Aussies Jack Robinson and Ethan Ewing defeated in World Surf League finals
Olympic silver medal winner Jack Robinson won’t have any extra silverware to add to his trophy cabinet after being bested by Brazilian surfer Italo Ferreira at the World Surf League finals.
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Olympic silver medal winner Jack Robinson won’t have any extra silverware to add to his trophy cabinet after being bested by Brazilian surfer Italo Ferreira at the World Surf League finals.
Robinson ended the regular season in a respectable third place.
A new finals format introduced in 2021 means the top five ranked surfers all have a chance to battle for the ultimate title of world champion.
Fifth ranked Ferreira proved to be in top form.
First he dispatched fellow Australian Ethan Ewing in the opening round.
Robinson struggled to match it with him – scoring 9.94 to Ferreira’s 14.57 points in their clash.
The Brazilian then knocked out American Griffin Colapinto to book himself a battle with top ranked John John Florence.
To Ferreira’s credit, given he had already surfed three rounds – he challenged Florence but just couldn’t close it out – losing the first heat by 0.17 points and the second by 1.83.
In the women’s title race Brazilian surfer Tatiana Weston-Webb put an end to Molly Picklum’s hopes of a first gong – winning the opening elimination round 12.74 to 9.40.
Californian teenager Caitlin Simmers took out the women’s title in a three heat thriller against Olympic gold medallist Caroline Marks.
It was Marks who took the first heat at Lower Trestles. Simmers proved she wasn’t going to give up in the second with two nine point rides.
The ocean forced them both to calm down in the third heat with waves hard to come by. Simmers took the lead and title after scoring 15.16 to Marks’ 7.17.
The victory makes Simmers the youngest woman to win the world title.
Australia haven’t had a man claim the world title since Mick Fanning’s 2013 victory.
Eight time world champion Steph Gilmore was the last Australian women to take the top prize back in 2022.
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Originally published as Aussies Jack Robinson and Ethan Ewing defeated in World Surf League finals
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