Japan's Connor O'Leary Claims First World Championship Title at Corona Open J-Bay

Connor O'Leary, representing Japan, achieved a remarkable milestone by winning his inaugural world championship tour title at the Corona Open J-Bay held in South Africa last Friday. Showcasing his exceptional skills, O'Leary delivered the only 10-point ride during the semi-finals, where he eliminated Filipe Toledo, a three-time J-Bay champion. He continued his impressive performance in the final by surpassing the world number one, Yago Dora, with a total score of 15.67 from just three waves, compared to Dora’s 14.23.

Expressing his excitement, O'Leary acknowledged the support from the crowd, stating, "All the stars aligned for this one, so I'm stoked." He emphasized his intention to demonstrate exceptional backhand surfing in the competition, particularly competing against another goofy-footer like himself. O'Leary hopes that his victory inspires fellow goofy-foot surfers to believe they can excel in competitions held in perfect right-hand point breaks.

In the women's category, Gabriela Bryan, currently ranked number two in the world, secured a gritty win against Molly Picklum from Australia, who is ranked number one. Bryan scored a total of 13.60, with waves rated at 6.67 and 6.93, outperforming Picklum’s best of 7.67. Bryan expressed her joy, stating that winning at J-Bay had been a long-held dream, as it is recognized as an iconic and favored wave.

The world championship tour will continue with its next stop in Tahiti. After the completion of the 11-stop tour, the top five male and female surfers will qualify to compete in a one-day finals event in Fiji, where they will vie for the overall world title. Currently, Picklum, Bryan, and Caity Simmers from the U.S. have secured their spots in the women's finals, while Yago Dora is the only male surfer to qualify at this stage.