For the Southern California surfers who got to showcase their wave-riding sport in Tahiti on the global stage during the Olympics, it’s time to refocus their efforts onto the world championship showdown on the horizon.
And for longtime surf fans and new enthusiasts who discovered a love for surf competition during the Summer Games, it’s a chance to see the world’s best put on a show at a world-class surf spot, Cloudbreak, in Fiji.
Several local surfers are in a prime position to make the cut for the World Surf League Finals at Lower Trestles just weeks away, but first they must battle against the world’s best at the Corona Fiji Pro at the final stop on the World Tour to secure their spots.
Just before the competition’s waiting period kicked off Tuesday, pro-surfers-turned-Olympians took a moment to talk about the Paris 2024 experience and the task ahead as they try and clinch the top five male and top five female spots in the WSL rankings.
For just one day after clinching her Olympic gold medal in Tahiti, surfer Caroline Marks got to fly home to celebrate with friends and family at a small, intimate gathering on the patio of a new San Clemente eatery, Parlor.
Then, Marks whisked away to New York to do media appearances, from there flying to Paris for the Olympic closing ceremonies, joining other athletes who medaled during the Summer Games. She even had a “fan girl” moment, finding herself side-by-side with basketball great Steph Curry at a nightclub in Paris, said Marks.
“It was a 10-out-of-10 trip, and it was super fun. I got to experience a lot of cool things and meet a bunch of athletes and walk in the closing ceremony, which was a really, really cool feeling and awesome to experience,” she said.
Caroline Marks, a Florida surfer who calls San Clemente home, celebrates with her gold medal on the podium after winning the surfing competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Now, she will refocus her energy on the world title race. (Courtesy of AP/Gregory Bull)
It’s been the best, and craziest, month of her life, she said.
“I don’t know if it’s fully sunk in yet. I think everything’s been really busy,” she said. “I feel like when the season’s over and I have a moment to myself, it all might hit me. Everything about it was just so unreal, it’s a month of my life I’ll never forget.”
Marks said she took what she learned at the Tokyo Olympics, held in 2021, with her to Tahiti for her second Olympic Games. She was one of only a few who went to both Olympics.
“I really wanted to enjoy every single moment, enjoy all the details,” she said. “Just enjoy it all and soak it all up because it’s such a special and surreal moment that does go by so fast.”
What made the Olympics unique was that it brought the whole world together and surfing was just part of a larger sporting event, whereas the sport on the regular World Tour usually stands on its own.
“There’s similarities and differences, but they’re both really special,” she said.
Now, Marks is refocused and ready to put the competition jersey back on for a chance to defend the world championship title she clinched last year at Lower Trestles, located just south of San Clemente, the beach town the Florida surfer calls home.
The only female surfer who has locked in their spot for the Final 5 is Caitlin Simmers, of Oceanside, now on her second World Tour year and the second appearance at the finals.
On the men’s side, Hawaii’s John John Florence — a two-time world champion also part of Team USA with Marks, Simmers and San Clemente’s Griffin Colapinto — has also secured his Final 5 spot based on his No. 1 ranking heading into the event.
Colapinto is also in prime contention to make his second WSL Final 5 appearance. He sits in the second spot in the World Tour rankings, just behind Florence.
Seth Moniz of Hawaii, Griffin Colapinto, of San Clemente and two-time WSL Champion John John Florence of Hawaii at the Opening Ceremony for the Corona Fiji Pro on Aug. 19, 2024 at Cloudbreak, Fiji. (Photo by Aaron Hughes/World Surf League)
But his results in Fiji will determine whether he makes the cut — an early exit could mean others could pass him in the rankings.
The surfers on Sunday joined an opening ceremony in Fiji while they warmed up for the event, which has a competition window that kicks off Tuesday and goes through Aug. 29, running on the days with the best waves.
Marks is excited to compete at Cloudbreak, a surf spot that hasn’t been on the World Tour since 2017, before she was part of the elite tour.
While Marks doesn’t have much experience at the surf break, she’s taking in the scenery ahead of the event.
“It’s stunning and all the people are so nice, and everything about it’s so beautiful. I’m excited to put the jersey on out there,” she said. “Cloudbreak is one of the best waves in the world.”
The event will be an early glimpse at the venue for next year’s WSL Finals. For the past four years, it has been held at Lower Trestles, but is making the switch next year to be held in Fiji.
Simmers, 18, is also soaking in the scenery in Fiji, starting the week with a pod of baby dolphins playing alongside their boat heading out to the surf break.
“It was just one of those moments where you were just in awe of the world,” said Simmers, who has never competed or even surfed Cloudbreak heading into the event. “You’re kind of just put in the present a lot here because of how beautiful it is.”
Simmers, now in her second year on tour, said she is in a better spot mentally than last year, getting to know the surf spots, adjusting to different cultures and foods and time zones.
“Everything is new because you’ve never been to the place. It’s a lot. And then on top of that, you’re going just to this new wave and you’re competing,” she said. “I’m a lot more just settled in this year .. and also, I’ve grown a lot as a person. I’m a lot more comfortable this year in myself and in competing.”
Caitlin Simmers, of Oceanside, competed in the 2024 Summer Olympics but now will refocus her energy into the World Title race. (Ed Sloane/Pool Photo via AP)
Simmers, like Marks, is fresh off the Olympic stage, which she said wasn’t the “full experience” because they were so far from Paris, but “you could definitely tell there was something different about it.”
Her biggest takeaway was the togetherness of Team USA, getting to know each other and rooting each other on for their country, rather than just going for their own win.
“It’s something I’m not really used to because surfing is a pretty isolated, individual sport,” she said. “It was really good to be with the team.”
It was also a chance to learn from Marks, who she calls a “guru.”
Following the Fiji event, local surfers will get to come back to Southern California, whether they make the Final 5 cut or not. The WSL Finals happens on one day between Sept. 6 and 14.
“Definitely, after this event, I’m definitely looking forward to having a little bit more time and seeing all my friends and family,” Marks said.
Watch it live at worldsurfleague.org
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