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.”