Local So Cal surfers dominate in Tahiti, earn spots in Final 5 at ...

It was a Southern California showdown.

Caroline Marks, a Florida surfer who has called San Clemente home the past decade, went up against San Diego’s Caitlin Simmers, a 17-year-old prodigy who has dominated among the world’s best surfers in her rookie year on tour.

Marks would ultimately take the win at the Tahiti Pro on Aug. 16, but it was a pivotal event that landed both women surfers in the World Surf League’s Rip Curl WSL Finals to be held mid-September at Lower Trestles, where they’ll battle for a world title at a place both surfers grew up competing at while rising up the ranks.

The one-day, winner-takes-all finals features the top five men and women from the league’s elite-level Championship Tour.

Add in San Clemente surfer Griffin Colapinto, who made the cut in the men’s competition, and current world champion Brazilian Filipe Toledo, who has made San Clemente home for the past decade, and there will be plenty of fans cheering on area surfers when the contest is held in just a few weeks.

The Tahiti Pro was held at Teahupo’o, a bombing wave that will also serve as the 2024 Olympic venue. The contest unfolded with make-or-break scenarios that had huge implications for who will be competing at Lower Trestles, just south of San Clemente, for the world championship title. Australia’s Jack Robinson beat out three-time world champion Gabriel Medina in the finals to nab his spot in the world title race.

Jack Robinson of Australia won the final at the Tahiti Pro on August 16, 2023 at Teahupo ‘o, Tahiti, French Polynesia. (Photo by Matt Dunbar/World Surf League)

For Marks and Simmers, the Final 5 will also decide who will join Hawaiian Carissa Moore, who won gold for USA at the first Olympic games in Tokyo, to complete Team USA at the upcoming Paris Olympics. Hawaiian John John Florence and Colapinto have already been named as the USA men’s team athletes.

Moore, currently No. 1 in the rankings, will also be competing for yet another world title at Lower Trestles, with already five under her belt.

Two Australians will also be in the mix, Tyler Wright and Molly Picklum. The duo will also be the country’s team heading to the Paris Olympics.

For Marks, who was part of Team USA for the sport’s debut at the Tokyo Olympics, the Tahiti Pro was her second event win of the season.

“I’m stoked – this is like a dream event to win so I’m super pumped,” Marks said in an interview with WSL.

Simmers got the highest women’s heat score – a 9.23 out of a possible 10 – for a tube ride on her way to the finals.

Caitlin Simmers, of Oceanside, on her way to the finals at theSHISEIDO Tahiti Pro on August 16, 2023 at Teahupo’o, Tahiti, French Polynesia. She earned a runenr-up finish and a spot in the WSL Final 5 at Lower Trestles mid-September. (Photo by Matt Dunbar/World Surf League)

Simmers, who won the US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach in 2021, has created a huge buzz with her stylish, powerful surfing at such a young age.

The teen phenom made the cut for last year’s tour, but opted to travel the world and gain more experience before joining the world’s best this year.

“She’s had such a stellar year and has that real rookie energy with no pressure and nothing to lose, which is really cool,” said Marks, who also joined the tour as a teenager five years ago. “To have an all-American final was really fun.

“It’s been such a rad year,” Marks said, “and I’ve got more to look forward to at the Rip Curl WSL Finals at Lowers.”

The world championships will run on the best day of waves between Sept. 8 and 16.

More info: worldsurfleague.com