Sunset typically brings to mind colossal, shifting peaks, boards bigger than seven feet and closeout sets that come at you like a container ship washed sideways. Situations where the fight or flight mechanism is forced into overdrive and courage must conquer fear just to catch a wave. A gladiator’s domain once dominated by a surfer called ‘Kong’ where Russell Crowe might be at home. But instead of a battle royal at sea it was all buttery blue and mellow, caressed by offshore winds and creased by a six-foot northwest swell that wrapped into The Point like a fun day at mid-size Bells or less than perfect J-Bay. Ensconced in the competitor’s are was Matthew McConaughey, more effortless charm than brutal power. The guy who played Surfer Dude (a role loved and loathed) was now playing corner-man for Griffin Colapinto, giving him tips on journaling, the latest in a long list of pro surfing secret weapons that includes meditation, visualization and positive affirmation. Meanwhile, Molly Picklum was content to just ‘Rip In’.
No, it wasn’t a typical Sunset contest, but despite the lack of heft in the swell it still provided a setting for some riveting, high performance surfing.
The men’s final was essentially a three-exchange match-up between Griffin Colapinto and Filipe Toledo. The first head- to-head went to Griff’, who had been picked by USA pals Pete Mel and Strider as the likely winner. Toledo claimed the first wave of the set and took it apart with his typical, even tempo, on-rail attack, filleting the outside and pin-balling through to the Val’s reef bonus section to add the extras. However, on the bigger wave behind, Griffin’s two-turn monster combo featured a heaving carve into the pocket followed by an impossible snap to freefall finish. He was in the lip not under it. Even on a six-foot day at Sunset that’s like trying to rebound off a collapsing wall of concrete. Was it a great turn or just a difficult turn because of the fierce section? Either way the judges loved it and rewarded him with a 9.17. – 1.35 better than Toledo’s 7.83.
Then the waves went totally walkabout for much of the final. In search of something to fill the dead air, Joe Turpel dived into the detail of Griff’s Insta journal. “Did you read Griff’s journal this morning Pete? I did”. As Joe gloated about his homework, the clock wound down and it seemed ever more likely that Colapinto would make it three from three in finals with Toledo.
However, Toledo hadn’t hit first gear. In exchange two Toledo was on the second wave of the set, and while Griff allowed a hint of caution to creep into his act (flattening out his turns) Fillet Fil’ looked like a master-chef slicing into high-grade sashimi, holding the rail through deep carves in critical sections for an 8.27. When Toledo commits to a turn you know it, because he’s at full-tilt on his heavily-rockered Sharp-Eyes. The fleshy underside of his board is exposed in the most cupped-out part of the wave. When he first hit the CT Toledo would throttle past good sections looking for launch pads. Somewhere along the way he fell in love with the rail and figured how to make the judges’ keyboard fingers wiggle with excitement, while he’s still connected to the face.
The third and final exchange was like a recreation of the second. Again Griffin had priority, and again he went the first wave, surfing well but not exceptionally. Meanwhile, behind him Toledo was tossing geysers into the stiff offshore, creating giant punctuation marks for his high-velocity scythes. The 9.47 was more than 2.5 points better than Griff’s 6.93 cruiser. The focus was on Toledo’s turns but none of the commentators identified that the highest wave score in each of the three exchanges had come on the second wave of the set – Colapinto’s opening wave included. In hindsight it would have been a ballsy move to let Toledo go on the first wave of each set, but the result may have been different had Colapinto used his priority differently. In the end Toledo and God (he had a pastor on hand to pray pre-final) triumphed over Griffin and Matt McConaughey. Hawaii is arguably Toledo’s toughest leg and he leaves the North Shore ranked number two. It’s a long way out, but if Filipe holds on to a top three finish, Trestles shapes up as another slam-dunk world title.
In the women’s final, plucky Molly Picklum stayed busy against Caroline Marks. The tactic had worked for Picklum against Tyler Wright in the semi-final, who sat for almost thirty-five minutes without a meaningful wave. Sunset had a tendency to go to sleep at various times throughout the day and after the final was nearly half-done Molly had a pair of mid-range fours to her name while Marks hadn’t, well, gotten off the mark. However, at the 21-minute point Caroline took off on a set and caned the lip three times. The impact of Marks’ backhand attack is in the change of pace. It’s a long, slow wind-up like a hay-maker left hook, but it lands on the lip with maximal speed and precision. The judges rewarded Caroline with a 7.5 and from that point on she was in a commanding position. However, Marks’ early composure was replaced by a more flustered approach and she spent much of the back half of the final floundering on the inside, trying to get back out. Meanwhile, Picklum found the quality sets in the latter stages of the heat and despite falling on one of her better waves she still turned mid-fours into mid fives. In the end Marks only needed a 3.5 to secure the win, but couldn’t find the right wave or headspace, allowing Picklum to secure a popular victory.
There was never any doubt about the young, Shelly Beach surfer’s potential; it was just a matter of carrying her natural, self-confidence into a heat situation. Picklum’s fan club will grow exponentially after her maiden win. There’s something quintessentially Australian, honest and likeable about her act. “I hope I just get to rip in,” she’d stated emphatically before the final. It seems like you could have a surf with Molly, then a pub lunch and a few games of pool – which she’d likely win. Molly leaves Hawaii sharing the yellow jersey with Carissa Moore and has established her position as a top five contender.
What else was there to be gleaned from finals day? Aside from the surprise losses of Steph Gilmore and Carissa Moore, the big disappointment was Ethan Ewing. His approach is so fluid that when there is a kink or bump in his surfing it stands out like a wart on an otherwise pretty face. Today he looked a little jittery and out of rhythm on his narrower, knifier DHD’s. Griff had too much fizz for him in the quarters.
The most improved surfer in the men’s is without a doubt Joao Chianca. Joao boasts scything rail turns, great timing and holds good form through his moves. That’s the big improvement in his surfing – last year he looked dynamic but a little frantic. This year the turns are far more precise and the body English more fluid. He blasted Matt McGillivray out of the water in the quarters and for a moment in the semis it looked like he might do the same to Filipe Toledo. After bouncing back from the cut last year, he is doing everything within his powers to announce himself as a legitimate, final five contender. This year he is unlikely to be matched against John John in multiple, early events as he was in 2022. He leaves Hawaii ranked number three and will ensure every surfer who pulls on a singlet against him will have to be at their best to defeat him.
Jack Robinson retains his yellow jersey and despite major improvements to his open face attack perhaps still has some work to do with his turns, if he wants to match Toledo and Colapinto in full flight.
Final Days Results
Men’s Final
Filipe Toledo – 17.74
Griffin Colapinto – 16.10
Women’s Final
Molly Picklum – 10.90
Caroline Marks – 9.90
Men’s Semi Final
Heat 1
Griffin Colapinto – 17.90
Jack Robinson – 16.33
Heat 2
Filipe Toledo – 16.33
Joao Chianca – 15.44
Women’s Semi Final
Heat 1
Molly Picklum – 12.34
Tyler Wright – 1.74
Heat 2
Caroline Marks – 13.10
Gabriela Bryan – 8.83
Men’s Quarterfinals
Heat 1
Jack Robinson – 14.76
Nat Young – 9.33
Heat 2
Griffin Colapinto – 13.50
Ethan Ewing – 9.16
Heat 3
Filipe Toledo – 17.07
Caio Ibelli – 12.14
Heat 4
Joao Chianca – 15.23
Matthew McGillivray – 13.00
Women’s Quarterfinal
Heat 1
Molly Picklum – 8.67
Brisa Hennessy – 8.40
Heat 2
Tyler Wright – 12.17
Stephanie Gilmore – 11.17
Heat 3
Gabriela Bryan – 15.00
Carissa Moore – 7.33
Heat 4
Caroline Marks – 12.50
Caitlin Simmers – 12.33
