The surfing spotlight is about to shine on San Clemente.
The world’s best surfers are coming to town for the Lexus WSL Finals, a one-day showdown that will crown both the men and women’s 2024 World Surf League champs at Lower Trestles, the cobblestone surf break that sits between Orange and San Diego counties.
Two San Clemente events planned ahead of the world championships will allow fans to get up close with the pro surfers, some who have traveled far for the big contest, others who are enjoying time at home in town with family and friends after spending the year competing around the globe.
The WSL Finals will happen on one day between Sept. 6 and 14, based on the best forecasted surf conditions.
This year’s women include 2023 world champ and newly crowned Olympic Gold Medalist Caroline Marks, a Florida surfer who calls San Clemente home, as well as 18-year-old Caitlin Simmers, who comes from just down the highway in Oceanside.
Costa Rica’s Brisa Hennessy, Australia’s Molly Picklum and Brazil’s Tatiana Weston-Webb round out the field of female competitors who will be battling for the world title.
On the men’s side, San Clemente’s Griffin Colapinto will get another shot at the title, after making the WSL Finals last year.
Hawaii’s John John Florence, who joined Colapinto, Marks and Simmers on Team USA during the Olympics, will be competing as the top-ranked surfer in the finals. Australians Jack Robinson and Ethan Ewing, as well as Brazil’s Italo Ferreira, will also be in the hunt for the world title.
On Sept. 3, from 5 to 8 p.m., a Surf Night hosted by the city and the WSL will have athlete signings, giveaways, food, music and more at the San Clemente Community Center.
“In an effort to inspire future generations of surfing, the family-friendly event will offer a unique opportunity for young surfers to meet the world’s best surfers,” officials said in an announcement.
Then on Sept. 4, at the Stance Headquarters, the San Clemente Lifeguard and Junior Lifeguard Foundation will host a Role Model talk with four San Clemente surfers who have been traveling with the WSL’s World Tour series.
Griffin and Crosby Colapinto, Cole Houshmand and Sawyer Lindblad will be part of the discussion aimed at youth in the community.
Crosby Colapinto, Houshmand and Lindblad are just finishing their first year on the tour and will discuss experiences during their rookie year, while Griffin Colapinto will share about his years on tour and the Olympic experience.
“We’re so excited about this event because to have this number of World Tour surfers, the top echelon of surfers from one town, I think it’s unprecedented,” said Greg Hulsizer, board member for the foundation and the event organizer.
The foundation has hosted several of the Role Model events in the past, including a talk with former world champion Shaun Tomson and last year with big-wave surfers Greg Long and Luke Shepardson.
This talk will revolve around how the athletes achieved their dreams of making it on the elite World Tour, the major leagues of the sport, how they train, as well as how they overcome difficult times, fears or anxieties and how they keep themselves motivated, Hulsizer said.
“(Surfing) has come so far. These are professionally trained athletes and it really shows in their performance,” he said. “I think it will be extremely motivational.”
The event is free for those under 18 and $15 for 18 and older, with funds raised going back to the foundation for junior lifeguard scholarships, equipment and education. Stance Headquarters is at 197 Avenida La Pata, San Clemente.
Registration is required, go to scljgfoundation.com
