Jordy hit eject, passing on what could’ve been the air of the year. Jordy exits with a smile, “Did you get that air?” he quips, “Ahh, I could’ve stuck it, but I’ve been injured all year, I’m not going down that route again.” Surely some freesurfing reminders of Jordy’s prowess when he’s not, ‘just back from injury’ will be avail for your viewing pleasure soon. Yeah, looks like that meniscus is doing just fine. Photo: WSL The Pipe Masters is Jordy’s first event since he was forced to withdraw from J-Bay with a torn meniscus and back issues. In 2010 Mr Smith came second on the then WCT to Kelly Slater, as the King took his tenth world title. So, he knows a thing or two about what it takes to be in the title race. “Shoot, I think Mick’s probably the guy to win it this year,” he tells me. “But I don’t think you can count out Filipe, especially with the conditions coming up for the next few days. He could just chip into a couple lucky ones out there. If Mick can get past Jamie O’Brien he’s still got a pretty big draw against him. He’s got John and Kelly on his side of the draw. And Kelly hasn’t won an event in the past two years. Last time he won was out at Pipe, so his odds are really high at the moment.” “As for Gabriel… well hopefully I can win my heat against him and stop his little run,” laughs Jords. “The title this year’s really exciting, I think it’s good for surfing to have Australia and Brazil going at it. It’ll be interesting to see who takes it down.” “For what it’s worth I think Adriano’s the silent assassin,” Mr Smith concludes. “Everybody’s so focused on Mick and Filipe that they aren’t talking about him quite as much, and that plays into his favour. He’s been sneaking through his heats with the bare minimum, but he’s been getting the job done. He’s the guy who’s been working the hardest all year. All four of those guys you got to take your hat off to them, to get in that position you got to work hard for it. It doesn’t come easy.”

news // Mar 8, 2016
Words by Stab
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Words by Morgan Williamson 

We’ve missed Mr Smith. He’s had an injury plagued year, but he’s back and surfing as well as ever. “For me this whole Hawaiian season’s purely a warm up,” Jordy tells me on the shaded lawn of the O’neill house on another sweltering day on Oahu. “I’m not putting any goals on it. I just want to go out and get the two best waves I can catch. That’s pretty much it.” He’s fresh out of the water after decimating Rocky Rights, it’s apparent the cat’s pumped to be back on his sled. “I’m just really happy to be surfing again,” he says. “I’ll literally surf one foot, two foot, ten foot… it doesn’t matter, I’ll surf anything because my froth level’s so high. Being injured for so long makes you appreciate any type of surf conditions. I’ve been so stoked and am trying to make the most of it.”

In the water we witnessed Jordy reach 22mph on a horseshoeing left (we know this because he’s got a Trace stuck to his Merrick) and leap off the oncoming section like few can. The trajectory was huge, and the rotation, perfect. The flats beckoned, and at the last, minute Jordy hit eject, passing on what could’ve been the air of the year. Jordy exits with a smile, “Did you get that air?” he quips, “Ahh, I could’ve stuck it, but I’ve been injured all year, I’m not going down that route again.” Surely some freesurfing reminders of Jordy’s prowess when he’s not, ‘just back from injury’ will be avail for your viewing pleasure soon.

Jordy TURN BODY

Yeah, looks like that meniscus is doing just fine. Photo: WSL

The Pipe Masters is Jordy’s first event since he was forced to withdraw from J-Bay with a torn meniscus and back issues. In 2010 Mr Smith came second on the then WCT to Kelly Slater, as the King took his tenth world title. So, he knows a thing or two about what it takes to be in the title race. “Shoot, I think Mick’s probably the guy to win it this year,” he tells me. “But I don’t think you can count out Filipe, especially with the conditions coming up for the next few days. He could just chip into a couple lucky ones out there. If Mick can get past Jamie O’Brien he’s still got a pretty big draw against him. He’s got John and Kelly on his side of the draw. And Kelly hasn’t won an event in the past two years. Last time he won was out at Pipe, so his odds are really high at the moment.”

“As for Gabriel… well hopefully I can win my heat against him and stop his little run,” laughs Jords. “The title this year’s really exciting, I think it’s good for surfing to have Australia and Brazil going at it. It’ll be interesting to see who takes it down.”

“For what it’s worth I think Adriano’s the silent assassin,” Mr Smith concludes. “Everybody’s so focused on Mick and Filipe that they aren’t talking about him quite as much, and that plays into his favour. He’s been sneaking through his heats with the bare minimum, but he’s been getting the job done. He’s the guy who’s been working the hardest all year. All four of those guys you got to take your hat off to them, to get in that position you got to work hard for it. It doesn’t come easy.”

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Italo And Filipe Lost, But Surfing Won Today

No shortage of excellence on Day Two at Lowers.

Jun 11, 2025

Opinion: Griffin vs Filipe Was A Masterclass In Surfing & Judging

And the exact reason Lowers is on tour.

Jun 11, 2025

How Politics Canceled A WSL Pro Junior Event In The Basque Country

The Israel-Palestine conflict hits surfing.

Jun 11, 2025

Wait, Is Lowers A Left?

Day One of the Lexus June Gloom Pro is wrapped, and Kelly's free for drinks.

Jun 11, 2025

Stab Interview: The Secret Lives Of Keith Malloy

On surf films, big waves, sibling bonds, and stunt-doubling for Matthew McConaughey.

Jun 9, 2025

Why Kelly Slater’s Favorite Wave Isn’t Producing More Pro Surfers

A critical analysis of the Soup Bowl surf community.

Jun 8, 2025

CT Watch: Jacob Willcox And Francisca Veselko Rattle The Cage

Where you begin is where you return: The Newcastle SURFEST.

Jun 8, 2025

Stab High And The Unfortunate Inevitability Of The C-Word 

Does surfing have a culture after all? 

Jun 8, 2025

Jordy Smith Is World #1, Kelly Slater Is A Wildcard, And… Ethan Ewing Is Trying Californian Surfboards?

Your 2025 Lower Trestles CT preview.

Jun 7, 2025

Tom Lowe Suffers Second Near-Fatal Injury at Teahupo’o In 14 Months

Sage Burke and Kala Grace tell the story straight.

Jun 6, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 1

Our first loser goes home in this "king of the hill" showdown.

Jun 6, 2025

The Return of Surf100: Raw, Unfiltered, Serialized

Seven challenges across California before the OG 100 minute final.

Jun 5, 2025

Snow Bros, A Former WSL CEO, And The Multimillion Dollar Fight To Govern Surfing In America 

"This decision could have massive, cascading, and irreversible consequences," says the CEO of USA Surfing. 

Jun 4, 2025

Everything You Need To Know About The Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico

8 surfers. 8 challenges. $100,000.

Jun 4, 2025

Coming Soon: Stab in the Dark X

Dear Diary, May was a good month.

Jun 3, 2025

If The Challenger Series Is The Answer, What Is The Question?

Surfing’s middle child returns: the 2025 CS preview.

Jun 2, 2025

The WSL Just Gave The Kids A Steak Knife

The Challenger Series gets a run at Pipeline, and a double-take at Newcastle.

Jun 2, 2025

Mason Ho Follows MP’s Trail, Discovers The Delicate Art Of Not Getting Arrested

"That’s it. We’re cooked. I just told the boys this lane was mine, now I’m…

May 31, 2025
Advertisement