Jordy Smith placed 5th behind Muniz in Vans US Surfing Open

South African Jordy Smith  25, finished fifth in the ASP Prime Vans US Open of Surfing in California yesterday behind winner Alejo Muniz of Brazil.

 The Vans US Open of Surfing was the fourth of eight ASP Prime events on the 2013 calendar, offering crucial points towards surfers’ ASP World Ranking and a coveted US$100,000 first place prize purse.

 Muniz started the final by getting the best of an opening exchange with Andino, belting a 8.43 out of 10 for a series of seamless front-side turns. The Brazilian quickly backed that up with a ride on his back-hand, scalping a 7.80 on a left breaking in to the pier to solidify the victory.

 Kolohe Andino (US) was placed  2^nd and Matt Banting (AUS) 3^rd. Smith was defeated by Matt Banting (AUS), 18, in their wave-starved quarter-final clash earlier on the day.

“I’ve dreamt of that heat against Jordy  my whole life and to surf against him and to beat him, I’m so happy,” Banting said following his quarter-final victory. “I was just wishing that no waves would come and to just better that 3.77 on my final wave. I’m just frothing. I’m not trying to qualify just yet. I’m taking it heat-by-heat and to beat Jordy, anything after that would have been a bonus.”

 Smith’s haul of 3 320 points saw him leapfrog Julian Wilson (AUS), 24, winner of the ASP Prime rated event in Ballito at the beginning of July, into the No. 1 spot on the ASP World Rankings.

 VANS US OPEN OF SURFING MEN’S FINAL RESULT:

1 – Alejo Muniz (BRA) 16.23
2 – Kolohe Andino (USA) 14.54

VANS US OPEN OF SURFING MEN’S SEMIFINALS RESULTS:
SF 1: Kolohe Andino (USA) 14.00 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 11.76
SF 2: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 14.00 def. Matt Banting (AUS) 11.50

VANS US OPEN OF SURFING MEN’S QUARTERFINALS MATCH UPS:
QF 1: Kolohe Andino (USA) 14.66 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.27
QF 2: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 10.50 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 10.43
QF 3: Matt Banting (AUS) 10.70 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 9.30
QF 4: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 13.64 def. Nat Young (USA) 5.83

ASP World Rankings (After Vans US Open of Surfing)

1          Smith,Jordy                         ZAF    25720

2          Wilson,Julian                       AUS    25605

3          De Souza,Adriano               BRA    23163

4          Parkinson,Joel                     AUS    21880

5          Kerr,Josh                               AUS    21315

6          Slater,Kelly                            USA    21300

7          Young,Nat                             USA    18906

8          Bourez,Michel                      PYF    17820

9          Andino,Kolohe                     USA    16144

10        Buchan,Adrian                     AUS    16075

South Africans (In top 100)

35        De Vries,Beyrick                  ZAF    7416

44        Logie,Travis                          ZAF    5880

53        Staples,Dale                                     ZAF    4593

93        Joubert,Shaun                     ZAF    2810

(edited)

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