2008 has been anything but the year Jordy Smith had envisioned for himself. After his well-publicized contract dispute with Billabong and eventual signing with O’Neill for record amounts of money, the young South African saw big things for himself in ‘08. He even went as far as semi-predicting a Top 5 finish on the Dream Tour. Now, with the Pipeline Masters closing out the year and Jordy sitting in a hospital bed with a grade 2 injury to the ACL and MCL of his left knee, all he can do is sit, wait, and wonder if his #25 ranking will stand following Pipe and allow him to compete at the highest level once again next year.

The outlook wasn’t this bleak for Smith as he got ready for last week’s O’Neill World Cup of Surfing at Sunset Beach. He tore through that event and found himself as the form surfer heading into the final heat. He surfed a heaving Sunset Beach playfully and threw down one of the all-time great performances at the event. Jordy was on an absolute roll and probably felt like he could carry the momentum into the Pipe Masters and seal his ‘09 spot on the Dream Tour. And then the unthinkable happened…”I was bottom turning on my first wave and my foot slipped to the nose and I did the splits and I just felt my knee go. I tried to feel it out on the next wave and straight away I could tell that my knee was done.” “I still want to surf the Pipeline Masters, but it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen,” he said. Basically, all Jordy can do now is hope.

The timing of this injury is a shame. Considering the massive expectations that come with signing such a large contract, Jordy has performed rather well this year. He has shown signs of greatness throughout the year, culminating with his remarkable display at Sunset.

The injury, while obviously super discouraging, will heal in time. And hopefully sooner rather than later, Jordy Smith will be back in form as one of the great young surfers in the sport today.

We wish you well Jordy Smith!

Tags: Jordy Smith

Posted by Shaun on Tuesday, December 9th, 2008 in Surfing.

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• -Jordy Smith in High Demand
• -Jordy Smith Inks Deal with Red Bull
• -Slater, Burrow, Durbidge, and Smith out at Billabong Pro
• -CJ Hobgood Wins O’Neill World Cup of Surfing at Sunset