The Lexus WSL finals began on Friday 6 September at Lower Trestles, where a growing swell created exciting waves for the world’s best surfers vying for the championship title.

The competition brings together the top ten ranked men and women for a one-day showdown at the surf break south of San Clemente.

The wait for the competition lasted until September 14th, but with the weather forecast being gloomy, the organizers are hoping for the best waves and conditions for the first day.

Waves are expected to be between 3 and 5 feet high, significantly smaller than last year’s hurricane swell that caused big waves in the finals, but the ocean energy should still be enough for the world’s best to showcase their skills in the one-day battle for the title.

The World Surf League issued a “yellow alert” on Thursday, indicating a high probability of the event going ahead, with the final decision made at 7:30 a.m. on Friday.

TODAY WE ARE CROWNED WORLD CHAMPIONS! 🏆

The day begins with Women’s Match 1, followed by Men’s Match 1, Women’s Match 2, Men’s Match 2, Women’s Match 3, Men’s Match 3 and then on to the best-of-3 matches for the World Championship title.@lexus WSLFinals is LIVE. Watch it at https://t.co/ie0ZfMVLPY
49er pic.twitter.com/BvN3pjWcVa

— World Surf League (@wsl) 6 September 2024

The lower ranked surfers will compete first, with the winners moving up the list as the day progresses. First in the water will be Molly Picklum against Tatiana Weston-Webb, with the winner of that heat taking on Brisa Hennessy.

That winner will face Caroline Marks, a surfer from San Clemente who is ranked No. 2 in the world and fresh off an Olympic gold medal. She is also the current world champion and is looking to defend her title.

The surfer who survives the day will face Caitlin Simmers of Oceanside, who finished the year ranked No. 1. The best of the three will take the title.

In the men’s match, Ethan Ewing will face Brazilian Italo Ferreira, the winner of this heat, who will now face Jack Robinson.

That winner will face Griffin Colapinto of San Clemente, and that winner will face two-time Hawaiian champion John John Florence, who enters the finals as the front-runner.

For more information and to watch, visit worldsurfleague.com.

Live updates throughout the day:

• Brazilian Tatiana Weston-Webb won the first heat of the day, beating Australian Molly Picklum. Weston-Webb scored 12.74 (out of 20) to Picklum’s 9.40.