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.
A first great performance that opened the doors to the last four. The Private Sport Shop ambassador continued her Indonesian journey by beating another Australian, Bronte Macaulay. She then met 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 of number one in the world that no one can dispute in recent years.
However, Johanne was able to respond in this final by taking the lead and remaining in the lead despite a final assault by her rival. The score was close between the two women (14 out of 20 for Defay against 13.33 for Moore), but it is the Frenchwoman who wins in Indonesia. It was the first time that women were invited to this event, which was previously reserved for the men's circuit. " Being the first woman to win at G-Land is so special, in such an incredible place, it's great! "explained at the exit of the water the Reunionese.
Johanne Defay thus signs her fifth victory in the elite, one year after her last triumph at the Surf Ranch in 2021. She thus overtakes Jeremy Flores, who has four victories to his credit. After confirming her place among the world's elite for next season by making the cut after the first five events, 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 reaches the third place in the world ranking. The top five will compete for the world title in California this September.