Aussie surfing world title showdown set to hit the waves of Tahiti after Ethan Ewing secured maiden World Surf League tour victory to close the gap on fellow Aussie Jack Robinson
- Ethan Ewing took out the Corona Open at Jefferys Bay with a 9.13 wave
- The Queenslander edged out fellow Australian Jack Robinson, who is world no.2
- Robinson and Ewing are now poised as hot contenders for the world title in September
Young gun Queenslander Ethan Ewing carved up the pack at Jeffreys Bay on Friday to lock in his first career tour win – edging out fellow Australian Jack Robinson to set up a mouthwatering world title contest.
Ewing, 24, scored a massive 9.13 wave which was too much for Robinson to chase in the J Bay final.
Ethan Ewing (left) takes out the J-Bay Corona Open, beating fellow Australian Jack Robinson (right) with a massive 9.13 wave
The duel marked the first all-Australian final since 2015 and Mick Fanning’s infamous shark encounter, where he was battling out for the trophy against Julian Wilson.
The barrels at Jeffreys Bay reached a mammoth two metre swell, which are prized waves on the tour.
‘This event is one of the dream events to win,’ Ewing said.
‘I’ve been so inspired by the young guys this year like Jack.
It’s been such a good year I feel like my first year on tour I got so smoked, last year was kind of a warm up and this year I feel like I’m comfortable and showing my surfing.’
Ewing carved up all competition and earned a nice $100,000 check to go along with the Corona Open title, which is the destination of the infamous 2015 Mick Fanning shark encounter
Ewing’s victory pushes him to no.3 in the men’s World Surf League standings with Robinson in a firm spot at no.2.
The Australians are now hot contenders to take out the men’s championship that begins on September 8 at the Lower Trestles in California.
First, the duo must take on the waves of Tahiti at the Outerknown Pro for event 10 of the championship series.
Ewings hoises the J-Bay trophy high, as he smiles for his maiden career victory which takes him to no.3 in the world
Brazilian Filipe Toledo sits at a clear first place on 53,360 points while Aussie Ewing moved past 2019 world champion Italo Ferreira with his 10,000 point triumph on the eastern coast of South Africa.
Ewing’s previous best throughout the tour was third place at the Margaret River Pro where Robinson took top prize in the final against Hawaiian John Florence.
Robinson notched his second win of the season at the following event, the Quiksilver Pro in Indonesia.
Jack Robinson celebrates winning the Quiksilver Pro victory on June 4, the second win of his 2022 championship tour
The winner takes all Rip Curl final in September is a surf off between the world’s top five, based off total championship points after the calendar 10 events.
Ewing’s maiden victory earned him a $100,000 pay check to go along with the Corona Bay Open title, taking his career winnings to $142,000
Tatiana Weston-Webb of Brazil took out the women’s event, beating Australian Tyler Wright who moves up to seventh on the championship standings.