LOWER TRESTLES, San Clemente, Calif., USA (Thursday, September 5, 2023) – The Lexus WSL Finals, the final stop on the World Surf League (WSL) 2024 Championship Tour (CT), will likely start tomorrow, Friday, September 6, at 8:00 a.m. PDT. The WSL Commissioner’s Office issued a Yellow Alert, meaning the competition will likely be called ON tomorrow. They will assess the conditions in the morning and make the final decision by 7:30 a.m.
The Lexus WSL Finals is the one-day, World-Title-deciding competition that will see 10 athletes compete for the 2024 World Titles. An elite cast of contenders will compete at Lower Trestles in San Clemente, Calif. to declare themselves the best in the world. Current World No. 1s Caitlin Simmers (USA) and John John Florence (HAW) pushed the world’s best all season long to claim the top honors and now wait to see who will challenge them in their respective Title Matches.
All eyes have been locked on the forecast to see which day will host the best surfing conditions to kick off competitive surfing’s ultimate, one-day battle for World Titles. With favorable winds and a pulse of S swell set to arrive to provide three-to-four-foot conditions at the famed Lower Trestles, the WSL Champions may be crowned by day’s end tomorrow, on Friday, September 6.
“It looks like tomorrow is going to be a really good for us and Surfline has even just upgraded their prediction for the size,” said Jessi Miley-Dyer, WSL Commissioner. “We’re down here today for the training, and the energy is amazing already. The surfers are looking more ready than ever, and everyone’s super excited about what really looks like an 8:00 a.m. start tomorrow morning.”
Phenom Caitlin Simmers Leads Women’s Formidable Final 5 Back to Lower Trestles
Surfing witnessed an incredible year of progression throughout the CT season. Oceanside, California’s Caity Simmers (USA) led the charge and emerged as the frontrunner following the conclusion of the regular CT season in Fiji. Simmers’ surge through 2024 helped push the standard alongside the world’s best surfers, including Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) and Molly Picklum (AUS). Now, all that remains for Simmers is to fend off Weston-Webb, Picklum, reigning WSL Champion Caroline Marks (USA), and 2023 World Title contender Brisa Hennessy (CRC) as each looks to etch their name into surfing’s most sought-after trophy – the Duke Kahanamoku World Champions Trophy.
“It’s a fast process in my mind, like a tornado,” said Simmers. “I’ve just been trying to slow down and do the things I normally would do, just with a little more effort into surfing. And to do just every little thing I can to be in the best form. I felt a lot more comfortable this year just being more familiar with the places after going to a lot of them for the first time last year.”
Two-time WSL Champion John John Florence Eyes Iconic Third Title
One of surfing’s most well-known names of the modern era, John John Florence (HAW), became the World Champion in 2016 and 2017, nearly matching the legendary Andy Irons (HAW) as the first man to earn three back-to-back Titles since 2004. Though riddled with injury, Florence entered the 2024 season with a new competitive edge that helped drive progression and power to new heights alongside a stacked cast of the world’s best.
“I’m really excited to be a part of it this year because my last World Title was won a completely different way,” said Florence. “So it’s fun to battle for a World Title on the day against No. 2, and it’s just really exciting. I have a lot of good memories here, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Heavy-Hitting Contenders Look to Etch Their Name in History
The No. 1 seeds will wait to see who rises from the list of world-class contenders and then go head-to-head in the Title Match, which is the best two out of three heats.
Residing in San Clemente, reigning WSL Champion Caroline Marks (USA) will return to the Lower Trestles, but this time ranked No. 2 after her surge to a maiden World Title began ranked No. 3 in 2023. Marks will wait to face the winner of Match 2 after Match 1 features Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) and Molly Picklum (AUS) to determine who will go on to battle Brisa Hennessy (CRC).
“It’s been an amazing year, and last year was amazing as well. It’s just a dream to have all my friends and family here,” said Marks. “I’ve looked forward to living out here for a while, and San Clemente has kind of adopted me, which has been really cool. It’s a different feeling this year. You have a target on your back once you’ve already won and you just want to do it again and again and again. I’m just really grateful for the opportunity to be back in this position.”
Southern California’s newest World Title hope, Griffin Colapinto (USA), returns to his home break of Lower Trestles for a redemption run at overtaking the Lexus WSL Finals straight off his Fiji Corona Pro win. San Clemente supporters filled the cobblestones of Trestles, cheering on Colapinto, who was ultimately defeated by 2023 World Title runner-up Ethan Ewing (AUS). Now, Colapinto is back at the No. 2 ranking and awaits his opponent starting in Match 1 between No. 5 Italo Ferreira (BRA) and No. 4 Ewing before they must face No. 3 Jack Robinson (AUS) in Match 2.
“It felt like I was on a good rhythm in Fiji, and things were just going my way,” said Colapinto. “I was just flowing and hanging out with my friends, and I feel like I really thrive in that environment. We’re home now and I’m doing it again, so it’s really nice.”
WSL Surf Night Brings San Clemente and Neighboring Communities Together
The Top 5 contenders joined WSL Surf Night held at San Clemente’s Community Center and the crowd came in the masses. Young kids and adults alike poured into the surf town to get their opportunity to meet the 2024 World Title contenders, enjoy food and giveaways, and see some of the activations surrounding the Lexus WSL Finals. An electric atmosphere MC’ed by Chris Cote was full of smiles, cheers, and words from all 10 of the contenders fresh out of a session at Lower Trestles.
WSL Rising Tides Inspires Surfing’s Next Gen in San Clemente
From Oahu’s North Shore to Portugal, to Brazil, and back to California, WSL Rising Tides continues to spread the stoke and inspire the next generation of young surfers globally. California’s rising talents took over the San Clemente Pier and were treated to a full session alongside 2024 Rookie of the Year and San Clemente’s own Sawyer Lindblad (USA) alongside CT veteran Lakey Peterson (USA). The two stars provided all the smiles, mentorship and a session to help keep pushing the next generation toward chasing World Title aspirations of their own.
“It’s amazing to be here today, and I see a lot of these girls almost every day when I’m home surfing in San Clemente,” said Lindblad. “It’s super cool to give back to the community and have a fun surf with all the girls. There’s a group of girls who go to the middle school I went to, so they’re all on the surf team that I was on, so it’s really cool. I’m definitely seeing more girls in the lineup than ever before, and it’s amazing.”
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com
