Haleiwa’s John John Florence didn’t get it done Wednesday in Portugal, but he’s still the front-runner in his bid for a second straight world championship.
Florence had a chance to clinch the world title Wednesday morning (late Tuesday Hawaii time), but did not get the needed waves in his 14.00 to 3.80 quarterfinal loss to Kolohe Andino of San Clemente, Calif., in the Rip Curl Pro Portugal.
Due to the loss at Supertubos in Peniche, Portugal, the door to the world title remained open for four World Surf League competitors, including rankings leader Florence. One of them will wrap it up at the championship tour’s final of 11 stops — the Billabong Pipe Pro at Ehukai Beach, Dec. 8-20.
“It’s all good,” said Florence, who was wearing a jacket to keep warm, after the loss. “I was searching around and couldn’t find one (wave). I get to go home. That’s where I live, and just go surf Pipe and hopefully we get some good waves. We’ll see. It’s going to be exciting. If I win at home, it’s even more meaningful, I feel like, so I’m psyched.”
Brazil’s Gabriel Medina went on to victory in the Rip Curl Pro Portugal on Wednesday, beating Australia’s Julian Wilson 6.93 to 6.33 in the final. Medina, who vaulted one spot to No. 2 in the world after the win, and Wilson, who climbed two spots to No. 4, are chasing Florence for the world title, as is No. 3 Jordy Smith of South Africa.
Medina is on a hot streak, having captured both events on the European swing. The 2014 world champion also won the Quiksilver Pro France earlier this month. With the two victories, he went from having an outside shot at a second world title and a No. 7 ranking to within comfortable striking distance of Florence and five spots higher in the standings.
A year ago, Florence, 25, wrapped up his first world championship at the Rip Curl Pro Portugal, and he was trying to repeat that feat. Now, he has chance to do it in front of the home crowd.
WSL RANKINGS
The four remaining world-title contenders:
1. John John Florence (Haleiwa), 53,350
2. Gabriel Medina (Brazil), 50,250
3. Jordy Smith (South Africa), 47,600
4. Julian Wilson (Australia), 45,200
Florence’s world-title scenarios going into the Billabong Pipe Masters:
>> Can clinch by winning or placing second at Pipeline
>> Can clinch by placing third or fifth at Pipeline if Medina doesn’t win the event
>> Can clinch by placing ninth at Pipeline if Medina doesn’t place second or higher and Smith doesn’t win the event
>> Can clinch by placing as low as 25th if Medina doesn’t place fifth or higher, Smith doesn’t place second or higher and Wilson doesn’t win the event
