LOWER TRESTLES, San Clemente, Calif. (Friday, September 6, 2024) - Today, Caity Simmers (USA) and John John Florence (HAW) claimed historic wins at the Lexus WSL Finals, the final event of the season for the World Surf League (WSL) 2024 Championship Tour (CT), and were crowned the 2024 World Champions. Both Simmers and Florence entered the Lexus WSL Finals as the No. 1 seeds and became the first duo to hold their place since the inaugural WSL Finals in 2021, won by Carissa Moore (HAW) and Gabriel Medina (BRA).
Caity Simmers Claims Maiden World Title, Becomes Surfing's Youngest World Champion on the CT
After a sport-changing season, 18-year-old Caity Simmers (USA) capped off 2024 with her first World Title today as she continues to lead surfing's progression to another level. The pride of Oceanside, California, Simmers' incredible showing in the Title Match against reigning WSL Champion Caroline Marks (USA) pushed her performance to historic feats, accruing the highest heat total of the WSL Finals so far, an 18.37 (out of a possible 20). Marking the first women's World Title for California in 40 years, Simmers was hoisted up by some of her closest friends and surrounded by her family and Oceanside community.
In her second season on Tour, Simmers claimed CT wins at the Lexus Pipe Pro, Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, and Vivo Rio Pro and made her Olympic debut all in just nine months.
"It means so much," Simmers said. "I literally was going through every single emotion today, and it just feels crazy. I can't believe it. I was feeling so much love today from everyone. You can look at it that it's all for yourself or you can look at it like it's for those people who support me."
The Women's Title Match went to three heats for just the second time in Finals history after Marks claimed victory in Title Match 1. Despite Simmers getting the advantage in the opening exchange and posting an excellent 8.50 (out of a possible 10), backed up by an 8.33, Marks kept pace, closing the match out with a near-perfect 9.60, the highest single wave score for women in the Finals.
Undeterred, Simmers opened Title Match 2 with her powerful, progressive form to post a 9.17 and eclipse Marks' opening wave. Marks answered right back with an 8.00 before Simmers found herself in the spot for a Lower Trestles dreamer to attack from start to finish with her signature flair and power. Her efforts garnered another near-perfect 9.20 that had the Oceanside fans in attendance erupting on the beach as she posted her historic heat total.
Fireworks ensued in the winner-take-all third match. Simmers opened up with her forehand attack to post a 6.33, while Marks' backhand daggers earned a solid 7.17. But, Simmers eyed down another gem and blasted an excellent 8.33, courtesy of multiple powerful hammers, to seize control and claim her maiden World Title.
"I wanted to go out there and just dance and surf how I wanted to surf and not surf like there was so much weight on it," Simmers said. "Everyone's here because surfing is so great. We're just out there riding waves."
John John Florence Returns Atop the World for Historic Third World Title
At a young age, John John Florence (HAW) was labeled a future World Title contender, and he made those dreams a reality in 2016 and 2017. After a laborious seven years of injury-plagued seasons that saw him become a two-time Olympian, husband, and father, Florence returned to the top of the world for his historic third World Title.
The 31-year-old spoiled Brazil's initial storm with his maiden World Title in 2016, after Adriano de Souza (BRA) and Gabriel Medina (BRA) won back-to-back in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Now, after six years of Brazilian dominance, Florence has ended that streak once more to join the likes of Medina, Andy Irons (HAW), Mick Fanning (AUS), Tom Curren (USA), and more with three World Titles.
"I'm tearing up," Florence said. "I can't believe it. The last seven years have been so tough. There were so many injuries, and just fighting back to being in this position. My family, my wife, my son, my team, everyone. I couldn't have done it without them because of the injuries and the down days and just so much going into these last few years to get to this point."
A battle of WSL Champions unfolded in men's Title Match 1 between Florence and Italo Ferreira (BRA), the 2019 World Champion. A slow start gave way to a fiery performance from Ferreira, who put Florence in an early combination. Florence answered with a 7.17, before staying extremely patient while Ferreira built his scoreline. Requiring an 8.16 in the fading moments, Florence was gifted a Lower Trestles gem that he unloaded his power and progression on for each critical section to earn an excellent 8.33, turning the heat as the horn sounded.
Taking his confidence from Match 1, Florence opened up the crucial Match 2 with a near-perfect 9.70, the single-highest score in WSL Finals history, to deliver a definitive statement and clinch the victory with his trademark layback. Ferreira posted two excellent rides of his own but was left needing a near-perfect 9.96 when the buzzer sounded, allowing Florence to claim his long-awaited third World Title and even the Title count with his greatest rival, Gabriel Medina (BRA).
"What a day," Florence said. "It's been a really hard road getting here. It feels really good to be done and to win again. The list of names that have three World Titles is pretty incredible, and to be part of that now is really fun. I'm stoked to tie it with Gabe [Medina], because he's such a fierce competitor, and we qualified at the same time."
Olympic Gold Medalists Caroline Marks and Italo Ferreira Push the Limits as 2024 Runner-ups
Another incredible season for defending World Champion Caroline Marks (USA) sees the 22-year-old Olympic Gold Medalist place runner-up to the World Title for the second time in her career. Heading into the event in the No. 2 seed, the Floridian, who resides in San Clemente, was able to fend off strong competition from 2021 runner-up Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), in a rematch of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Gold Medal Match.
The first all-goofy-footer battle to take place in the Lexus WSL Finals saw Weston-Webb push Marks to bring out her best. The Brazilian's form had previously powered through victories over Molly Picklum (AUS) and Brisa Hennessy (CRC) in Match 1 and 2, respectively, but Marks was once again able to win ahead of Weston-Webb to meet Simmers in the Title Match.
Appearing in his third Lexus WSL Finals, Italo Ferreira (BRA) repeated the charge from Match 1 to the Title Match that saw him finish runner-up in 2022. The Tokyo Olympic Gold Medalist displayed his unmatched energy as he defeated Australia's two World Title hopefuls, Ethan Ewing (AUS) and Jack Robinson (AUS), in Match 1 and 2, respectively, before meeting Griffin Colapinto (USA) in Match 3.
Ferreira brought his bravado once more to start the match against Colpainto, San Clemente's local hero, posting a 7.60 and taking control. The Californian found his form later in the heat to earn a 7.33 and push Ferreira to respond, with it all coming down to the last exchange. Ferreira's backhand flair bumped Colapinto's requirement up to a 7.20 and the World No. 2, Colapinto, fell just short - his 7.00 ride allowing Ferreira one more chance at a second World Title.
For highlights and more information about the 2024 Lexus WSL Finals, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
2024 Lexus WSL Finals Women's Results:
Women's Title Match 3: Caitlin Simmers (USA) 15.16 DEF. Caroline Marks (USA) 7.17
Women's Title Match 2: Caitlin Simmers (USA) 18.37 DEF. Caroline Marks (USA) 14.17
Women's Title Match 1: Caroline Marks (USA) 17.43 DEF. Caitlin Simmers (USA) 16.87
Women's Match 3: Caroline Marks (USA) 14.20 DEF. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 13.83
Women's Match 2: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 13.77 DEF. Brisa Hennessy (CRC) 13.17
Women's Match 1: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 12.74 DEF. Molly Picklum (AUS) 9.40
2024 Lexus WSL Finals Men's Results:
Men's Title Match 2: John John Florence (HAW) 18.13 DEF. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 16.30
Men's Title Match 1: John John Florence (HAW) 15.50 DEF. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 15.33
Men's Match 3: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 14.47 DEF. Griffin Colapinto (USA) 14.33
Men's Match 2: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 14.57 DEF. Jack Robinson (AUS) 9.94
Men's Match 1: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 15.47 DEF. Ethan Ewing (AUS) 14.83