• Support
  • Advertise
  • Locations
  • Contact
Sunday, March 26, 2023
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTERS
San Clemente Times
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye on SC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit a Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • SC Surf
    • Dana Point Times
    • Capistrano Dispatch
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SC
  • Explore SC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit a Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Announcements
    • Submit an Announcement
    • Legal & Public Notice Advertising
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well – For the Young at Heart
    • Best of San Clemente
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Program
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Money Matters
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
    • Triton Football Preview
  • SC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye on SC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit a Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • SC Surf
    • Dana Point Times
    • Capistrano Dispatch
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SC
  • Explore SC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit a Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Announcements
    • Submit an Announcement
    • Legal & Public Notice Advertising
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well – For the Young at Heart
    • Best of San Clemente
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Program
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Money Matters
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
    • Triton Football Preview
  • SC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who
No Result
View All Result
San Clemente Times
No Result
View All Result

Gilmore, Toledo Crowned World Surf Champs

Staff by Staff
September 9, 2022 3:08PM
in SC SURF, Surf Headlines
Gilmore, Toledo Crowned World Surf Champs

Coming into the Rip Curl WSL Finals as the league’s No. 1 ranked men’s surfer, Filipe Toledo, a San Clemente resident, didn’t waste the opportunity performing for the hometown crowd down at Lower Trestles as he earned his first world title on Thursday, Sept. 8. Photo: Alan Gibby

0
SHARES
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

By Jake Howard

Stephanie Gilmore and Filipe Toledo made history at Lower Trestles this week as they were crowned 2022 WSL World Champions after a pair of epic performances at the Rip Curl WSL Finals on Thursday, Sept. 8.

A one-day, winner-take-all event to decide the world titles, the event featured the top five surfers from the men’s and women’s Championship Tour, and in the end, Australia’s Gilmore earned her record-setting eighth world title, while San Clemente resident Filipe Toledo earned his much deserved first title.

For 34-year-old Gilmore, this asserts her position as the greatest women’s competitive surfer to ever pull on a jersey. Winning her first title back in 2007, this latest accomplishment puts her ahead of Australian counterpart Layne Beachley’s seven titles.

Facing five-time world champ Carissa Moore in the Championship Match, Gilmore came into the WSL Finals as the fifth seed, and starting with the first heat of the day, surfed a total of five heats during her marathon run.

For Toledo, this marks his long-sought first world title. With the No. 1 seed, he had the opportunity to watch all of his competitors, as well as the evolving conditions, all day long. By the time he hit the water around lunchtime, Toledo was not to be denied.

Priming himself for this moment, in front of his hometown crowd, he came out swinging against 2019 world champ Italo Ferreira, surfing lightning fast and extremely inspired.

Stephanie Gilmore asserts her position as the greatest women’s competitive surfer to ever pull on a jersey by winning her record-setting eighth world title at the Rip Curl WSL Finals at Lower Trestles on Thursday, Sept. 8. Photo: Alan Gibby

The day started with a generational clash between Rip Curl’s Brisa Hennessy and seven-time world champ Gilmore. Hennessy, who was making her first WSL Finals appearance, opened the heat with strong, confident rail work, racking up a pair of 7s to jump out to an early lead.

But no stranger to pressure, after an initial bobble, Gilmore dug deep in the waning seconds, bagging a long, glassy right-hander and laying down a series of searing, stylish carves. Taking the wave all the way to the beach, it was enough to get the score, turn the heat and get her motor running.

In the first men’s match of the day, Ferreira faced off against Japan’s Kanoa Igarashi. A back-and-forth affair, Igarashi got going early, but Ferreira found his groove when he took to the air and stomped a full-rotation backside air for an 8.17.

Feeding off the momentum, he got creative on his next wave, blowing tail, sticking a big spin and finishing riding switch stance.

After working through any lingering nerves from the opening match, Gilmore snapped into the form that’s carried her to the top of the sport. Facing Brazil’s Tatiana Weston-Webb, who opened the match with a statement-making 8-point ride, it was ultimately all for not as Gilmore leaned into her classic carves and a little high-performance flair to post an 8.30 and 7.00 and cruise to the win. 

Coming into the Rip Curl WSL Finals as the league’s No. 1 ranked men’s surfer, Filipe Toledo, a San Clemente resident, didn’t waste the opportunity performing for the hometown crowd down at Lower Trestles as he earned his first world title on Thursday, Sept. 8. Photo: Alan Gibby

Just like Gilmore, Ferreira found his form in the second match of the day against Australian Ethan Ewing. Ferreira opened strong on a long, glassy left and never really looked back.

Putting himself into the best waves of the heat, he did leave the door open for Ewing, giving him a wave as time ticked off the clock, but ultimately the win went to the Brazilian, who was visibly fired up as he ran across the cobblestones back to the competitor’s area.

Dropping a pair of 8-point rides against France’s Johanne Defay, Gilmore kept her run going in the third match of the WSL Finals. Building momentum all morning, the win sent her into the Championship Match where she would face off against Moore.

And again, Ferreira followed suit in the next heat. Facing Aussie sophomore Jack Robinson, Ferreira took full advantage of the lefts, launching air after air into the gentle west wind. Rolling to a relatively easy win, Ferreira turned the heat into his own personal air show, stomping a remarkable three airs on one wave.

Jake Howard is local surfer and freelance writer who lives in San Clemente. A former editor at Surfer Magazine, The Surfer’s Journal and ESPN, today he writes for a number of publications, including Picket Fence Media, Surfline and the World Surf League. He also works with philanthropic organizations such as the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center and the Positive Vibe Warriors Foundation.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

Tags: Dana PointFeaturedFilipe ToledoLower TrestlesOrange CountyRip Curl WSL FinalsSan Clementesouth orange countyStephanie GilmoresurfSurf CompetitionSurf Headlinesworld championsWSL
ShareTweetPin
Staff

Staff

Related Posts

Council Declines Emergency Actions to Aid Homeless in Harsh Winter Weather

Council to Consider Hiring Private Security to Address Illegal Activity Related to Homelessness

March 24, 2023
Local Film Festival Organizer Honored for Pursuits in Storytelling

Local Film Festival Organizer Honored for Pursuits in Storytelling

March 23, 2023

Obituary: Anthony “Tony” Cappa

March 24, 2023
Student Mask Requirements Dominate Discussions at Tense CUSD Meeting

UPDATE: Council Approves Contract for New Legal Services Provider

March 23, 2023
Next Post
Dana Wharf Fish Report: ‘Unprecedented’ Dorado Run Continues

Dana Wharf Fish Report: 'Unprecedented' Dorado Run Continues

Discussion about this post

No Result
View All Result

SC Times Daily
Get important news and updates delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up here.

Subscriptions
Don’t get the SC Times delivered to your home? Subscribe today.

Advertising
Get new customers and drive traffic to your business. Advertise with us.

Support Local Journalism
For less than the cost of a couple of cups of coffee a month, become an “Insider” member and continue to get “Local News You Can Use” from the only independently owned, dedicated local news organization in South Orange County.

Contribute today.

Picket Fence Media is a proud member of the SoCal Media Network.

  • Archive
  • Contact Us
  • Dana Point Times
  • The Capistrano Dispatch
  • Terms of Use
  • About Us

© 2023 Picket Fence Media

No Result
View All Result
  • Calendar
    • Event Calendar
    • Submit an Event
  • Sections
    • Eye on SC
    • Soapbox
      • Submit a Letter
    • Getting Out
    • SC Living
    • Sports & Outdoors
    • SC Surf
    • Dana Point Times
    • Capistrano Dispatch
  • Digital Edition
  • Best of SC
  • Explore SC
  • Legals & Classifieds
    • Locals Only Business Directory
    • Classifieds
    • Submit a Classified
    • Obituaries
    • Announcements
    • Submit an Announcement
    • Legal & Public Notice Advertising
  • Special Publications
    • A New You
    • Aging Well – For the Young at Heart
    • Best of San Clemente
    • Crib to College
    • Festival of Whales Event Program
    • Go See Do
    • Holiday Happenings & Gift Guide
    • Money Matters
    • Summer Camp Guide
    • Swallows Day Parade & Mercado Event Guide
    • The Green Issue
    • Triton Football Preview
  • SC Guide
  • Real Estate
    • South County Real Estate Guide
    • Real Estate – Who’s Who

© 2023 Picket Fence Media