Epic J-Bay Finals: O’Leary’s Perfect 10 & Bryan’s Breakthrough Win | WSL Highlights 2025
One, epic JB finals, Olirri’s perfect 10 and Brian’s breakthrough win. WSL highlights 2025. Two, Matt McGill skydives into his surf heat at J Bay extreme surfing entrance. Three, Gabriella Brian and Connor Olirri triumph at Jay. Epic 2025 surfing finals. One, Epic Jay Finals. Olirri’s perfect 10 and Brian’s breakthrough win. WSL Highlights 2025. Sometimes nature creates the perfect canvas for sporting drama and Jeff Bay delivered exactly that for the Corona Open. Picture this. Relentless offshore winds sculpting endless lines of pristine waves at Super Tubes, creating dream conditions that separated the tacticians from the mere wave riders. But here’s where it gets controversial. While spectators mourned hometown hero Jordi Smith’s early exit in the round of 16 against Marco Mno, that upset became the catalyst for one of the most strategic showdowns in recent surfing memory. Let’s break down Friday’s action. With massive swells pounding the coast and howling winds grooming perfect barrels, surfers faced an unusual paradox. Too much perfection. Wave selection became absolutely critical. Catching the biggest sets wasn’t automatically advantageous since they often raced ahead with unmakable sections. While medium waves offered more scorable walls, mid tide brought shifting ribs and ridges that turned speed management into a high stakes puzzle, forcing athletes to either skip across faces or risk bogging down in treacherous transitions. Now for the headline stories. Connor Olirri carved his name into Jbe history, outlasting Yagodora in an all goofy food final. Get this, Yago caught twice as many waves, six versus Connors three, but Olirri’s flawless strategy proved quality Trump’s quantity every time. His crowning moment, a jaw-dropping 10-point semi-final ride against Felipe Toledo. That’s elite company considering Toledo’s legendary history at this break. And this is the part most people miss. Olirri now joins a tiny group of goofy foots who’ve conquered this notoriously difficult right-hand point break. On the women’s side, Gabriella Bryan clinched victory by the slimmest margin 13.60 versus 13.34 against yellow jersey holder Molly Plum. But Brian’s real breakthrough came earlier against Tyler Wright. After seven failed attempts, she finally toppled the Titan to secure her WSL Final 5 spot. You could practically see the confidence surge as she started surfing with champion flare afterward. Other pivotal moments, Caroline Marks edged Katie Simmers in a nailbiter thanks to one critical maneuver, leaving Simmers chasing an impossible 6.66 score. PLA’s fierce quarterfinal rematch against Lakey Peterson saw identical 7.17 openers before Piklam unleashed an 8.67 showstopper. Griffin Kalapinto’s tactical mastery against Kenoa Igarashi. Studying waves like a chess match proved you can outsmart momentum. Ethan Yuing’s quarterfinal loss to Olyri 16.37 versus 16.07 07 shattered many brackets after Jordy Smith’s elimination. So, let’s address the elephant in the room. Did Olri rewrite the JB playbook through sheer skill, or was Smith’s absence an asterisk on his victory? And should wave selection be weighted more heavily in scoring when conditions get this complex? Sound off below. We’re diving deep into the comments section for your hottest takes on this legendary showdown. PS American Night Owls missed iconic live action, but the WSL replays are absolute fire. Two, Matt McGill skydives into his surf heat at J Bay. Extreme surfing entrance. Hold on to your board shorts. This pro surfer literally jumped out of a plane to catch his wave. Matt McGilly pulled off a deathdeying stunt at the Corona Sero Open Jay, skydiving straight onto the beach moments before his elimination round heat against a tallow Ferrer. While the World Surf League cheekily compared it to a James Bond scene, that analogy misses the mark entirely. Here’s why. Bond relies on gadgets and scripted coolness, but real wave riding humbles even the slickest heroes. McGilly’s raw adrenalinefueled authenticity channels a different icon. Point breaks Bodie, not 007. And this is where it gets controversial. Should elite athletes gamble with extreme hobbies when their careers hang in the balance? McGilly’s passion for altitude isn’t new. He earned his skydiving license at 16 with his brothers, later progressing to base jumping, a discipline where one misstep means catastrophe. In 2018, he traveled to Twin Falls, Idaho, to train at America’s only legal base jumping bridge, honing skills that blend courage with calculated risk. But here’s the tension. He openly admits wing suit flights could go really bad, acknowledging his surfing career hinges on avoiding disaster. I try to be extra careful, he told the inertia, because surfing is my priority. Yet he keeps leaping. Is this bravery or brinkmanship? Despite the jaw-dropping entrance, Ferrer defeated McGilly in their heat. But the real story isn’t the score. It’s the symbolic clash between professional discipline and pure unbridled daring. Most fans admire McGilly’s audacity, but critics question whether such stunts undermine athletic responsibility. What’s your take? Should surfers or any athletes dabble in life-threatening hobbies? Voice your thoughts below. Three. Gabriella Bryan and Connor Olirri triumph at Jay. Epic 2025 surfing finals. In a thrilling culmination of the surfing season, the finals day of the Corona Open at Jeffre Bay has edged itself into history, celebrating the remarkable achievements of Gabriella Brian and Connor Olirri as the champions of 2025. This event was not just another competition. It was a showcase of talent and determination that lived up to the immense anticipation surrounding it. Connor Olirri made waves quite literally by securing his place among the elite group of goofy-footed surfers who have triumphed at Jbe joining the ranks of legendary figures like Mark Okalipo and three-time world champion Gabriel Medina. Olirri’s victory came after a fierce battle against Yagodora, marking his first ever championship tour CT win. Meanwhile, Dora’s impressive performance, which earned him a runner-up finish, also secured him a coveted spot in the final five. On the women’s side, Gabriella Bryan delivered a stunning performance that saw her rise to the top of the podium, defeating the current world number one, Molly Piklum. This victory not only solidified Brian’s position as world number two heading into Tahiti, but also marked her third CT win of the year. Her exceptional skills throughout the competition have earned her a place in the upcoming Lexus WSL finals in Fiji, where she aims to claim the prestigious Yellow Leaders jersey. Brian’s journey to this point has been nothing short of remarkable as she has taken down formidable opponents including 2023 world champion Caroline Marx and two-time world champion Tyler Wright. The finals day was filled with unforgettable moments, including a jaw-dropping 10-point ride from Olyri during the semi-finals against the three-time event winner Felipe Toledo. After previously defeating the 2022 champion, Ethan Yuing. As the season draws to a close, the men’s rankings are tighter than ever with familiar names vying for the top positions. Picklam’s fourth appearance in the finals this year has placed her firmly in the lead, but the competition is fierce. With Caitlyn Simmers officially securing her spot as well with significant changes to the Lexus WSL finals in Fiji, the importance of the yellow jersey has reached new heights. All eyes will be on the breathtaking waves of Tupo where the final showdown will determine who will join the ranks of the Lexus WSL finals Fiji at the Lexus Tahiti Pro scheduled from August 7th to 16th. But here’s where it gets controversial. With such a competitive field, who do you think will ultimately take home the yellow jersey? Will it be Brian with her momentum, or will another contender rise to the occasion? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
00:00 – Intro
00:25 – Epic J-Bay Finals: O’Leary’s Perfect 10 & Bryan’s Breakthrough Win | WSL Highlights 2025
04:17 – Matt McGillivray Skydives INTO His Surf Heat at J-Bay! | Extreme Surfing Entrance!
06:34 – Gabriela Bryan & Connor O’Leary Triumph at J-Bay | Epic 2025 Surfing Finals
1. Epic J-Bay Finals: O’Leary’s Perfect 10 & Bryan’s Breakthrough Win | WSL Highlights 2025
Watch the incredible highlights from the 2025 Corona Cero Open at Jeffreys Bay where Connor O’Leary scored a perfect 10 and claimed his first Championship Tour victory, while Gabriela Bryan secured her spot in the WSL Final 5.
In perfect offshore wind conditions at Supertubes, the all-goofy final saw O’Leary defeat Yago Dora with quality over quantity, scoring higher on just 3 waves compared to Dora’s 6. The Australian’s semifinal perfect 10 against Filipe Toledo was the highlight of the event, featuring a technical barrel ride and several critical maneuvers.
On the women’s side, Gabriela Bryan’s 13.60 narrowly edged out Molly Picklum’s 13.34 in a tightly contested final. Bryan also defeated Tyler Wright for the first time in seven attempts, while Caroline Marks prevailed over Caity Simmers in another exciting matchup.
Wave selection proved crucial as howling offshore winds created classic South African conditions with endless lines stacked to the horizon. The medium-sized waves offered the best scoring potential as bigger sets swung wide with unmakeable sections.
O’Leary joins an elite group of goofy-footed surfers to win at the challenging right-hand point break of Jeffreys Bay, writing his name in the surfing history books with this memorable performance.
The 2025 Corona Cero Open at J-Bay delivered world-class surfing in world-class conditions, proving once again why Jeffreys Bay is considered one of the greatest waves in the world.
2. Matt McGillivray Skydives INTO His Surf Heat at J-Bay! | Extreme Surfing Entrance!
Surfer Matt McGillivray just pulled off the most epic entrance in pro surfing history!
The South African competitor skydived straight onto the beach before his elimination round heat at the Corona Cero Open J-Bay against Italo Ferreira. McGillivray, known for his BASE jumping and wingsuit flying, combined his love of extreme sports with surfing in a stunt likened to James Bond (but he’s more Bodhi from Point Break!).
Despite losing the heat, the move cemented his reputation as one of the most fearless surfers on the WSL Championship Tour. Watch the insane skydive drop and learn more about McGillivray’s daredevil lifestyle!
#MattMcGillivray #SkydiveSurfing #JSBay #gruperasromanticas
3. Gabriela Bryan & Connor O’Leary Triumph at J-Bay | Epic 2025 Surfing Finals
Relive the unforgettable moments from the Corona Cero Open J-Bay as Gabriela Bryan and Connor O’Leary claim victory in an electrifying Finals Day. Watch how O’Leary, a goofy-footed surfer, made history by joining legends like Mark Occhilupo and Gabriel Medina on the winners’ list. In a nail-biting finish, Bryan dethroned World No. 1 Molly Picklum to secure her spot as World No. 2 heading into Tahiti. With standout performances against surfing giants like Caroline Marks and Tyler Wright, Bryan proves she’s a force to be reckoned with. O’Leary’s jaw-dropping 10-point ride sealed his first-ever CT win. Don’t miss these iconic moments that have set the stage for an intense battle at the upcoming Lexus WSL Finals Fiji. Tune in to see who will wear the Yellow Jersey at Teahupo’o!
