John's last event win was in El Salvador, on a wave that bears some resemblance to the rights at Lowers. Photo by Aaron Hughes/WSL

Here Are Your Definitive 2024 World Title Contenders

Who’s spending September riding e-bikes and crossing train tracks?

news // Aug 24, 2024

Words by Pedro Ramos

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Both the Olympics and the rapid-fire Fiji event did much to erase the memory of mediocre waves that dominated 2024 tour stops.

An event that, in the recent past, could have simply been a victory lap for those wearing the yellow spandex ended up providing welcome entertainment — not only due to the above-average wave quality but also because a total of eight surfers were still in contention for a spot on the slippery cobblestones of Lower Trestles come September.

As the mist has settled, here are your Top 5 ranked men and women from this year’s regulars CT season and the potential winners of the Duke Kahanamoku WSL Champions’ Trophy.

Men’s CT

1. John Florence

Gotta expect a few of these at Lowers. Photo: WSL/Hughes

The eldest of the Florence brothers and a two-time world champion (2016 and 2017), John was the only surfer on the men’s side to enter the last event of the regular season with a guaranteed spot in the Final 5. After years plagued by injury, 2024 marks John’s maiden appearance in the WSL Finals. His best result at Trestles was a runner-up finish to Jordy Smith in the 2014 Hurley Pro. In 2017, he lost to Filipe Toledo, finishing 3rd in what was his last appearance at the venue. He’ll need to win 2/3 heats to win his third world title this year.

2. Griffin Colapinto

Watch out for the quiet ones? Photo: Ryan Heywood

Griffin qualified for the 2023 WSL Finals to much fanfare, finishing second behind Filipe Toledo in the regular season. Now, for the second season in a row, Griffin finishes just behind Florence, and is aiming to improve on his 3rd-place result from Finals Day last year. Born and raised in San Clemente, Griffin is no stranger to the Lowers lineup. His accrued experience and a rehashed Matthew McConaughey viral pep talk might be just what he needs to think, feel, and do, in order to achieve his dream.

3. Jack Robinson

Often labeled a ‘good wave surfer’ (as if that’s a drawback), Jack has developed a versatile repertoire to suit any conditions. Photo Daniel Smorigo/WSL

The West Oz cave spider and Olympic Silver Medalist made his first full tour appearance in 2021. The following year, he qualified for the Final 5 after finishing runner-up to Filipe Toledo in the regular season. On Finals Day, he was defeated by Italo Ferreira, finishing 3rd. In 2023, Jack narrowly clinched a Final 5 spot by finishing 5th in the regular season but was quickly eliminated by João Chianca in his opening heat. This year marks Jack’s third consecutive appearance in the WSL Finals.

4. Ethan Ewing

Third time’s a charm? EE at last year’s Finals Day. Photo by Pat Nolan/WSL

Like his fellow countryman, the North Straddie rail baron has secured a spot on Finals Day twice — finishing 3rd in both the 2022 and 2023 regular season rankings. In his Finals debut, Ethan lost to Italo Ferreira in his first and only heat, but in 2023, he redeemed himself by defeating João Chianca and Griffin Colapinto before falling to two-time World Champion Filipe Toledo. Some still believe he did the best surfing that day.

5. Italo Ferreira

Based on statistics, there’s a 6.25% chance you’ll be seeing one of these at Trestles next month. Photo by Thiago Diz/WSL

The 2024 WSL Finals will be the first with only one Brazilian surfer in the mix. Italo was defeated by Filipe Toledo in both of his previous Finals Day appearances: first in 2021 after finishing 2nd in the regular season, and again in 2022 after placing 4th. The energetic goof from Baía Formosa lost the final matchup on the day Filipe won his first World Title, missing out on the chance to claim his second title after his 2019 curtain-call victory against Gabriel Medina at Pipeline.

Women’s CT

1. Caity Simmers

Caity enters the WSL Finals as a clear favorite, on a wave that seems tailor-made for her. Photo: Tyrone Bradley/Red Bull Content Pool

Like Florence, the pride of Oceanside entered the Fiji event with her Final 5 spot already secured — thanks to three event wins in 2024. After finishing the 2023 season in 5th place, Caity made her Finals Day debut in her rookie year. She won a heat against Molly Picklum but was later defeated by Caroline Marks, who went on to be crowned World Champion that day. This time, she’ll need to win just two heats to win her maiden title.

2. Caroline Marks

Never count out the Floridians. Photo by Pat Nolan/WSL

Fresh off an Olympic victory, Caroline Marks heads to Trestles with a target on her back, as she looks to defend her World Title at Lowers. Finishing 3rd in the 2023 regular season, Marks defeated Caity Simmers, Tyler Wright, and Carissa Moore on her way to claiming her inaugural World Championship. The Floridian currently lives in San Clemente and surfed her first Lowers CT at just 13 years old.

3. Brisa Hennessy

Despite battling health issues, Brisa Hennessy’s run this season has been nothing short of impressive. Photo by Aaron Hughes/WSL

Citizen of the (tropical) world, Brisa returns to Finals Day after her debut appearance in 2022, where she lost her first heat against Stephanie Gilmore, who went on to surf against a total of four opponents that day, to win one of the most unlikely and spectacular World Titles in recent memory. Brisa hasn’t stood victorious yet in 2024, meaning that should she take out the WSL Finals, she’d be the first woman in history to win a world title without an event win in that season.

4. Molly Picklum

Molly has one match to settle at Lowers, at least. Photo: Aaron Hughes/WSL

Molly started 2024 hot, with a runner-up at Pipe and a Sunset victory. She then went through a relative slump, failing to eclipse the quarters for the remainder of the season until Fiji, where she lost in the semis. The sole Australian woman appearing in finals day, this will be Pickles’ sophomore Finals run. Qualifying by finishing in 4th in the regular 2023 season, she lost her only heat of the day against this season’s yellow jersey wearer, Caity Simmers.

5. Tatiana Weston-Webb

Tati during the 2021 WSL Finals Title Match against Carissa Moore. Photo by Tony Heff/WSL

After silvering in the Olympics, Tatiana Weston-Webb achieved the improbable in Fiji, jumping two spots and cementing herself within the Final 5. Tati returns to Lowers for her third WSL Finals appearance — in 2022, she lost her only heat to an unstoppable Stephanie Gilmore. In 2021, after regrettably falling on a backside reo, she was defeated by World Champ Carissa Moore in the third heat of the final.

See you on September 6th.