Here are your definitive contenders for the 2024 World Championship title

Both the Olympics and the fast-paced event in Fiji have done much to erase the memory of the mediocre waves that dominated the 2024 tour stops.

An event that in the recent past could have simply been a victory lap for those in yellow spandex ended up providing welcome entertainment – not only because of the above-average wave quality, but also because in September a total of eight surfers were still battling for a place on the slippery cobblestones of Lower Trestles.

Now that the fog has cleared, here are your top five men’s and women’s CT regular season prospects and potential Duke Kahanamoku WSL Champions’ Trophy winners.

In Lowers you have to expect a few of them. Photo: WSL/Hughes

CT for men

1. John Florence

The eldest of the Florence brothers and a two-time World Champion (2016 and 2017), John was the only surfer in the men’s category to enter the final event of the regular season with a guaranteed spot in the Final 5. After years of injuries, 2024 will be John’s first appearance at the WSL Finals. His best finish at Trestles was a second-place finish to Jordy Smith at the 2014 Hurley Pro. He lost to Filipe Toledo in 2017 and finished third in his last appearance at the venue. He needs to win 2 of 3 heats to claim his third World title this year.

2. Griffin Colapinto

Do you pay attention to the quiet ones? Photo: Ryan Heywood

Griffin qualified for the 2023 WSL Finals to great acclaim, finishing second to Filipe Toledo in the regular season. Now finishing just behind Florence for the second year in a row, Griffin is looking to improve on his result from last year’s finals day, when he finished third. Born and raised in San Clemente, Griffin is no stranger to the Lowers lineup. His collective experience and a rehashed viral motivational speech from Matthew McConaughey could be just what he needs to think, feel and do to achieve his dream.

3. Jack Robinson

Jack is often referred to as a “good wave surfer” (as if that were a disadvantage), but he has developed a versatile repertoire that suits all conditions. Photo Daniel Smorigo/WSL

The West Oz Cave Spider and Olympic silver medalist made his first full tour appearance in 2021. The following year, he qualified for the Final 5 after finishing second to Filipe Toledo in the regular season. He lost to Italo Ferreira on final day, finishing third. In 2023, Jack narrowly secured a spot in the Final 5 by finishing fifth in the regular season, but was quickly eliminated by João Chianca in his opening heat. This year marks Jack’s third consecutive appearance at the WSL Finals.

4. Ethan Ewing

Like his compatriot, the North Straddie rail baron has twice secured a place on finals day – finishing 3rd in both the 2022 and 2023 regular seasons. In his finals debut, Ethan lost to Italo Ferreira in his first and only heat, but in 2023 he redeemed himself by defeating João Chianca and Griffin Colapinto before falling to two-time world champion Filipe Toledo. Some still believe he surfed his best that day.

5. Italo Ferreira

According to statistics, there is a 6.25% chance you will see one of these at Trestles next month. Photo by Thiago Diz/WSL

The 2024 WSL Finals will be the first to feature only one Brazilian surfer. Italo has been defeated by Filipe Toledo in his two previous final appearances: first in 2021 after finishing second in the regular season, and again in 2022 after finishing fourth. The energetic slicker from Baía Formosa lost the final on the day Filipe won his first world title, missing out on the chance to claim his second title after his 2019 final victory over Gabriel Medina at Pipeline.

CT for women

1. Caity Simmers

Like Florence, the pride of Oceanside went into the Fiji event with a spot in the Final 5 already secured – thanks to three event wins in 2024. After finishing the 2023 season in 5th place, Caity made her finals day debut in her rookie year. She won a heat against Molly Picklum but was later defeated by Caroline Marks, who was crowned world champion that day. This time, she only needs to win two heats to claim her first title.

2. Caroline Marks

The Floridians should not be underestimated. Photo by Pat Nolan/WSL

Fresh off her Olympic victory, Caroline Marks heads to Trestles with a goal on her back to defend her world title in Lowers. Marks finished third in the 2023 regular season, defeating Caity Simmers, Tyler Wright and Carissa Moore en route to her first world title. The Floridian currently lives in San Clemente and first surfed in Lowers CT at just 13 years old.

3. Brisa Hennessy

Despite health issues, Brisa Hennessy’s run this season has been more than impressive. Photo by Aaron Hughes/WSL

Brisa, a citizen of the (tropical) world, returns to finals day after her debut appearance in 2022. There, she lost her first heat to Stephanie Gilmore, who surfed against a total of four opponents that day, and won one of the most unlikely and spectacular world titles in recent history. Brisa is yet to win in 2024, meaning that should she win the WSL Finals, she would be the first woman in history to win a world title without an event win that season.

4. Molly Picklum

Molly started 2024 hot, with a second place at Pipe and a win at Sunset. She then hit a relative slump, failing to progress past the quarterfinals for the rest of the season until losing in the semifinals in Fiji. As the only Australian competing on finals day, this will be Pickles’ second finals run. She qualified by finishing fourth in the 2023 regular season and lost her only run of the day to this season’s yellow jersey wearer, Caity Simmers.

5. Tatiana Weston-Webb

Tati during the 2021 WSL Final against Carissa Moore. Photo by Tony Heff/WSL

Following her silver medal at the Olympics, Tatiana Weston-Webb did the impossible in Fiji, moving up two places to secure a spot in the final five. Tati returns to Lowers for her third appearance at the WSL Finals – in 2022 she lost her only run to an unstoppable Stephanie Gilmore. In 2021 she lost to world champion Carissa Moore after an unfortunate fall on a backside reo in the third run of the final.

See you on September 6th.