South Africa’s Jordy Smith ended the 2025 WSL season ranked third in the world, maintaining his reputation as one of the tour’s most consistent veterans. His two standout wins this year bookended a long drought: the Surf City El Salvador Pro in April and the Margaret River Pro in May.

In El Salvador, Smith broke through for his first CT victory in eight years at Punta Roca, defeating fellow South African Matthew McGillivray with a two-wave total of 14.26, a near-perfect 7.33 and 6.93,  a win he dedicated to his father and wife.

Just weeks later, at Margaret River, he claimed his second title of 2025, beating Griffin Colapinto decisively. Smith grabbed an early 8.5 that held the heat, securing the win and elevating himself to the world No.1 ranking heading into the Australia leg of the tour.

When the calendar turned to the year‑end WSL Finals in Fiji, Smith carried significant momentum. Ranked second entering the high-stakes event, he was one of the sentimental favourites, with many fans and commentators calling his season a potential “Cinderella story.”

Photo by Cait Miers/World Surf League

But the Finals played out differently. In the one-day, winner‑takes‑all format at Cloudbreak, Yago Dora claimed the men’s world title, defeating Griffin Colapinto in the final, while Molly Picklum took the women’s crown. Smith didn’t reach the final heat, ultimately logging third overall in the world rankings.

Still, Smith’s 2025 performance—two event wins, a return to form, and a deep title run proved that at 37, he’s still a force to be reckoned with on tour.

Griffin Colapinto vs Jordy Smith | Lexus WSL Finals Fiji pres by Corona Cero.