The Frenchwoman Johanne Defay won her fifth World Championship event on Saturday. The Private Sport Shop ambassador won the Roxy Pro G-Land.
Great performance by the French surfer Johanne Defay who won this Saturday the Roxy Pro G-Land, sixth stage of the world championship, held in Indonesia. The Frenchwoman was surgical to pass the rounds and reach the final. This season, she had blocked each time on the quarterfinals. But this time, she found the key to beat the Australian and seven-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore at this stage of the competition.
Her first big performance opened the door to the semi-finals. The Private Sport Shop ambassador followed up her Indonesian success by beating another Australian, Bronte Macaulay. She then met up with her best friend on the circuit, Carissa Moore, in the final. But the Hawaiian is above all a formidable opponent. Moore is the reigning world champion and last year's Olympic champion in Tokyo. A status as world number one that no one can dispute in recent years.
However, Johanne came out on top in this final, taking the lead and staying on top despite a final assault from her rival. The score was close between the two women (Defay 14 out of 20, Moore 13.33), but it was the Frenchwoman who came out on top in Indonesia. It was the first time that women had been invited to this event, previously reserved for the men's circuit. "To be the first woman to win at G-Land is so special, in such an incredible place, it's great!"she explained as she left the water.
Johanne Defay thus signs her fifth victory in the elite, one year after her last triumph at Surf Ranch in 2021. She thus overtakes Jérémy Flores, who has four victories to his name. Having confirmed her place among the world's elite for next season, by passing the cut after the first five competitions, Johanne now has her sights set on qualifying for the Rip Curl WSL Finals, which will determine who will be the 2022 World Champion. With her victory, the Frenchwoman moves up to third place in the world rankings. The top five will battle it out for the world title in California in September.