On ‘the most amazing day ever,’ Oceanside’s Caitlin Simmers crowned youngest world surfing champ

SAN ONOFRE — Oceanside’s Caitlin Simmers became the first female California surfer in 40 years to earn a world championship and, at age 18, the youngest ever to do it.

Hawaii’s John John Florence clinched his third world title during Friday’s Lexus WSL Finals at Lower Trestles, ending a five-year reign by Brazilian surfers.

“It means so much. I was literally going through every single emotion today,” Simmers said minutes after clinching the title. “I literally have no words. I was feeling so much love today from everyone.”

A building swell brought contestable 4- to 6-foot waves for the world’s best surfers — the top-five ranked men and women — vying for the championship title.

The finals was a Southern California showdown, two female surfers battling for the championship title.

But would it be the Olympic gold medalist, the San Clemente surfer defending her world title? Or the 18-year-old Oceanside surfer who has dominated the surf scene with an exciting approach to her progressive female wave riding?

In the first of three final match-ups, Simmers and Marks exchanged the leading spot, long lulls making them wait patiently throughout the heat. But with just minutes on the clock, several exchanges brought nail-biting drama, both earning high scores. With 3 seconds remaining on the clock, Marks dropped a 9.60 to win the first round.

The second women’s matchup saw Simmers post a huge 9.20 and 9.17, tearing apart two large set waves to post the highest heat total of the day and the highest-ever total score in the history of the WSL Finals at Lower Trestles.

That set up a third and final heat to decide the title.

Simmers posted two rides for a 15.16 that secured her new world title. Marks was left with just one ride and a 7.17.

Simmers beat five-time world champion Carissa Moore’s record for youngest-ever world champion by just a few days. The title caps a competitive year in which she won three World Tour stops, the first at Pipeline in Hawaii, continuing her dominance this season. She also surfed for Team USA at the Olympics.

“This whole year is just crazy in the fact that it can come down to an hour and a half of surfing is wild,” Simmers said. “I’m honestly proud of the last two hours.

“I’ve had the craziest emotions every day, ever since Fiji,” she said of the last stop on the World Tour before the finals. “I’m excited to just go hang out with my friends and do the things I want to do. This has been great, the most amazing day ever.”

The men’s action through the morning saw Italo Ferreira plow through the field, first taking down Australia’s Ethan Ewing and then beating out Australian Jack Robinson.

The crowd was fired up as Ferreira matched up against Griffin Colapinto, both surfers emerging on to stage to the cheers of crowds before hitting the water.

Their heat was high-flying action until the ocean suddenly turned off, going flat for more than 10 minutes as Colapinto looked for another wave to top his opponent.

Just as the 1-minute mark hit, a set showed up, Ferreira taking to his rail on the first wave, Colapinto answering back on the next one, taking the same tactic by doing big turns on the wave, the duo high-fiving at the shoreline as they, and the crowd, waited for the score.

Colapinto, who needed a 7.15, waited among a crowd of fans surrounding him for what seemed like an eternity, the entire beach holding their breath. When the scores dropped, it wasn’t enough – a 7.0, just .15 shy of the score he needed, putting an end to his world title contention.

In the first men’s best-of-three matchup, Ferreira kept busy, going to the air on several waves to post high scores. Florence was patient and selective, waiting until just three minutes were left on the clock to take a wave for his second score. Needing an 8.16, he posted an 8.3 to win the first heat.

Ferreira dropped an early high of 8.17 in the second heat. Moments later, Florence took a huge lay back for a high 9.70, the highest single-wave score ever on a WSL Finals day. He backed it with a high 8.43, maintaining the lead the entire heat to win his third world title.

Florence said it was a heavy week of nerves, but he felt good in the water. Between heats, Florence said he would look at his 4-month-old son Darwin, and think “nothing else matters.”

“This is just fun. It made me really happy,” Florence said.

He took a moment to reflect on his year – his first son, the World Tour, the Olympics and now being a world champion.

“I can’t believe it,” he said. “It feels amazing to bring the title back to Hawaii and the US, and out of the Brazilians’ hands because they are such incredible surfers and really make it a challenge for everyone on tour.”

This is the last year the WSL Finals will be held at Lower Trestles. After spending its first four years at the popular surf spot it moves next year to Fiji.

Originally Published: September 6, 2024 at 5:12 p.m.