Sitting in last place with mere minutes remaining in his Round Four heat, South African Jordy Smith lucked into one last wave. A solid left at Pico do Fabril opened up just enough to let him slice his way to an 8.83, relegating his opponents Conner Coffin and Stu Kennedy to Round Five. With his win, Smith moved straight to the Quarters.
Following a disappointing result in the contest prior, in France, the World No. 4 is looking to redeem himself at the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal.