Championship Tour Returns To South African Shores for Corona Cero Open J-Bay

JEFFREYS BAY, Eastern Cape, South Africa (Monday, July 7, 2025) - The World Surf League (WSL) returns to South African shores for the Corona Cero Open J-Bay, Stop No. 10 of the Championship Tour (CT) and holds a competition window from July 11 - 20, 2025. As the penultimate CT stop of the regular-season, it's a crucial event for the world's best who want to clinch a spot in the Final 5 for the Lexus WSL Finals in Fiji this September.

CT Rankings Update: Smith returns to J-Bay as World No 1, Picklum takes Yellow Leader's Jersey

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Joe, Mitch, and Jesse break down the movement on the Championship Tour Rankings as competition at Saquarema sent shockwaves through World Title Races. Plus ...Lost Surfboards is once again running away with the Vissla CT Shaper Rankings.

Jordy Smith Eyes Third CT Win at Home

After an incredible 18 years on the Championship Tour, South Africa's surfing hero Jordy Smith is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career. After two CT wins and currently ranked No.1 in the world, Smith's goal is to put himself in the best position possible for the Lexus WSL Finals. As a two-time winner in Jeffreys Bay, he will be one of the favorites at Supertubes for his third CT win in front of family and friends. "We all know J-Bay is one of the world's best waves," said Smith. "More importantly for me, it's a place to reconnect with old friends that I've grown up with my whole life. There's a lot less pressure I put on myself. I spend my entire off season there, I have a house on the beach, so it's a very comfortable place for me, and I can surf with ease. To come in wearing the Yellow Jersey is epic. It's testament to the hard work and sacrifices over the years, and we keep swinging and see how the rest of the year plays out."

Molly Picklum takes Yellow Leaders Jersey, leads the world's best heading to Corona Cero Open J-Bay

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After making the finals at Trestles and then winning Rio, Molly Picklum is hitting her stride at the right time of year. She'll head to J-Bay as World no. 1, wearing the Yellow Leader's Jersey. Just a few points away from clinching with one of the most powerful and stylish forehands on Tour, she's a serious threat at J-Bay. Looking ahead to Tahiti, her fearless commitment and tube-riding skills on her backhand will make her one of the most lethal at the End of the Road. Can Molly ride this momentum all the way to her maiden World Title?

Race For WSL Final 5 Intensifies

As the penultimate stop of the regular season, the Corona Cero Open J-Bay has the potential to break hearts or ignite World Title dreams, as the race for the WSL Final 5 intensifies. After taking out the win at the Rio Pro, Griffin Colapinto (USA) moved up three spots up the rankings to challenge for the Final 5 cutoff, while former J-Bay winner Ethan Ewing (AUS) is holding onto fifth place. Molly Picklum (AUS) will wear the Yellow Jersey in J-Bay after her win at the Rio Pro. Picklum finished runner-up in J-Bay in 2023 to Lakey Peterson (USA) and has proven herself as a formidable threat at Supertubes. 2023 World Champion Caroline Marks (USA) has enjoyed three Finals Day appearances in J-Bay, and she's on the cusp of the Final 5 cut-off.

What you need to know: Corona Cero Open J-Bay 2025

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As stop No. 10 on the Championship Tour, the pressure to make the WSL Final 5 is peaking at the Corona Cero Open J-Bay. This right hand point break delivers one of the fastest, most technical waves on Earth. With World Title campaigns on the line, every carve and section counts. J-Bay is no longer just a proving ground. It's the penultimate decider who will make it to Fiji for the Lexus WSL Finals.

Local Wildcards Look Forward To Disrupting Rankings

Three more South Africans will be in the Corona Cero Open J-Bay lineup alongside Jordy Smith. Former CTer and J-Bay local Matthew McGillivray received the call up from Tours & Competition, while top ranked Challenger Series contenders Sarah Baum and Luke Thompson received the regional wildcard spots. Baum previously earned a Quarterfinals appearance as a wildcard in 2023, and won the J-Bay Classic Specialty in 2024.

"It means the world to me to get the wildcard," said Baum. "I surf these Challenger Series events to get to that world stage and showcase my surfing. Getting a 5th in 2023, surfing against Carissa Moore and Lakey Petersen was incredible. I hope I can ruffle a few feathers again this year."

J-Bay Lineup - WSL / Alan van Gysen

Corona Cero Marks 100 Years of Beach Heritage and Surf Culture at J-Bay

Since being announced as the official global 0.0% alcohol beer partner of the WSL in March 2025, Corona Cero has brought a fresh energy to the Championship Tour. In the year that marks 100 years of Corona's connection to the beach, the brand's evolution at J-Bay reflects a continued commitment to more mindful ways to unwind and celebrate-without compromising on experience. The Corona Cero Open J-Bay is not only a continuation of this legacy, but also a celebration of how beach culture, surfing, and conscious living are coming together in South Africa's most iconic coastal town.

"This year marks 100 years of Corona's connection to the beach, and there's no better place to celebrate that legacy than Jeffreys Bay," says Melanie Nicholson, Head of Brand, Corona South Africa. "As we evolve into a new era of mindful celebration, we're proud to bring Corona Cero to one of the most iconic stops on the tour. This occasion, the Corona Cero Open J-Bay, reflects our long-standing support of the surf community and South Africa's beloved beach culture."

For more information, visit WorldSurfLeague.com

Watch Live Watch all the action from the Corona Cero Open J-Bay LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com, the free WSL App, WSL's YouTube.

The Corona Cero Open J-Bay is proudly supported by Corona Cero, Kouga Municipality, Tsitsikamma Spring Water, Red Bull, YETI, Surfline, True Surf and Sealand.