Local Surfers Shine at Sunset Beach

Toledo, Colapinto, Marks top the podium at last week’s Hurley Pro Sunset Beach

BY JAKE HOWARD, SAN CLEMENTE TIMES

The 2023 WSL Championship Tour season is in full swing, and with two events in the books, local surfers have much to cheer about.

Last week at the Hurley Pro Sunset Beach, San Clemente residents Filipe Toledo and Griffin Colapinto finished first and second, respectively, while it was another San Clemente resident, Caroline Marks, who finished runner-up in the women’s division.

Australia’s Molly Picklum won the women’s event—the first Championship Tour victory of her young career.

Toledo is the defending world champ and now sits ranked second in the world, while Colapinto finds himself in familiar territory, ranked sixth in the world, where he finished the season last year.

Marks, a Lowers regular, is currently ranked fifth in the women’s rankings. The top five male and female surfers will qualify for the Rip Curl WSL Finals in San Clemente at the end of the season and earn a shot at the 2023 world title.

“Last year was fun, and I got what I wanted, which was my title, and I learned a lot,” Toledo told the WSL after his Sunset Beach victory, the 13th of his career. “Griffin Colapinto came out swinging, and I’m just thinking, ‘I’m ready, here we go.’ I knew the right wave would come; it was slow for a lot of the heat, but I could see he was tense having that 9.17. He seemed a little nervous; I don’t know if he was or not, and I stayed calm and composed and just waited for the wave, then do what I have to do.”

Toledo and Colapinto had squared off in the final of the 2022 Surf City El Salvador Pro. Colapinto got the win in Central America, and this time around he once again got the jump on the Brazilian champ, posting a 9-point ride in the opening minutes of their Sunset duel. Unfortunately, the ocean went flat, and Colapinto was never able to back up his heat score with a high-scoring second ride. Toledo dug deep, found a wave and converted it for the win.

“That was a crazy heat with Filipe, and the only heats I’ve had with him are in the finals, so that’s been pretty cool,” Colapinto said afterward. “That was a good little battle, and I’m super stoked. Caroline lives in my hometown as well, so it’s a good day.”

Keeping the hometown vibes going,