WSL Finals is On!

WORLD TITLE TROPHY: Each winner takes home a larny trophy my bru. Photo WSL / Hero

A solid SSW swell is filling in, with the WSL Final 5 greeted with 6-10’ foot surf this morning at Lower Trestles, where the undisputed men’s and women’s World Champions will be decided today.

"We are officially calling the Rip Curl WSL Finals on for an 8:00 a.m. start here at Lower Trestles," said Jessi Miley-Dyer, WSL SVP of Tours and Head of Competition. "Surf is firing and we think it is going to hold well all day. We have clean conditions from yesterday's swell and it is really groomed.

"This is going to be a historic day for surfing as we crown the men's and women's World Champions in this new format and on the same day. I definitely think it’s a powerful image to all the young girls to see men and women out there standing next to each other at the very pinnacle of the sport. We're all excited to witness this. Best of luck to our World Title contenders today.”

THE BRACKET BRU: The top 5 men and women face off in this format through the day. Photo WSL

The women will be first to take to the water, alternating with the men for the remainder of the day. Match 1 will see Johanne Defay (FRA) take on 7x WSL Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), followed by rookie Morgan Cibilic (AUS) and Conner Coffin (USA). Both matches will have a traditional heat format in a head-to-head competition. The winners will advance to Match 2 where they will face world No. 3 on the WSL Leaderboard: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) and Filipe Toledo (BRA).

The winner of Match 2 will then face-off against the number two ranked surfers, the Brazilian duo Tatiana Weston-Webb and Italo Ferreira, in Match 3. The winners of Match 3 will move on to the best-of-three Title Match, where they will face the World Number 1 Carissa Moore (HAW) and Gabriel Medina (BRA) in a head-to-head competition with a traditional heat format. The first surfer to win two out of three heats becomes the undisputed 2021 World Champion.

THE FINAL 10: Two of these people will be a world title holder in a few hours. Photo WSL

The Rip Curl WSL Finals Match-Ups
Women’s Match 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs Johanne Defay (FRA)
Men’s Match 1: Conner Coffin (USA) vs Morgan Cibilic (AUS)
Women’s Match 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) vs Match 1 Winner
Men’s Match 2: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs Match 1 Winner
Women’s Match 3: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) vs Match 1 Winner
Men’s Match 3: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs Match 2 Winner
Women’s Title Match, Heat 1: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs Match 3 Winner
Men’s Title Match, Heat 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs Match 3 Winner
Women’s Title Match, Heat 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs Match 3 Winner
Men’s Title Match, Heat 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs Match 3 Winner
Women’s Title Match, Heat 3 (if necessary): Carissa Moore (HAW) vs Match 3 Winner
Men’s Title Match, Heat 3 (if necessary): Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs Match 3 Winner

Watch live on www.worldsurfleague.com