LOWER TRESTLES, San Clemente, California (September 07, 2022) - The World Surf League (WSL) has put the World Title-deciding Rip Curl WSL Finals on Yellow Alert for a probable start within 24 hours from now. The forecast at Lower Trestles, San Clemente, CA looks very promising for the men and women's WSL Final 5 to face-off for the World Title. This one-day, winner-take-all event will decide the undisputed 2022 World Champions. Tune-in tomorrow, September 8 at 7:30am PDT for the official call, where the competition could be ON at 8:00am PDT.
Filipe Toledo (BRA) in the inaugural Rip Curl WSL Finals. - WSL / Nolan
"We're going on Yellow Alert for a possible start in the next 24 hours," said Jessi Miley-Dyer, WSL SVP of Tours and Head of Competition. "Right now it looks like we've got great waves on Thursday and Friday on the forecast, but we do have this potential storm with the potential for onshore winds for Friday. Having said that, that's why we're going on Yellow Alert. We know we're going to get good waves and we could be on."
All eyes will be on the Rip Curl WSL Finals and the world's best surfers including ranking's leaders Carissa Moore (HAW) and Filipe Toledo (BRA) as they try to fend off a hungry field of contenders looking to dismantle their phenomenal seasons.
Olympic Medalists Italo Ferreira and Kanoa Igarashi Kickoff World-Class Clashes To Start the Day
A battle of Olympic Medalists will start the hunt for a World Title with Gold Medalist Italo Ferreira (BRA) taking on Silver Medalist Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) in men's Match 1. This will not be the first time the two have faced off with Igarashi leading the duals two-to-one, but it will be the most important.
"I think Italo (Ferreira) and I have had a lot of heats together and I think I owe him one (laughs)," said Igarashi. " If someone were to ask me if I had to pick one surfer to compete against at Lowers it'd be Italo. In saying that, it's a huge task at hand and if I want to be a World Champion there's a lot of other guys I have to go against, but right now I just have to focus on my first heat."
The World Title trophies await this year's champions. - WSL / Nolan
A marathon Rip Curl WSL Finals day awaits for the likes of Igarashi and seven-time WSL Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), who are both seeded No. 5 and have the longest path to achieve a World Title. Depending on how the action goes, it could come down to the two most decorated women on the CT, Gilmore and five-time World Champion Moore in the Title Match. If Gilmore were to take the win she would have the most women's World Titles in history, but Moore is hot on her heels.
"It's amazing that Carissa (Moore) has five World Titles now and is going for a sixth, that's a little scary (laughs)," said Gilmore. "An eighth World Title would be amazing and I'm excited for the opportunity."
World No. 2 Jack Robinson (AUS), and World No. 3 Ethan Ewing (AUS), both have a shot at being the first man to bring home a World Title for Australia since Mick Fanning in 2013 to revitalize one of surfing's powerhouse nations.
"It's been a pretty stressful year with not much time between events to take it all in but I'm excited to be here," said Ewing. "All these guys and women just inspire me everyday to be better and I'm happy to be here with them. I'm just going to do my best and see where it takes me."
(From left): Ethan Ewing (AUS) - WSL / Nolan
Johanne Defay (FRA) is already ahead of where she ended last season, coming to the Rip Curl WSL Finals as World No. 2 after entering as World No. 5 in 2021. The French competitor surged through the 2022 season but will have to deal with the winner of women's Match 2 featuring 2021 World Title runner-up Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) and the winner of women's Match 1, Gilmore or 2022 standout Brisa Hennessy (CRI).
"I started fifth last year and I'm second this year so it's a big change and I feel ready to take on the challenge," said Defay. "I think it's way better to be second, there are less heats to do and just like everybody else I think it was a big year. We are all super tired but at the same time proud, and I feel like everybody is taking it very simply and just wants to put on their best. I think a good show is coming."
finals bracket - WSL
All roads lead to the grand finale, the Title Match with World No. 1s Moore and Toledo. All competitors are looking to cement themselves in surfing history on the sport's most highly-anticipated day of competition, but only one woman and one man will walk away with the honor of being this year's World Champion.
Watch LIVE The event window for the Rip Curl WSL Finals opens on September 8 and holds a competition window through September 16, 2022. The event will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com, WSL's YouTube channel, and the free WSL app. Check local listings for coverage from the WSL's broadcast partners.
The Rip Curl WSL Finals is proudly supported by Rip Curl, Red Bull, Oakley, Turtle Bay, 805, Flying Embers, Sambazon, Tequila Eterno Verano, Shiseido, Pura Vida, Hydro Flask, Expedia, 805 Beer, Alaska Airlines, Fu Wax, True Surf, and Turtle Bay.
COVID-19 Updates The health and safety of our athletes, staff, and the local community are of the utmost importance and the WSL has been working closely with local authorities to put a robust set of procedures in place to keep everyone safe.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
About the WSL The World Surf League (WSL) is the global home of competitive surfing, crowning the undisputed World Champions since 1976 and showcasing the world's best surfers on the world's best waves. WSL is comprised of the Tours and Competition division, which oversees and operates more than 180 global competitions each year; WSL WaveCo, home of the world's largest high-performance, human-made wave; and WSL Studios, an independent producer of unscripted and scripted projects.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.