Johanne Defay

Summary

Johanne Defay (born 19 November 1993) is a French professional surfer. She was born in Le Puy-en-Velay, Haute-Loire, Auvergne, France. She qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games.

Johanne Defay
Johanne Defay at the 2016 US Open of Surfing
Personal information
Born (1993-11-19) 19 November 1993 (age 30)
Le Puy-en-Velay, Haute-Loire, Auvergne, France
ResidenceLa Réunion, Overseas department, France
Height5 ft 5.6 in (1.67 m)
Weight134 lb (61 kg)
Surfing career
Best yearRanked #3 WSL CT World Tour – 2022
SponsorsWakanda, GoPro Cameras, Smith Optics, Superdry Surf Company, Smoothstar Skateboards, Tim Spirit, Seventyone Percent Skincare
Major achievements
Surfing specifications
StanceNatural (regular) foot
Shaper(s)Channel Islands
Medal record
Women's surfing
Representing  France
World Games
Gold medal – first place 2017 Biarritz Team
Silver medal – second place 2017 Biarritz Women
Silver medal – second place 2023 La Bocana Team
Silver medal – second place 2024 Arecibo Team
Bronze medal – third place 2023 La Bocana Women
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Arecibo Women

She began surfing at the age of 8 off the beaches of Reunion Island, which is her home today. After Johanne's first competition when she was only ten years old, she quickly moved through the European amateur ranks to eventually take on the WSL World Qualifying Series. In 2008 Defay almost gave up competing. She was finding it difficult to transition from the juniors to the WQS and then the economy crashed causing many surf companies cancel their sponsorships. At that time, Johanne found herself without sponsors and also without decent results. However, with her parents’ encouragement, Johanne was able to qualify for the World Championship Tour within two years.

She has won five World Surf League events, the Vans US Open of Surfing 2015, the Fiji Women's Pro 2016, Uluwatu CT 2018, the Jeep Surf Ranch Pro 2021[1] and the Quiksilver/ROXY Pro G-Land 2022.

Competitive highlights edit

  • 2016 WSL 2016 Rank: 5
  • 2016 1st Fiji Women's Pro – Fiji
  • 2016 3rd Roxy Pro Gold Coast – Australia
  • 2015 8th World Championship Tour
  • 2015 3rd Fiji Women's Pro – Fiji
  • 2015 5th Rip Curl Pro Bell's Beach – Australia
  • 2015 1st Vans US Open of Surfing – California
  • 2015 5th Cascais Women's Pro – Portugal
  • 2015 5th Roxy Pro – France
  • 2014 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR – 8th on Final Ranking
  • 2014 3rd Swatch Women's Pro – California
  • 2014 3rd Roxy Pro – France
  • 2014 5th Fiji Women's Pro – Fiji
  • 2014 5th Vans US Open of Surfing – California
  • 2014 5th Cascais Women's Pro – Portugal
  • 2014 5th Target Maui Pro – Hawaii
  • 2013 3rd Junior World Championship Florianopolis – Brazil
  • 2013 1st France Champion Brétignolles sur Mer – France
  • 2013 1st Pontevedra Junior Pro Surf – Spain
  • 2013 Open European Champion
  • 2013 Junior European Champion
  • 2013 Finalist of the 6 stars WQS Swatch Girls Pro – France
  • 2013 1st Swatch Girls Junior Pro – France
  • 2013 1st Soöruz Junior Pro – France
  • 2013 1st Gijòn Junior Pro – Spain
  • 2013 2nd O’Neil Junior Pro – Spain
  • 2013 1st Soöruz Junior Pro – France
  • 2013 4th Coupe de France – France

Career Victories edit

WCT Wins
Year Event Venue Country
2024 MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Supertubos, Peniche   Portugal
2022 Quiksilver/ROXY Pro G-Land G-Land, Banyuwangi   Indonesia
2021 Jeep Surf Ranch Pro Lemoore, California   United States
2018 Uluwatu CT - Women's Uluwatu, Bali   Indonesia
2016 Fiji Women's Pro Namotu, Tavarua   Fiji
2015 Women's Vans US Open of Surfing Huntington Beach, California   United States

WSL World Championship Tour edit

Tournament 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Roxy Pro Gold Coast 13th 13th 3rd 3rd 9th 5th Cancel due to

covid-19 crisis[2]

Drug Aware Margaret River Pro 9th 9th 13th 9th Canceled and

finished at Uluwatu[3]

9th
Rip Curl Women's Pro Bells Beach 13th 5th 5th 5th 5th 9th
Rio Women's Pro 13th 9th 5th 2nd 9th 9th
Corona Bali Protected - - - - 13th 9th
Uluwatu CT - - - - 1st -
Fiji Women's Pro 5th 3rd 1st 5th - -
Corona open J-Bay - - - - 5th 5th
Vans US Open of Surfing 5th 1st 13th 5th 5th -
Swatch Women's Pro Trestles 3rd 9th 5th 9th - -
Surf Ranch Pro - - - - 5th 2nd
Roxy Pro France 3rd 5th 9th 9th 5th 3rd
Cascais Women's Pro 5th 5th 3rd 13th - -
MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal - - - - - 5th
Maui Pro 5th 9th 13th 13th 5th 5th
Rank 8th 8th 5th 9th 5th 8th

References edit

  1. ^ Boxscore World Sportswire (21 June 2021). "Johanne Defay and Filipe Toledo Win Jeep Surf Ranch Pro presented by Adobe". boxscorenews.com. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Breaking: 2020 WSL Tour Canceled". 17 July 2020.
  3. ^ "Cancelled Margaret River Event to Finish at Uluwatu". 10 May 2018.

External links edit