With just two events left for ‘CT athletes to qualify for the WSL Finals, the tour now heads to South Africa for the 2023 Corona Open at J-Bay. Long revered as one of the best right-handers on earth, Jeffreys Bay will likely see some of the best surfers on earth put on a style clinic throughout the event.
Continue reading for an event preview and b sure to set your FantasySurfer teams now!
WHO: The Men’s WSL Championship Tour Top 22 + 2 wildcards, & the Women’s WSL Championship Tour Top 10 + 2 wildcards.
WHAT: Event no. 9 of 11 on the 2023 World Championship Tour.
WHEN: Event will run between July 13-22, 2023.
WHERE: Eastern Cape, South Africa
HOW TO WATCH: Tune in to WorldSurfLeague.com for live event coverage and come back here to Surfer.com for daily event wrap-ups.
PAST EVENT WINNERS:
Men’s (5) – Kelly Slater (1996, 2003, 2005, 2008), Jordy Smith (2010, 2011), Filipe Toledo (2017, 2018), Gabriel Medina (2019), Ethan Ewing (2022).
Women’s (3) – Stephanie Gilmore (2018), Carissa Moore (2019), Tatiana Weston-Webb (2022).
INJURY UPDATE: As of today (July 7) there are no injuries to report.
WILDCARDS: Kelly Slater and Johanne Defay are season wildcards for the remainder of 2023. South African surfers Sarah Baum and Adin Masencamp have been given the official wildcard spots. No injuries have been reported at this time.
ROUND 1 HEAT DRAW:
MEN’S 2023 Corona Open J-Bay
Heat 1: Joao Chianca, Barron Mamiya, Seth Moniz
Heat 2: Ethan Ewing, Caio Ibelli Rio Waida
Heat 3: Griffin Colapinto, Liam O’Brien, Kelly Slater*
Heat 4: Filipe Toledo, Kanoa Igarashi, Adin Masencamp*
Heat 5: Yago Dora, Connor O’Leary, Ian Gentil
Heat 6: John Florence, Italo Ferreira, Callum Robson
Heat 7: Gabriel Medina, Ryan Callinan, Matthew McGillivray
Heat 8: Jack Robinson, Leo Fioravanti, Jordy Smith
——————–
WOMEN’S 2023 Corona Open J-Bay
Heat 1: Molly Picklum, Caitlin Simmers, Gabriela Bryan
Heat 2: Carissa Moore, Lakey Peterson, Sarah Baum*
Heat 3: Tyler Wright, Tatiana Weston-Webb, Johanne Defay*
Heat 4: CarolineMarks, Stephanie Gilmore, Bettylou Sakura Johnson
* – Wildcard / Injury replacement