Oceanside’s Caity Simmers will enter the Lexus WSL Finals as the No. 1 seed. The competition window opens on Friday, September 6, 2024. Photo: © WSL 

The World Surf League (WSL) will soon be crowning the 2024 World Champions at the Lexus WSL Finals. Featuring the men’s and women’s Final 5, the winner-take-all competition will take place on a single day during the waiting period of September 6 through September 14, 2024.

In its fourth year, the 2024 Lexus WSL Finals holds the potential to be the most exciting yet. With almost all 10 qualified surfers competing for at least their second time, the experience gained in previous events lends to even more intense clashes between the world’s best surfers.

Fans will have many different ways to participate in the event. Most notably, Lower Trestles is open to the public, offering prime viewing of the competitors, putting it all on the line for the chance to be crowned the 2024 World Champion.

The Final 5 are Locked In and Ready to Go

This year’s Final 5 surfers have risen to the top across a long season of diverse waves in wide-ranging locations, from Hawaii to Australia, Europe to Tahiti, the Americas to Fiji. It has taken serious dedication to reach this point, and every single surfer will be bringing their best in the battle for the World Titles.

Each qualified surfer is well-versed in the highest level of competition; nine of the 10 have previously competed in the Lexus WSL Finals, and all 10 are Olympic surfers. Three are World Champions, and four have felt the weight of an Olympic medal around their necks.

In only her second season on the Championship Tour (CT), Caity Simmers (USA) arrives as the No. 1 seed, but the 18-year-old Californian will face stiff competition from a stacked field, which includes Caroline Marks (USA), the defending World Champion, who is sitting one position higher than where she claimed victory from in 2023 and has since added an Olympic Gold Medal to her accolades. Joining them will be Costa Rica’s Brisa Hennessy (CRC), Australia’s Molly Picklum (AUS), and Olympic Silver Medalist Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA).

Men’s No. 1 seed John John Florence (HAW), the two-time World Champion, is the sole surfer not to have previously competed in the Finals format. His quest for a long-sought third World Title will be challenged by the local knowledge of his Paris 2024 Olympic teammate Griffin Colapinto (USA). On top of that, Olympic Silver Medalist Jack Robinson (AUS) and his Olympic teammate Ethan Ewing (AUS) will be fighting hard to reclaim the World Title for Australia, while 2019 World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Italo Ferreira (BRA) will seek to retain it for Brazil, who have won every men’s World Title since 2018.

Breaking Down the Lexus WSL Finals Format

The fourth iteration of the Lexus WSL Finals will utilize the same overall format as previous events, with the World No. 1 ranked surfers slotted directly into the Title Match, where a best two-of-three-heat showdown will determine the World Champion. The remaining surfers enter the Lexus WSL Finals bracket based on their year-end rankings.

The Matches will feature a traditional heat format, with two competitors seeking to lock in their two highest-scoring waves, each wave out of a possible 10 points for a possible 20-point heat total.

The first matches on both sides will feature goofy-footed Brazilian Olympic Medalists taking on regular-footed Australian World Title hopefuls. In women’s Match 1, Olympic Silver Medalist Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) will take on Molly Picklum (AUS). On the men’s side, Match 1 will feature the contrasting styles of 2019 World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Italo Ferreira (BRA) and 2023 World Title runner-up Ethan Ewing (AUS). Weston-Webb, Ewing, and Ferreira have previously battled through to the Title Match, and they will bring that experience straight into the first heats.

As established last season, the No. 4 seed will have pre-determined priority over the No. 5 seed to start Match 1. Men’s and women’s Match 1 will be the only heats to have this pre-determined priority established.

Whoever wins Match 1 will advance to face World No. 3 in Match 2; Brisa Hennessy (CRC) for the women and Jack Robinson (AUS above) for the men.

The winner of Match 2 will face off against the No. 2 ranked surfer; reigning World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Caroline Marks (USA) for the women and Griffin Colapinto (USA) for the men. The winner of Match 3 will then move on to the best-of-three Title Match, where they will face World No. 1, Caity Simmers (USA), and two-time World Champion John John Florence (HAW). The first surfer to win two out of three Title Matches becomes the 2024 World Champion.

The crowning of the 2024 World Champions will immediately follow the final Title Match of the day.

Lower Trestles, the Pinnacle of High-Performance Surfing

The premier high-performance wave in Southern California, Lower Trestles, is often described as the skate park of surfing. As one of the primary venues for surf competition in North America, the cobblestone peak has played host to decades worth of champions being crowned, including the World Champions for the past three years.

The full judging criteria of speed, power, and flow comes into play at Lowers, with a surfer’s complete repertoire often being displayed. Large airs and speedy, full rail turns tend to receive the highest numbers, especially when seamlessly connected in the flow of the wave.

The break offers surfers the chance to go right or left, with endless options of maneuvers on offer, all within a stone’s throw of the crowd on the beach. The right is typically the primary scoring wave, but the left has come into play over the years, including aiding Gabriel Medina (BRA) in claiming his third World Title in 2021.
Surf Night Offers the Opportunity for Fans to Connect With Their Heroes

An exciting new addition to the Lexus WSL Finals in 2024, Surf Night is a free, family-friendly gathering that will kick off the event with a celebration of the world’s best surfers and the San Clemente community.

On Tuesday, September 3, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. PDT, Surf Night will offer fans and their families the opportunity to connect with their heroes, collect autographs, and enjoy a fun night of music, giveaways, food, and more. Featuring all 10 of the women’s and men’s Final 5 surfers, it’s the ideal way to celebrate the World Title contenders, providing a memorable evening of surfing before the showdown for the Title kicks off.

Learn more about Surf Night ahead of the Lexus WSL Finals.

How many hours do you reckon you’ve spent this summer dreaming of rounding a headland only to stumble across that perfect wave, in a hidden corner of paradise and getting to surf it all day long with just one or two friends for company?

Well ‘Point of Change’ from British Director Rebecca Coley might just make you want to recalibrate your fantasies… Chronicling the 1970’s ‘discovery’ of one such perfect wave on the idyllic island of Nias – this multi award winning documentary unravels the unintended and dramatic consequences that followed. Combining previously unseen Super 8 archive, and contemporary interviews with beautiful animation, and featuring the likes of Kevin Lovett, Jamie O’Brien, Laurie Towner, Mark Healey, Billy Kemper, Nathan Florence, Bonne Gea & more, this is a must-see cautionary tale about paradise found and lost. Ahead of a series of very special screenings, including a Newquay Premiere Sunday 1st September London Surf / Film Festival’s Demi Taylor spoke with Director Rebecca Coley about her compelling documentary.

Can you tell me a little about your filmmaking journey.

I grew up by the sea and always loved films and television and writing stories. As a kid we would rent videos from the corner shop and this was the highlight of the weekend, we’d watch them repeatedly. When I got older I begged my dad to get a video camera and he borrowed one from my uncle. My careers teacher suggested I do law or a subject where I would ‘get a job’ so I did that, but when I was studying Law in Liverpool they were making lots of films in the city and so I fell in love with filmmaking again. I just started working on films and making my own, and that was the start of the journey.

Point of Change is an incredible documentary what led you to the story?

I first went to Nias as a surfer twenty years ago now. I spent a couple of months there surfing every day and listening to the locals tell stories and I always wanted to go back one day and make a film. The next time I got back there was after the tsunami and it was shocking to see the devastation first hand. I was with an NGO and I made a little film about the project for the local news back home (ITV regional).

Later, I met Bonne Gea and she totally inspired me. She was sponsored by Billabong and had escaped a life of an arranged marriage where she’d be expected to stay home and raise a family from a young age. We ran a Kickstarter campaign and made a short film about Bonne (Changing Point) and whilst I was there filming I gathered lots more interviews to make the feature film.

For the feature I wanted to tell the story of the first surfers to ‘discover’ the wave, and of course the wave had always been there, but Kevin and John’s story was fascinating and of course led to all these unintended dramatic consequences they could never have foreseen. Kevin Lovett found his old Super 8mm film, we got it telecined and then knew we had a special project – we had this amazing footage from the first time they were there and everything was unspoilt and pristine and it looked like ‘paradise’ to any surfer and so the story began.

Can you tell me a little about your relationship with Indonesia.

On that first trip in 2003 I was returning from a year in Australia on a work visa and I totally fell in love with Sumatra. I was probably partly delaying the reality of going home and I was also fulfilling some travel dreams I had since I was a kid: Surfing perfect waves in board shorts. Going into the jungle and seeing orangutans. When I left there was a flash flood in Bukit Lawang on mainland Sumatra that totally devastated the village where I’d stayed and over 300 people died. I had lots of friends who needed help and who’d lost everything and so we started a fundraiser that led to starting an NGO. We went back out there to assist the community with rebuilding and that led to more community work.

How has Nias changed and how has surf travel changed it?

Lagundri Bay has seen a lot of change, but then it always has. The Point break itself changed after the tsunami, literally, as the reef moved, but the wave has remained and is still world class. Around the Point there’s more development and more buildings and tourists. On the plus side that leads to more opportunity for local people to escape poverty and to get an education and for the younger generation to leave the island. On the other side the environment has suffered with sand mining for the building and the coastal erosion but the younger generation are more mindful and take more guardianship of the Bay so I hope that means there will be some protection longterm.

Having gone through this multi-year process with Point of Change, what advice would you give to aspiring and emerging female filmmakers?

If you want to be a filmmaker it is in you and it won’t go away, so just keep going. Even if you need to take a break sometimes or do something else for a while, don’t worry, you can always come back to it, because that spark inside, that desire to tell a story, that doesn’t go away.

Point of Change has become a member of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature (www.garn.org/) and we will offset all our travel with SeaTrees (which is super easy to do). It’s not about being perfect, but it’s about us all doing our own little bit and being more conscious as we live our lives and travel the earth and I hope we will all realise that together as people power is incredible and we are part of nature and by respecting that and giving back, we can all live together.

Point of Change is coming to Newquay Lighthouse Cinema on Sunday 1st September. This very special screening includes a Q+A with filmmaker Rebecca Coley, hosted by LS/FF Director Demi Taylor.

For Screening dates and details click here.

Point of Change: Documentary feature film – Screening at Verdant Taproom Penryn 03/09/24 8pm

Part of an exclusive UK launch screening tour, Soundtrack by Paul Okenfold

Award winning surf film, Bali int film festival, London surf film festival, Byron bay surf film festival, Portuguese international festival

The 2024 Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang concluded with a thrilling final day as surfers from around the world competed in the challenging barrel conditions of the iconic Balinese break. Noa Deane emerged victorious in the men’s division, claiming the title in front of a packed crowd of surf enthusiasts and locals. Moana Jones Wong dominated the women’s division, showcasing her exceptional talent and fearless approach to secure the top spot with a commanding performance.

The event brought together surfers from Australia, Indonesia, Hawaii, and beyond. With powerful waves and thick barrels, the competitors delivered a spectacular display of skill and precision. Noa Deane stood out with his powerful and stylish surfing, scoring 13.50 in the final heat to secure his win. Moana Jones Wong’s performance was equally impressive, reinforcing her reputation as one of the top female barrel riders in the world.

Despite unpredictable conditions early in the day, competitors rose to the challenge, delivering an incredible display of skill and determination. Moana Jones Wong excelled in the challenging waves, finding the cleanest barrels and maximising every opportunity for her well-deserved victory.

Local favourite Jasmine Studer was another standout, impressing the crowd with her deep understanding of Padang Padang’s waves and securing some of the day’s best rides. Kailani Johnson also made her mark, tackling some of the heaviest waves with fearless dedication, showcasing her courage and commitment to the sport.

“This win is unreal,” said Moana Jones Wong. “The conditions were challenging, but that’s what makes it so satisfying. You never really know what the ocean’s going to throw at you, and that’s the beauty of it. Surfing with such amazing women and coming out on top—there’s nothing better. Padang Padang is just magical.”

Event Director Harrison Mann commented on the day’s conditions: “After flawless conditions during the Trials & Round 1, today was not the conditions we were hoping for on finals day. However, it highlighted the barrel-riding skill of our two champions, making them deserving winners.”

As the day progressed and conditions improved, surfers adapted to the changing waves. Mason Ho, known for his fearless and innovative style, took on the barrels with his usual flair, delivering a thrilling spectacle. Joel Parkinson, a former world champion, demonstrated his expertise with smooth, controlled surfing throughout the competition.

Local hero Bol Adi Putra, with his deep knowledge of Padang Padang, navigated the waves with impressive skill. His performance underscored why he is considered one of Bali’s top surfers, making the most of the conditions and resonating with the local crowd.

Reflecting on his victory, Noa Deane shared, “I never thought I would win. My intention was pure fun and surfing with my hero Mason Ho. It turns out I was the winner, and this is the best feeling ever.” Deane’s words capture the spirit of the Rip Curl Cup, where the joy of surfing and camaraderie often outweigh the competitive drive.

The day concluded with a celebratory awards ceremony, where surfers, officials, and fans gathered to honour the champions and celebrate the event’s success. Noa Deane and Moana Jones Wong’s victories added their names to a prestigious list of past champions, solidifying their places in surfing history.

For detailed heat results and scores, visit LiveHeats. The Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang 2024 once again proved why it is a highlight of the surfing world, combining elite performances, challenging conditions, and a vibrant surf community into a memorable event that will be talked about for years to come.

Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Well, not entirely sure about the third one but Aliotti is definitely built for speed, hit play and check him out, blazing through Mundaka at Mach10.

“After working on my new pro model from @captainfinco this winter. We made a little movie recap from this winter in France, Spain and Portugal, pushing the limits on what’s possible with twins fins, I definitely find the perfect templates” – William Aliotti