After six demanding events in Hawaii, Australia and California, in what's sure to be the most tumultuous season of the WSL Championship Tour, it's time for a much-needed breath before we move forward into historical waters.
The sport of surfing is about to undergo a transformative few months. This July, surfers will march in the pageantry of the Olympic's Opening Ceremony for the first time. Gold medals and national pride will be on the line at what may be the most high-stakes surf contest ever.
But is it the most high-stakes surf contest ever? That depends on one's perspective. Because a month after the Olympic Games conclude, the first Rip Curl WSL Finals will crown surfing's World Champions at Lower Trestles. Never before has a surfing World Champion been decided in a one-day, winner-take all event.
From the battle at the basin between Brazilians Medina and Toledo, to Defay taking down world number one Moore, the Jeep Surf Ranch Pro presented by Adobe had it all.
So, after the high-pressure, high-performance battle of the basin at the Jeep Surf Ranch Pro presented by Adobe, and as the CT takes a quick break for the Olympics, where do we stand in terms of the race for the WSL Final 5? And just what do the results from Lemoore mean for it all?
For starters, if there was any question before, there certainly is not now: The Brazilian men have a stranglehold on the WSL Leaderboard. Gabriel Medina has become the first male to clinch his spot for the Rip Curl WSL Finals. Italo Ferreira certainly would have liked to have been more in the conversation on Finals Day in Lemoore, but he's still holding onto the number two spot.
Meanwhile, Filipe Toledo's victory, his second of the season, has moved him up to third on the leaderboard, giving Brazil the top three positions.
Sportsmanship wins the day as Filipe Toledo takes the Jeep Surf Ranch Pro and Gabriel Medina locked in his spot in the Rip Curl WSL Finals. - WSL / Jackson Van Kerk
The big mover is Griffin Colapinto, who thanks to a clutch performance at the Surf Ranch, has climbed three spots and is now into the WSL Final 5. With lead-footed South African journeyman Jordy Smith out with an injury (and hoping to recover in time for the Olympics), rookie Morgan Cibilic jumped up a spot and is now in fourth.
Like Medina, Carissa Moore has punched her ticked to the Rip Curl WSL Finals with her result at the Surf Ranch. She's looking to defend her 2019 Title and is looking at potentially capturing her fifth title, which would put her only two behind Stephanie Gilmore and Layne Beachley, who are tied at a record seven.
Johanne Defay continued her upward trajectory thanks to her long-sought Surf Ranch win. She's now sitting in second on the leaderboard, and given the power of her both her forehand and backhand, has to be considered a huge threat on the A-frame peak at Lower Trestles.
Griffin Colapinto has cracked the WSL Final 5 and his making a strong case for seeing a hometown hero at Lowers in September. Think he's thrown a few of these on the Lowers Left? - WSL / Jackson Van Kerk
Sally Fitzgibbons, Tatiana Weston-Webb and Gilmore round out the WSL Final 5 at the moment, as they are starting to create some separation from the rest of the pack. So, while all eyes have been on Moore, Gilmore's pursuit of a record-breaking eighth Title continues in earnest. Who knows, maybe she'll break out a single-fin at Lowers and smoke everyone? Wouldn't that be something.
Caroline Marks and Isabella Nichols are knocking on the door, but it will take something special at the final two stops of the season in Mexico and Tahiti.
With the Championship Tour hitting the pause button until after the Olympics, the next stop will be the Corona Open Mexico presented by Quiksilver, which doesn't start until August 10. This gives all the surfers, or at least those not competing in the Olympics, a little time to hit reset and steady themselves for their final charge down the homestretch. 2021 was always going to be a year unlike any other, and as we're seeing, that's certainly been true so far.
WSL Women's Championship Tour Leaderboard Top 5:
Carissa Moore 43,855 pts
Johanne Defay 34,635 pts
Sally Fitzgibbons 34,270 pts
Tatiana Weston-Webb 33,625 pts
Stephanie Gilmore 29,390 pts
WSL Men's Championship Tour Leaderboard Top 5:
Gabriel Medina: 46,720 pts
Italo Ferreira: 33,555 pts
Filipe Toledo: 32,065 pts
Morgan Cibilic: 24,610 pts
Griffin Colapinto: 22,235 pts
WSL Final 5 Implications: The State Of The World Title Race At The Olympic Break
Jake Howard
After six demanding events in Hawaii, Australia and California, in what's sure to be the most tumultuous season of the WSL Championship Tour, it's time for a much-needed breath before we move forward into historical waters.
The sport of surfing is about to undergo a transformative few months. This July, surfers will march in the pageantry of the Olympic's Opening Ceremony for the first time. Gold medals and national pride will be on the line at what may be the most high-stakes surf contest ever.
But is it the most high-stakes surf contest ever? That depends on one's perspective. Because a month after the Olympic Games conclude, the first Rip Curl WSL Finals will crown surfing's World Champions at Lower Trestles. Never before has a surfing World Champion been decided in a one-day, winner-take all event.
So, after the high-pressure, high-performance battle of the basin at the Jeep Surf Ranch Pro presented by Adobe, and as the CT takes a quick break for the Olympics, where do we stand in terms of the race for the WSL Final 5? And just what do the results from Lemoore mean for it all?
For starters, if there was any question before, there certainly is not now: The Brazilian men have a stranglehold on the WSL Leaderboard. Gabriel Medina has become the first male to clinch his spot for the Rip Curl WSL Finals. Italo Ferreira certainly would have liked to have been more in the conversation on Finals Day in Lemoore, but he's still holding onto the number two spot.
Meanwhile, Filipe Toledo's victory, his second of the season, has moved him up to third on the leaderboard, giving Brazil the top three positions.
The big mover is Griffin Colapinto, who thanks to a clutch performance at the Surf Ranch, has climbed three spots and is now into the WSL Final 5. With lead-footed South African journeyman Jordy Smith out with an injury (and hoping to recover in time for the Olympics), rookie Morgan Cibilic jumped up a spot and is now in fourth.
Like Medina, Carissa Moore has punched her ticked to the Rip Curl WSL Finals with her result at the Surf Ranch. She's looking to defend her 2019 Title and is looking at potentially capturing her fifth title, which would put her only two behind Stephanie Gilmore and Layne Beachley, who are tied at a record seven.
Johanne Defay continued her upward trajectory thanks to her long-sought Surf Ranch win. She's now sitting in second on the leaderboard, and given the power of her both her forehand and backhand, has to be considered a huge threat on the A-frame peak at Lower Trestles.
Sally Fitzgibbons, Tatiana Weston-Webb and Gilmore round out the WSL Final 5 at the moment, as they are starting to create some separation from the rest of the pack. So, while all eyes have been on Moore, Gilmore's pursuit of a record-breaking eighth Title continues in earnest. Who knows, maybe she'll break out a single-fin at Lowers and smoke everyone? Wouldn't that be something.
Caroline Marks and Isabella Nichols are knocking on the door, but it will take something special at the final two stops of the season in Mexico and Tahiti.
With the Championship Tour hitting the pause button until after the Olympics, the next stop will be the Corona Open Mexico presented by Quiksilver, which doesn't start until August 10. This gives all the surfers, or at least those not competing in the Olympics, a little time to hit reset and steady themselves for their final charge down the homestretch. 2021 was always going to be a year unlike any other, and as we're seeing, that's certainly been true so far.
WSL Women's Championship Tour Leaderboard Top 5:
Carissa Moore 43,855 pts
Johanne Defay 34,635 pts
Sally Fitzgibbons 34,270 pts
Tatiana Weston-Webb 33,625 pts
Stephanie Gilmore 29,390 pts
WSL Men's Championship Tour Leaderboard Top 5:
Gabriel Medina: 46,720 pts
Italo Ferreira: 33,555 pts
Filipe Toledo: 32,065 pts
Morgan Cibilic: 24,610 pts
Griffin Colapinto: 22,235 pts
Gabriel Medina
Best clips from Gabriel Medina, Tatiana Weston-Webb, Yago Dora, and Italo Ferreira over the 2024 Championship Tour.
Featuring Gabriel Medina, Tatiana Weston-Webb, Vahine Fierro, Caroline Marks, Sawyer Lindblad, Ramzi Boukhiam, Ryan Callinan, Kanoa
Featuring Barron Mamiya, Molly Picklum, Gabriel Medina, Tatiana Weston-Webb, John John Florence, Erin Brooks, and Macy Callaghan.
Featuring Gabriel Medina, Griffin Colapinto, Yago Dora, Leonardo Fioravanti, Erin Brooks, Ethan Ewing, Tatiana Weston-Webb, and Rio Waida.
Gabriel Medina is mathematically in the hunt to make the WSL Final 5 still and goes excellent in the Opening Round to begin his charge in
Rip Curl WSL Finals
Relive one of the biggest days in surfing as the five top men and women battle it out at all-time trestles.
Medina garantiu seu terceiro título mundial após uma das temporadas mais dominantes da história do Championship Tour.
Medina secured his third World Title after one of the most dominant seasons in Championship Tour history.
The Rip Curl WSL Finals just wrapped and here are the best photographs that sum up an action packed day of competition
Countdown the top ten highest scoring waves from the inaugural Rip Curl WSL Finals at Lower Trestles.