Pictured from L-R: The J-Bay Classic presented by Corona women’s runner-up Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) and winner Sarah Baum (RSA), and men’s winner Frederico Morais (POR) and runner-up Michael February (RSA). Credit: © WSL / Tostee
Edited by Bev Mortimer
Sarah Baum (RSA) and Frederico Morais (POR) won the World Surf League (WSL) J-Bay Classic Presented by Corona Specialty over Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) and Michael February (RSA).
Sarah is the first South African to woman to win at J-Bay since 1987 and her supporting crowds went wild at Supertubes. She and Frederic won in clean, three-to-four foot waves at Supertubes. It was a bittersweet end to a week-long competition, which had the aura of something truly special, a celebration of surfing.
SA Local Trials Winner Sarah Baum Goes All The Way
Everyone loves Fitzgibbons, but the local crowd was cheering for Baum, the local trials winner who made it all the way to the Final. Supertubes pumped perfect waves all day, albeit a bit slow at times. Fitzgibbons stayed busy, building her house with two medium-range scores, while Baum played the waiting game. Both surfers improved their scores on a great exchange, with Baum getting an excellent 8.00 (out of a possible 10), but she still required a medium score to overtake Fitzgibbons.
Time was running out as the locals start whistling, the grandstand spectators chant ‘go, go, go’ and Baum gets the message and swings around into a beautiful wave. Two big turns in the pocket and Baum was charging towards a meaty section on the inside, the crowd holding their breath.
Baum emerged from a white-water explosion, the beach crowds erupted and she stood tall, both arms stretched into the air. She got the required score, and with that she’s the first South African woman to win an event in J-Bay since Shavonne Hill in 1987.
“I can’t even believe what just happened,” Baum said. “As soon as I made that wave, all the emotions came flowing, uncontrollable. I don’t usually claim waves, but I claimed that wave. I could hear everyone on the beach blowing up, I even had goose bumps on my head.”
“I made a couple of mistakes so I was trying to move forward and not think about that. This event was just to iron out a few creases in my surfing and I feel like I did that. Now I’m off to Ballito and then the Olympics, so hopefully I can continue this momentum, carry on believing in myself because that’s the main thing I want to do,” Baum said.
Pictured: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) and Sarah Baum (RSA) share a moment after the Final at the J-Bay Classic presented by Corona. Credit: © WSL / McGregor
Long-time competitors, Fitzgibbons and Baum are both trying to qualify for the Championship Tour and will head to Ballito for the next Challenger Series event. “Watching Baumy go for the score and seeing her make that turn and the crowd erupting, I think that’s replaced my best memory of J-Bay by far,” Fitzgibbons said.
“To be part of a real significant moment where she’s the first South African to win since 1987, I think that’s a good way to wrap up this week. I couldn’t ask for anything more, I’m so content and satisfied.”
Frederico Morais Wins, Catches Feelings In J-Bay
The men’s Finals started with a lull, and Frederico Morais (POR) and Michael February (RSA) sat wide from each other in the lineup, waiting for the sets. Morais snatched two quick leg looseners, while February kept his cards close to his chest far out the back. It was an agonisingly slow heat.
The Portuguese powerhouse slid into a wave under priority, cranking out huge layback carves back into the pocket and drawing out his turns. He locks in a 6.00 and a 6.83 back-to-back to put the pressure on February.
The tension was palpable when February found a good wave to work with, laying into his turns and showing some flair as he hit the lip. It’s good, but it’s not enough, and Morais took out the first-ever J-Bay Classic presented by Corona Specialty.
“J-Bay is not a place, it’s an emotion,” Morais said. “It’s the best wave in the world. J-Bay has always been kind to me, the wave, the people, I love it here. It was a super special week with a bit of competition, a bit of free surfing, it’s just what I was looking for,” Morais said.
“Surfing with some of the most iconic surfers in the world, from young to old generations, we all surfed together. It was my first time surfing a twinny too! It was just a beautiful week and to come up with the win against Michael February, one of the most stylish surfers in the world, was just so special.”
February was one of the most impressive surfers in the event, scoring excellent rides in the Twin Fin, Bonus Round and the Semi-finals. “It’s been fun surfing an event again, but I’m exhausted!” February admitted. “It’s been a really great week and we got to surf some amazing waves. It was fun to be part of a different celebration of surfing.”
Nail-biting Finals Day Keep Crowds On Their Feet
Competitors and spectators got to experience Supertubes in all her glory, and her different moods this week. Finals Day started in the golden glow of the morning, as perfectly groomed waves peeled into the bay for the Women’s Semifinals. Over the years, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) and Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) have matched up 23 times in two-person heats, and today was their first time surfing a Specialty heat together.
Gilmore glided on her yellow pickle-fork twin fin, drawing out her turns like just the 8-time World Champion can, but Fitzgibbons was fired up. Locking in two excellent scores to book her spot in the Finals, Gilmore returned to the beach with a smile to enjoy the show from the sidelines.
Coco Ho (HAW) has been ripping all week, but she was coming up against local favourite Sarah Baum (RSA). After watching the first heat, they both opt for the trusty thruster surfboard setup. Whistles from the beach get everyone’s attention when a good-looking set arrives and there’s an exciting exchange between Ho and Baum. The South African’s powerful backhand turns in the pocket was the point of difference, and she stamped her ticket to the Finals.
Matt Wilkinson (AUS) and Michael February (RSA) both scored excellent rides in their Semi-final clash, but it was one of the slower heats of the day. The set arrived in the dying minutes of their heat and Wilkinson stumbled on his wave while February styled his way right through to the inside to the roar of the crowd as he moved into Finals.
It was a nail-biting heat between Morais and Josh Kerr (AUS) in the second Semi-final. Morais has so much power and speed as he snaps off the top and hammers the inside section for a rewarding 8.83. Kerr brought some innovative surfing to J-Bay, throwing out his signature ‘club sandwich’ move, a frontside grab-rail reverse done under the lip of the wave, but in the end Morais edged him out with 0.16 points
J-Bay Classic Presented By Corona Women’s Final Results
1- Sarah Baum (RSA) 14.27
2- Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 13.13
J-Bay Classic Presented By Corona Men’s Final Results
1- Frederico Morais (POR) 12.83
2- Michael February (RSA) 10.33
J-Bay Classic Presented By Corona Women’s Semifinal Results
HEAT 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 16.07 DEF. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.57
HEAT 2: Sarah Baum (RSA) 13.90 DEF. Coco Ho (HAW) 12.97
J-Bay Classic Presented By Corona Men’s Semifinal Results
HEAT 1: Michael February (RSA) 15.30 DEF. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 10.00
HEAT 2: Frederico Morais (POR) 15.16 DEF. Josh Kerr (AUS) 15.00
Catch up on all the best highlights from the WSL J-Bay Classic presented by Corona on the @wsl and @jbayclassic social media channels and on WorldSurfLeague.com.
The J-Bay Classic presented by Corona holds a competition window from Friday, June 14 through Sunday, June 23. The J-Bay Classic presented by Corona is proudly supported by Corona, Kouga Municipality, Eastern Cape Provincial Government, House of Mandela, The Freedom Project, Red Bull, Sealand, Grit and Surfing South Africa.
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St Francis Chronicle 