An Unforgettable Year
The rise of the 2023 World Surf Leagues Men’s Championships Tour Final 5
The top five male professional surfers on the World Surf League’s (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), among 34 competitors, consistently delivered thrilling, innovative, and progressive surfing throughout the 2023 season. Their ability to attain high scores on individual waves stemmed from their impeccable flow, pace, rhythm, speed, and power, as well as their execution of a combination of major maneuvers and commitment.
Filipe Toledo, Griffin Colapinto, Ethan Ewing, Joao Chianca, and Jack Robinson consistently produced moments of excellence, even in diverse and challenging conditions. They strategically approached their heats, seizing the best wave opportunities and crafting remarkable rides that translated into impressive heat totals. Mastery of technical, high-risk maneuvers secured their positions in the Rip Curl WSL finals day, with these five surfers dominating across the majority of venues throughout the CT.
Psychologically, these surfers exhibited remarkable mental fortitude in the face of intense pressure. They showcased their ability to meet the demanding physical requirements of professional surfing while utilizing their equipment to enhance their performances.
Jack Robinson
Kicking off the 2023 season with incredible momentum, Jack Robinson secured a remarkable victory at Pipeline, marking the first stop on the WSL CT. With a deep connection to the ocean and textbook technique, the confidence many had for Robinson to compete at Lower Trestles for a world title for a second year in a row was unwavering. Following his win, he achieved a semi-final finish at Sunset Beach, Hawaii, and a second-place in Peniche, Portugal. However, the season took an unfortunate turn after a knee injury following the Bell’s Beach event forced him to withdraw from the competition in Margaret River, Australia. Upon his return at Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch, Robinson struggled to find his early-season form. It wasn’t until Tahiti that he regained his rhythm, securing his second victory of the season at Teahupo’o, Tahiti, and solidifying his fifth-place seeding in the Rip Curl WSL finals for another attempt at a world title.
Joao Chianca
After a challenging rookie year in 2022, Joao wasted no time proving his energetic and dynamic presence on the CT this season. Despite an unlucky seeding and an early exit from the tour in 2022, Chianca’s supporters were not entirely surprised to see him seeded at number four after the regular season in 2023. The humble, well-rounded Brazilian surfer didn’t give up and remained confident in his raw ability. He began his journey to the finals with a semi-final finish at Pipeline and Sunset Beach in Hawaii, followed by his first CT win in Peniche, Portugal, and another semi-final appearance at Margaret River, Australia. While he may not have dominated the back half of the tour, his consistent performances paid off, earning him the fourth seed in the Rip Curl WSL finals. Joao Chianca has firmly established himself as part of the Brazilian Storm as he heads to California.
Ethan Ewing
Finishing the 2022 season in fourth place globally, Ethan Ewing delivered another remarkable campaign on the CT. His power-surfing consistently delivered results, securing a meaningful win at Bells Beach, Australia—a place of great significance, as his mother also rang the Bell in 1983. Ewing’s progressive rail work earned him a semi-final finish at Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch, a second-place finish in Rio, Brazil, and at J-Bay, South Africa. Ethan Ewing brings a highly technical approach to the tour with impeccable patience and wave selection, relying on his control and combination of major maneuvers on the open face. Unfortunately, a lower back injury prevented the Australian from competing in Teahupo’o, Tahiti, but he secured a spot in the final five and now holds the third seed in the world rankings. There has been no official announcement regarding whether he will be competing at Lower Trestles, and the surf community is sending warm wishes to Ethan for a speedy and healthy recovery.
Griffin Colapinto
If you’ve been following Griffin Colapinto’s journey on the Championship Tour, you’re undoubtedly aware of the significance of this season for the San Clemente, California local. Griffin has longed for an opportunity to compete in front of his family and friends in the Rip Curl WSL finals, especially because Lower Trestles is his home break—a wave he’s mastered since a grom. In the previous year on the tour, Colapinto achieved his first CT win in Peniche, Portugal, followed by another victory in Surf City, El Salvador. He concluded the 2022 season sixth in the world, narrowly missing out on a spot in the finals. With his strong mindset and unique style, Colapinto will be competing as the second seed in the 2023 finals. He consistently showcased his unpredictable and mature surfing at each stop on the tour, achieving a second-place finish at Sunset Beach, Hawaii, and Margaret River, Australia, followed by a win at the Kelly Slater Surf Ranch, and another second-place finish in Surf City, El Salvador. Griffin Colapinto’s well-rounded skill set is ideal for Lower Trestle’s conditions, as he can go to his arsenal of hitting intense single maneuvers, generally in the end section, risky floaters, radical airs, open face carves, and critical snaps.
Filipe Toledo
Filipe Toledo is set to make back-to-back appearances at Lower Trestles, wearing the coveted yellow jersey as the number one seed. Being the reigning world champion of the 2022 season, Toledo is well-acquainted with the intensity of the final five and leaves no room for any errors or doubts. Now residing in San Clemente, Lower Trestles aligns seamlessly with the Brazilian surfer's style, a wave he has truly mastered. He began the 2023 season with a victory at the second stop on tour, Sunset Beach, Hawaii, followed by a semi-final finish at Bell’s Beach, Australia, Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch, and two more wins in Surf City, El Salvador, and J-Bay, South Africa. Despite a minor injury sustained in El Salvador during the competition, Toledo showed incredible determination, pushing through to claim yet another win. Filipe Toledo is unquestionably the fastest surfer on the CT. His exceptional ability to unleash highly difficult maneuvers and variations with precision, even in the most challenging sections, makes him a huge threat as the number one seed in this year's Rip Curl WSL finals.