Surf Scene: Who will win men’s world title?

VOTE NOW: Who will win the men’s world surfing crown?

INJURIES suck – you could blame it on Rio after a crazy unmakeable air attempt but now the champ, John John Florence, is down and out it’s anyone’s title in the top nine of the WSL World Championship Tour.

Indeed, the world title door has swung wide open.

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Two-time champion, Hawaii’s Florence, is out of contention after rupturing his ACL and is recovering after successful surgery.

Two-time WSL champion John John Florence.

The big question is who will step up and take his place and become the new ratings leader and ultimately world champ.

Florence had this year’s title sewn up with two firsts and was the most progressive and innovative surfer on tour.

But as he gives a thumb’s up from the hospital bed with both legs wrapped up and heavily bandaged, trying to pick this year’s men’s champion is a bit like picking a winner at the Melbourne Cup.

Florence was a sure bet and on the way to be the quickest world champion ever.

So, who’s it going to be?

The Steve Bradbury factor is in full swing with as many as nine potential champions in contention.

The top three at this stage includes Kolohe Andino. The Californian is yet to win a round with two seconds so far and a win at this week’s Jeffreys Bay event would see him grab pole position.

Following hot on the heals is arguably the fastest, most radical on tour, Filipe “Holy” Toledo, who is defending JBay champion and fresh from a win at the last event in Saquarema.

If Toledo successfully defends, he will soar to the lead and be hard to overtake.

Next in third is the South African sentimental favourite Jordy Smith whose best result was a runner-up to Toledo in Brazil.

Is this the turning point for Smith who would become only the third South African-born world champion after Martin Potter in 1989 and Shaun Tomson in 1977?

Next cab off the rank is the “Ninja”, aka Kanoa Igarashi who won his first event at Bali.

The back five include Quiky Pro winner Italo Ferreira, Kelly Slater, notorious thoroughbred Gabriel Medina and then sadly Australia’s Julian Wilson and Ryan Callinan.

Don’t forget there are two throwaways where each competitor can dish two of their worst results from the 11 events. We are at the halfway mark and event six at Jeffreys Bay will have a crucial bearing on 2019 men’s world title.