<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Caroline Marks</strong> (USA) and <strong>Filipe Toledo </strong>(BRA) have won the 2023 World Surf League (WSL) World Titles at the third-annual Rip Curl WSL Finals in solid four-to-six foot (1.2 - 1.8 meter) conditions. Five-time WSL Champion <strong>Carissa Moore</strong> (HAW) and back-to-back World Title contender <strong>Ethan Ewing</strong> (AUS) claimed runner-up finishes after battling their way past several elite competitors. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Marks Overtakes Moore in World-Class Title Match for Maiden World Title</strong> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Marks</strong>, 21, entered her first Rip Curl WSL Finals as the No. 3 seed and left as the 2023 Surfing World Champion. She is the first person to win a World Tile for mainland USA since<strong> Lisa Andersen</strong> (USA) in 1997. This also marks the first women’s goofy-footed surfer to claim a World Title since <strong>Chelsea Georgenson</strong> (AUS) in 2005. The Floridian (now California resident) felt at home at Lower Trestles. She left a resounding impression with multiple excellent scores and near-perfection throughout the day en route to her maiden World Title. Marks had a terrific 2023 CT season, winning events in El Salvador and Tahiti. Today's brilliant performance also confirmed her provisional qualification for the Olympic Games Paris 2024. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“It’s just so inspiring to have my name up on that list,” said Marks. “This has just been a goal of mine. World Champion, it’s crazy. I went through a weird one last year, and I was doubting myself. This just feels so good. I really don’t know what to say, I’ve been really emotional this year. This feels like a lot of emotion.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Marks’ backhand attack was undeniable from her Match 2 debut all the way to the Title Match against <strong>Carissa Moore</strong> (HAW). Marks dominated Title Match 1, earning an excellent 8.67 (out of a possible 10) and pushing Moore into a combination situation. Moore was able to break the combination, but Marks answered right back with another excellent 8.43 to extend her lead until the end of the heat.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After a slow start to Title Match 2, Marks unleashed multiple critical maneuvers again to earn a 7.00. She then backed it up with an impressive 7.60 that all but sealed her maiden World Title. Moore was left chasing a score as time expired. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Big ups to Carissa (Moore),” said Marks. “She’s been a massive inspiration to me growing up my whole life. She’s had a stellar year, and it was kinda a dream of mine to be in the Final with her. I just had a great board, and I have a lot of good family and friends here. I really feel the support, and that goes a long way, so I was just in my flow today. Just had a special day with the ocean, so wow, it feels so good.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Toledo Goes Back-To-Back in Dominant Form, Makes History For Brazil</strong> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Toledo</strong>, 28, earned his second-consecutive World Title today, once again proving himself as the competitor to beat. He is now the first competitor to earn back-to-back World Titles since<strong> John John Florence</strong> (HAW) in 2016 and 2017. Toledo entered the Rip Curl WSL Finals as the No. 1 seed. The Ubatuba, Brazil competitor was unstoppable in the 2023 CT season, accruing wins at Sunset Beach, El Salvador, and J-Bay. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“It’s so hard to put into words what it took for me to be here right now,” said Toledo. “So much sacrifice. A lot of sacrifice, to be honest. Seven years ago, I had my first kid. I wasn’t at home too much to be there with my wife. Neither was I there for Koa as well. I knew in the long run, this was going to pay off. This is a dream come true. I don’t think there’s ever been a Brazilian that won back-to-back. We like to make history. I’m super thankful to God. He blessed me all the way here. It was not easy.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Toledo and Rip Curl WSL Finals standout<strong> Ethan Ewing</strong> (AUS) surfed arguably one of the best heats of the 2023 season during the men’s Title Match 1. A critical first exchange put Toledo into a slight lead, earning a 7.33 to Ewing’s 7.00. Fireworks followed from both competitors. Toledo’s combination of a major outside maneuver to a soaring finish garnered a near-perfect 9.00. Ewing’s signature power surfing garnered an 8.50. In the last exchange, Toledo again defeated the Australian with an 8.97 to Ewing’s 8.73. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In their second Title Match, Toledo kept busy and accrued a 12.57 heat total (out of a possible 20) before Ewing had a chance to strike back. Ewing’s 7.67 kept his hopes alive heading into the final minutes, but fell on his last opportunity. The crowd erupted as time ran out and Toledo secured his second World Title. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">“With God’s strength and faith, I was able to pull it off and make it on the long run all the way here and ended up winning back-to-back,” said Toledo. “I couldn’t do it without my team. It’s a huge 77 team. I love all you guys. My family, my wife, my kids, my mom, dad, brothers, sister, I love you so much, thank you so much.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Moor</strong><strong>e’s</strong> dominant run through the 2023 season culminated in clinching the No. 1 seed going into the Rip Curl WSL Finals for the third-straight year. But, Moore’s redemption run toward a World Title was cut short by an in-form Marks. The five-time World Champion started her season with a massive win at the Billabong Pro Pipeline. She then earned back-to-back wins at Margaret River and the WSL Surf Ranch. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Ewin</strong><strong>g’s</strong> runner-up finish marks his career-best result. The 25-year-old achieved one of his dreams of winning the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach earlier this year, an event his mother, Helen Lambert, won 40 years prior. He then went on to make the Finals at Rio and Jeffreys Bay. The North Stradbroke, Australia competitor had to overcome adversity with a frightening back injury that nearly sidelined him for the 2023 Rip Curl WSL Finals. But, Ewing wasn’t to be stopped and put on a world-class display from start to finish with numerous excellent scores before Toledo stole the show in their World Title showdown.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Molly Picklum </strong>(AUS) and <strong>Caitlin Simmers</strong> (USA) opened the Rip Curl WSL Finals with the first Match of the day. Simmers took the win and looked like she could make the run, but then fell to Marks in Match 2. Two-time World Champion<strong> Tyler Wright</strong> (AUS) finished the year as No. 3 after being eliminated by Marks in Match 3. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Joao Chianca </strong>(BRA) and<strong> Jack Robinson </strong>(AUS) kicked off the men’s Match 1 with Chianca taking the win. But in Match 2, Chianca was no match for Ewing who put him in a combination situation. San Clemente’s own <strong>Griffin Colapinto </strong>(USA) put on a show for his home crowd in Match 3, but Ewing took the win and secured his spot in the Title Match. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For highlights from the 2023 Rip Curl WSL Finals, please visit <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/" target="_blank">WorldSurfLeague.com</a>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>2023 Rip Curl WSL Finals Women’s Results:</strong> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Women’s Title Match, Heat 2</strong>: Caroline Marks (USA) 14.60 DEF. Carissa Moore (HAW) 13.53</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Women’s Title Match, Heat 1</strong>: Caroline Marks (USA) 17.10 DEF. Carissa Moore (HAW) 14.97</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Women’s Match 3</strong>: Caroline Marks (USA) 17.40 DEF. Tyler Wright (AUS) 13.70</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Women’s Match 2</strong>: Caroline Marks (USA) 11.67 DEF. Caitlin Simmers (USA) 10.36</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Women’s Match 1</strong>: Caitlin Simmers (USA) 15.17 DEF. Molly Picklum (AUS) 12.17</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>2023 Rip Curl WSL Finals Men’s Results:</strong> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Men’s Title Match, Heat 2</strong>: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 14.27 DEF. Ethan Ewing (AUS) 12.37</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Men’s Title Match, Heat 1</strong>: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 17.97 DEF. Ethan Ewing (AUS) 17.23</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Men’s Match 3</strong>: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 17.10 DEF. Griffin Colapinto (USA) 15.96</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Men’s Match 2</strong>: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 17.60 DEF. Joao Chianca (BRA) 14.57</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Men’s Match 1</strong>: Joao Chianca (BRA) 15.33 DEF. Jack Robinson (AUS) 11.87</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Rip Curl WSL Finals is proudly supported by Rip Curl, SHISEIDO, YETI, Red Bull, Surfline, True Surf, Pura Vida, 805 Beer, Pacifico, Sambazon, Original Sprout, Turtle Bay, Boxed Water, Tudor, Candy Crush Soda, and Cup Noodles. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For more information, please visit <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/" target="_blank">WorldSurfLeague.com</a>.</div>