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Medina and Marks Make Merry

Tuesday 20 April 2021 Jordy Smith dropped out of the top five after equal 9th at Narrabeen, while victory for Gabriel Medina boosted him to #1, with teen sensation Caroline Marks, 19, earning her third WSL tour win.

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MEDINA AND MARKS: Two titles emanated from the two Americas. Photo WSL / Dunbar

Marks (USA) and Medina (BRA) won the Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic presented by Corona, the third stop on the World Surf League (WSL) 2021 Championship Tour (CT) in clean 3-4ft surf and clean off-shore winds at the iconic North Narrabeen Beach

Durban's Jordy Smith looked set for a strong result after an exciting heat against Alex Ribeiro in the Round of 32. Smith came up short against Brazilian goofy-footer Yago Dora in the Round of 16, finishing in equal 9th place. "It's always difficult coming up against a goofy, especially when the waves 'Sticking my airs and hearing the crowd chant my name was really cool.' - Gabbyare small, you know they have that one-track mind and they go out there to execute that," said Smith. Fellow South African Matthew McGillivray suffered an early elimination in the second round of competition.

Two-time World Champion Medina posted the highest two-wave score of the event to overcome Californian Conner Coffin (USA) for his 15th CT victory. Medina had already racked up the 18.77 heat total in the first 15 minutes of the 35-minute final with back-to-back full-rotation air-reverses.

“Sticking my airs and hearing the crowd chant my name was really cool. I’ve had a few finals recently but was making some mistakes, but it feels good to come back here and fix my mistakes. I feel like I got better and am so happy with my performance. This has been a fun week. I’ve never had such a good time here in Australia. The Northern Beaches have been so nice, the food, the beaches, the people. We have had so much amazing support on the beach as well, it’s just been so fun.”

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AT THE ALTAR: For what I am about to receive, may it be lank. Photo WSL / Dunbar

Today’s win puts Medina up to World No. 1 and gives him his best-ever start to a season, a terrifying prospect for the rest of the WSL Championship Tour field. The top-ranking surfer before the Rip Curl WSL Finals will have a major advantage over the Top 5 as they will be seeded into the Final Heat of the day for a best-of-three battle. Medina’s lead will be critical to his campaign on the road to the Rip Curl WSL Finals in order to give himself the best shot at his third World Title.

Although he was put in a combination situation for the entire heat (needing two scores to take the lead), Coffin leaves North Narrabeen matching the best result of his career. On his way to the Final, Coffin took down reigning World Champion Italo Ferreira (BRA) along with Griffin Colapinto (USA) and Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) with his consistent and powerful rail game. Coffin will head to Margaret River sitting in fourth place on the rankings, a career-best for the 27-year-old in his fifth year on CT.

Marks earned her third win today after defeating fellow goofy-footer Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) in the Final, Courtney Conlogue (USA) in the Semifinals, and Johanne Defay (FRA) in the Quarterfinals. Marks displayed incredible poise and control on her frontside, gouging the bowling lefts of North Narrabeen. Known as having one of the best backhand attacks on the CT, today Marks proved her forehand is not to be underestimated either.

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COUNTING MARKS: The 19-year-old is already a veteran of three CT seasons. Photo WSL / Miers

“I feel so emotional actually after everything that’s led to getting here,” Marks said. “I’m just so stoked. This is the sickest feeling ever. This has been really fun. It’s been so sick to go left in an event. Narrabeen has been amazing, and I want to thank all the locals for letting us take over this epic wave for the week. I also want to thank my family, support crew, and WSL for getting me here. I’m over the moon.”

Marks was the youngest-ever surfer to ever qualify for the CT when she was 15 years old and has taken the CT by storm. In 2019, only her second year on Tour, Marks came second in the world and became an Olympic qualifier for the United States. Now, with the new Rip Curl WSL Finals, Marks’ win today gets her one step closer to qualifying in the Final 5, where she could win her maiden World Title at her home break at Lower Trestles in San Clemente, California.

The next stop on the 2021 WSL CT will be the Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro pres. by Corona, starting May 2 through May 12. The event will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app.

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TUCKED IN: Tatiana Weston-Webb pulls into a hollow left at iconic Narrabeen. Photo WSL / Miers

{gallery}SLIDESHOW/2021/april/narrabeen-finals{/gallery}

Women’s Final
1 - Caroline Marks (USA) 12.57
2 - Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 11.340

Men’s Final
1 - Gabriel Medina (BRA) 18.77
2 - Conner Coffin (USA) 14.100

Women’s Semifinal
HEAT 1: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 13.90 DEF. Carissa Moore (HAW) 10.80
HEAT 2: Caroline Marks (USA) 13.60 DEF. Courtney Conlogue (USA) 13.57

Men’s Semifinal
HEAT 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 12.50 DEF. Frederico Morais (PRT) 10.70
HEAT 2: Conner Coffin (USA) 13.83 DEF. Griffin Colapinto (USA) 11.03

Women’s Quarterfinal
HEAT 1: Carissa Moore (HAW) 12.94 DEF. Keely Andrew (AUS) 10.16
HEAT 2: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 11.90 DEF. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 10.40
HEAT 3: Caroline Marks (USA) 12.50 DEF. Johanne Defay (FRA) 10.46
HEAT 4: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 12.16 DEF. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 9.170

Men’s Quarterfinal
HEAT 1: Frederico Morais (PRT) 13.84 DEF. Ethan Ewing (AUS) 11.83
HEAT 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 15.97 DEF. Morgan Cibilic (AUS) 12.67
HEAT 3: Conner Coffin (USA) 11.06 DEF. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 0.80
HEAT 4: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 12.50 DEF. Yago Dora (BRA) 12.00

WSL Women’s Championship Tour Leaderboard Top 5
1 - Carissa Moore (HAW) 23,885 pts
2 - Caroline Marks (USA) 18,695 pts
3 - Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 16,495 pts
4 - Tyler Wright (AUS) 15,220 pts
5 - Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 14,235 pts

WSL Men’s Championship Tour Leaderboard Top 5
1 - Gabriel Medina (BRA) 25,600 pts
2 - Italo Ferreira (BRA) 19,405 pts
3 - John John Florence (HAW) 14,650 pts
4 - Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 12,810 pts
4 - Conner Coffin (USA) 12,810 pts