Surfers have traveled from around the world – and just a few miles on the freeway – for a heated showdown at Lower Trestles to decide this year’s world champions.
Ahead of the Rip Curl World Surf League Finals, the top 10 surfers – five men and five women – gathered at the San Clemente Pier on Wednesday, Sept. 6, to talk about the road to the championships, which will be decided in an one-day surf contest on the best day of waves sometime between Sept. 8 and 16 at the surf break wedged between Orange County and San Diego.
Through the afternoon, the surfers greeted fans, signed autographs and posed for photos, bringing a buzz among surf enthusiasts who showed up to meet the world’s best.
The event kicked off with a prayer from the native Acjachemen, who have occupied the coastal region for thousands of years. Each surfer was given a hand-made necklace for protection and was blessed with smoke from a bowl of herbs.
Surfing’s Hawaiian heritage was also celebrated, with the winner’s trophy officially named the Duke Kahanamoku’s World Champions Trophy, an homage to not just a legendary surfer and Olympic swimmer, but an ambassador of the sport who helped share surfing across the globe, said surf announcer Joe Turpel, who emceed the event.
Through the morning, each surfer spoke about their journey and feelings about making it to the WSL finals – slots earned from points generated throughout the competitive year.
San Clemente’s Griffin Colapinto, who has received much fanfare around town as the local favorite, talked about the support in his hometown as the lone surfer who grew up in the community.
It’s been cool having people in town say “good luck,” he said.
“I’m just trying to embrace it and show them that I care a lot that they are showing me that (support), it’s cool,” said Colapinto, who would be the first male California surfer to win a world title in more than 30 years.
If he won in his backyard?
“It would pretty…
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