Album surf presents, “CARILLON” a short film featuring Asher Pacey. A week spent on the Surf Coast, Victoria. Pacey’s fluidity in the water is a sight to behold, hit play for a series of mesmerising moments.
Filmed and Edited by Dan Scott
Raw and unfiltered, Oaxaca, Mexico 2023. A special three day late season run at one of Southern Mexicos most premier waves. Raw clips of some of the words best, including Kanoa Igarashi, Jake Marshall, Tex Mitchell, Korak Tinoco Myles Freeh, and many more.
Caroline Marks (USA) and Filipe Toledo (BRA) won the 2023 World Surf League (WSL) World Titles at the third-annual Rip Curl WSL Finals in solid four-to-six foot (1.2 – 1.8 meter) conditions. Five-time WSL Champion Carissa Moore (HAW) and back-to-back World Title contender Ethan Ewing (AUS) claimed runner-up finishes after battling their way past several elite competitors.
Marks Overtakes Moore in World-Class Title Match for Maiden World Title
Marks, 21, entered her first Rip Curl WSL Finals as the No. 3 seed and left as the 2023 Surfing World Champion. She is the first person to win a World Tile for mainland USA since Lisa Andersen (USA) in 1997. This also marks the first women’s goofy-footed surfer to claim a World Title since Chelsea Georgenson (AUS) in 2005. The Floridian (now California resident) felt at home at Lower Trestles. She left a resounding impression with multiple excellent scores and near-perfection throughout the day en route to her maiden World Title. Marks had a terrific 2023 CT season, winning events in El Salvador and Tahiti. Today’s brilliant performance also confirmed her provisional qualification for the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
“It’s just so inspiring to have my name up on that list,” said Marks. “This has just been a goal of mine. World Champion, it’s crazy. I went through a weird one last year, and I was doubting myself. This just feels so good. I really don’t know what to say, I’ve been really emotional this year. This feels like a lot of emotion.”
Marks’ backhand attack was undeniable from her Match 2 debut all the way to the Title Match against Carissa Moore (HAW). Marks dominated Title Match 1, earning an excellent 8.67 (out of a possible 10) and pushing Moore into a combination situation. Moore was able to break the combination, but Marks answered right back with another excellent 8.43 to extend her lead until the end of the heat.
After a slow start to Title Match 2, Marks unleashed multiple critical maneuvers again to earn a 7.00. She then backed it up with an impressive 7.60 that all but sealed her maiden World Title. Moore was left chasing a score as time expired.
“Big ups to Carissa (Moore),” said Marks. “She’s been a massive inspiration to me growing up my whole life. She’s had a stellar year, and it was kinda a dream of mine to be in the Final with her. I just had a great board, and I have a lot of good family and friends here. I really feel the support, and that goes a long way, so I was just in my flow today. Just had a special day with the ocean, so wow, it feels so good.”
Toledo Goes Back-To-Back in Dominant Form, Makes History For Brazil
Toledo, 28, earned his second-consecutive World Title today, once again proving himself as the competitor to beat. He is now the first competitor to earn back-to-back World Titles since John John Florence (HAW) in 2016 and 2017. Toledo entered the Rip Curl WSL Finals as the No. 1 seed. The Ubatuba, Brazil competitor was unstoppable in the 2023 CT season, accruing wins at Sunset Beach, El Salvador, and J-Bay.
“It’s so hard to put into words what it took for me to be here right now,” said Toledo. “So much sacrifice. A lot of sacrifice, to be honest. Seven years ago, I had my first kid. I wasn’t at home too much to be there with my wife. Neither was I there for Koa as well. I knew in the long run, this was going to pay off. This is a dream come true. I don’t think there’s ever been a Brazilian that won back-to-back. We like to make history. I’m super thankful to God. He blessed me all the way here. It was not easy.”
Toledo and Rip Curl WSL Finals standout Ethan Ewing (AUS) surfed arguably one of the best heats of the 2023 season during the men’s Title Match 1. A critical first exchange put Toledo into a slight lead, earning a 7.33 to Ewing’s 7.00. Fireworks followed from both competitors. Toledo’s combination of a major outside maneuver to a soaring finish garnered a near-perfect 9.00. Ewing’s signature power surfing garnered an 8.50. In the last exchange, Toledo again defeated the Australian with an 8.97 to Ewing’s 8.73.
In their second Title Match, Toledo kept busy and accrued a 12.57 heat total (out of a possible 20) before Ewing had a chance to strike back. Ewing’s 7.67 kept his hopes alive heading into the final minutes, but fell on his last opportunity. The crowd erupted as time ran out and Toledo secured his second World Title.
“With God’s strength and faith, I was able to pull it off and make it on the long run all the way here and ended up winning back-to-back,” said Toledo. “I couldn’t do it without my team. It’s a huge 77 team. I love all you guys. My family, my wife, my kids, my mom, dad, brothers, sister, I love you so much, thank you so much.”
Moore’s dominant run through the 2023 season culminated in clinching the No. 1 seed going into the Rip Curl WSL Finals for the third-straight year. But, Moore’s redemption run toward a World Title was cut short by an in-form Marks. The five-time World Champion started her season with a massive win at the Billabong Pro Pipeline. She then earned back-to-back wins at Margaret River and the WSL Surf Ranch.
Ewing’s runner-up finish marks his career-best result. The 25-year-old achieved one of his dreams of winning the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach earlier this year, an event his mother, Helen Lambert, won 40 years prior. He then went on to make the Finals at Rio and Jeffreys Bay. The North Stradbroke, Australia competitor had to overcome adversity with a frightening back injury that nearly sidelined him for the 2023 Rip Curl WSL Finals. But, Ewing wasn’t to be stopped and put on a world-class display from start to finish with numerous excellent scores before Toledo stole the show in their World Title showdown.
Molly Picklum (AUS) and Caitlin Simmers (USA) opened the Rip Curl WSL Finals with the first Match of the day. Simmers took the win and looked like she could make the run, but then fell to Marks in Match 2. Two-time World Champion Tyler Wright (AUS) finished the year as No. 3 after being eliminated by Marks in Match 3.
Joao Chianca (BRA) and Jack Robinson (AUS) kicked off the men’s Match 1 with Chianca taking the win. But in Match 2, Chianca was no match for Ewing who put him in a combination situation. San Clemente’s own Griffin Colapinto (USA) put on a show for his home crowd in Match 3, but Ewing took the win and secured his spot in the Title Match.
For highlights from the 2023 Rip Curl WSL Finals, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
2023 Rip Curl WSL Finals Women’s Results:
Women’s Title Match, Heat 2: Caroline Marks (USA) 14.60 DEF. Carissa Moore (HAW) 13.53
Women’s Title Match, Heat 1: Caroline Marks (USA) 17.10 DEF. Carissa Moore (HAW) 14.97
Women’s Match 3: Caroline Marks (USA) 17.40 DEF. Tyler Wright (AUS) 13.70
Women’s Match 2: Caroline Marks (USA) 11.67 DEF. Caitlin Simmers (USA) 10.36
Women’s Match 1: Caitlin Simmers (USA) 15.17 DEF. Molly Picklum (AUS) 12.17
2023 Rip Curl WSL Finals Men’s Results:
Men’s Title Match, Heat 2: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 14.27 DEF. Ethan Ewing (AUS) 12.37
Men’s Title Match, Heat 1: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 17.97 DEF. Ethan Ewing (AUS) 17.23
Men’s Match 3: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 17.10 DEF. Griffin Colapinto (USA) 15.96
Men’s Match 2: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 17.60 DEF. Joao Chianca (BRA) 14.57
Men’s Match 1: Joao Chianca (BRA) 15.33 DEF. Jack Robinson (AUS) 11.87
The Rip Curl WSL Finals is proudly supported by Rip Curl, SHISEIDO, YETI, Red Bull, Surfline, True Surf, Pura Vida, 805 Beer, Pacifico, Sambazon, Original Sprout, Turtle Bay, Boxed Water, Tudor, Candy Crush Soda, and Cup Noodles.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
18 seconds period, straight south swell, high-tide in the morning, very raw, almost out of control sets. That’s what I’m talking about, hell yes. They do say if you don’t go, you wont know, click into the highlights from 6 hours of footage of this epic Nias session.
Enjoy this recap – thanks for watching!
Filmed by Iyan Wau @niassurfphotos and Arturo @arturo.p.r.15
@surfrawfiles
The final curtain fell on this year’s Boardmasters as the one and only Florence + The Machine graced the main stage for a dazzling, ethereal headline performance. One of Boardmasters most unforgettable sets of all time brought the festival to a truly sensational close. Boardmasters’ home of Watergate Bay welcomed tens of thousands of adoring fans who gathered for a line up comprising internationally-acclaimed artists, and so much more to be discovered beyond the music.
Florence + The Machine’s headline set was nothing short of euphoric. Florence graced the stage, seemingly floating as she sang along with the crowd to hits including You’ve Got The Love, Dog Days Are Over and Shake It Out. Building up anticipation before the headline act was Irish singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy who belted out his catalogue of powerful, emotive tracks which have catapulted him to #1 album territory. Tion Wayne, Sofi Tukker, Caity Baiser (who also surprised festival goers with a surprise set at The Cove), and Black Honey amongst others made sure the main stage kept the vibes riding high from start to finish.
Land Of Saints enticed fans with a huge line up including Jockstrap, Squid, Connie Constance, Shygirl, rounded off into the evening and early hours with Four Tet and Joy (Anonymous). Unleashed was the home of high octane dance, d’n’b and more with a stellar mix of acts from Bru-C and Tom Zanetti, to Riton and Charlie Hedges to name a few. Fans kept their dancing shoes on at The Point with DJs including Charlie Boon, Sally C and Sarah Story spinning lively tracks, as well as Paul Woolford going b2b with Danny Howard to make sure the bangers continued into the early hours. The View, looking out onto the sea, played out an eclectic mix of new music, rising stars and much more with VC Pines, Caravaña Sun, Aine Deane and tonnes more keeping fans entertained.
Plus, there was drum’n’bass playing out at The Dockyard and DB90 and late night revelry at The Submarine and 80s cheese and light up dance floors at the Transatlantic Lounge. The Green Team continued on their daily beach cleans, doing their bit alongside festival goers to make strong efforts towards its continued sustainability goals. Beach cleans took place at Porth Beach, Watergate Bay, Great Western and Fistral Beach.
The Qualifying Series (QS) 1,000 Animal Pro and Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) 1,000 Reef Longboard Pro crowned their 2023 winners in three-to-five foot surf at Fistral beach to wrap the surfing events at Boardmasters. In a battle of epic proportions with British rising star Alys Barton (GBR), the reigning European Champion Yolanda Hopkins (POR) managed to fend off her opponent to claim the first-ever three-peat at the Animal Pro. Kai Odriozola (ESP) and Ido Arkin (ISR) fought in a wave-starved heat and tried to milk every opportunity. Eventually it was the basque surfer Odriozola who found the best scoring opportunity in the tricky lineup. The young San Sebastian surfer appeared in his second Final of a QS and this time managed to convert for a first win on the professional tour at only 17 years old.
The former runner-up in the world, Alice Lemoigne (FRA) continued to demonstrate her superiority in the Cornish waters as she absolutely dominated the Reef Longboard Pro women’s Final. The Reunion Island native became the first surfer to claim five victories at Boardmasters, but only briefly enjoyed the standalone record as she was joined in the last heat of the day by Edouard Delpero who equaled the feat. French surfer from Biarritz, Edouard Delpero (FRA) also managed to claim a fifth win on the Cornish coast, defeating compatriot Martin Coret (REU) as well as Jon Garmendia (ESP) and Ignacio Pignataro (URY) in the event’s Final. In a friendly battle with his own brother for the most wins on tour, Edouard went one better than Antoine, both surfers having won four times before at Fistral. This marks Edouard’s 12th professional win to date.
Yesterday, all camping festival goers are heading home and the post-event clean up operation will begin right away. Boardmasters encourages all camping attendees to take home their tents and Leave Only Footprints. Boardmasters’ team of volunteers, supervisors, charity partners and in-house team will be on site to clear the site once festival goers have left. The clean up operation is a robust and thorough process, with the main aim to leave Boardmasters’ beautiful Newquay home at Watergate Bay in pristine condition. Campsites nearest to Watergate Bay road will be prioritised first. The fields will be clear by the end of the week. Help the Homeless will be salvaging any quality tents that are left behind to help those in need.
It’s certainly been a Boardmasters for the ages. Boardmasters will be back next year, with details to be announced very soon. For more information and to sign up for the 2024 presale for exclusive 24 hour ticket access, visit boardmasters.com.
