Are you ready?
- Ready for the finals. Finals round two. - Finals. Round two.
Here we come.
This year I just feel, like, so psyched to be a part of it, you know?
I feel like your surfing is way better too.
I know. I feel like that too. I didn't want to say that.
But I feel like my surfing has got much better.
Last year I competed as the 2nd in the ranking,
and today I'm going to compete as 4th.
So, I have a long walk to the final.
But I know I'm well prepared.
Wait, who just pulled up?
- Kanoa just pulled up? - Kanoa.
I'm at the press conference now.
I got like 15 cameras on me right now.
I know it's my destiny to win a World Title.
To win multiple World Titles.
When you're going for a World Title,
you're going for the top position. Your mind's limitless.
It's the ultimate goal at the end of the year to get to.
- Hi, guys. - Morning.
Oh, my God. Dude, this final is gonna be so nuts.
This year, going into the finals feels a bit different.
Being in the number one spot, I feel really confident,
but I am fighting with all these guys for a World Title.
- One more chance. - Yeah, I know. One more opportunity.
Is there any added pressure going into this one after last year?
So close.
Not really. I mean, I feel like I'm in a better position right now.
You know, I feel super light and happy.
Just hope to take the win here and really put my name up there.
Winning the World Title,
it really confirms your status as a surfing icon and a surfing legend.
That's the most important trophy in surfing.
That's the best one to win.
No one can ever take that World Title away from you.
You become a part of history.
It's the pinnacle of our sport. You'd become immortal.
Welcome, everyone,
to the official press conference of the 2022 Rip Curl WSL Finals.
And our seven-time world champion, Stephanie Gilmore, back to play again,
and looking for a record-breaking eighth title this year.
Yeah, I'd really love to win an eighth, and I've always wanted to win an eighth.
So, yeah, I'll do my best, but Carissa chasing a six,
it's super close to seven, which is super scary,
but it'll be a long road.
So we'll see.
I'm in the finals. I'm in fifth place.
I'm doing everything I can to be in the best frame of mind
and to be motivated.
But by no means is it gonna be easy,
because I'm sitting in fifth place and starting from the bottom.
So, there's five surfers.
Number five in the draw will surf against number four for the first match.
Winner of that then surfs against number three.
Winner of that goes up against world number two.
And then you go down to a three-heat showdown
with the world number one to see who will walk away the world champion.
I think it's a huge advantage going into the finals with the yellow jersey.
Only having to win two heats
is a lot easier to get than having to win three or four or five.
Going into the finals day
you'd probably give the seeds four and five,
little to no chance of making it all the way to the final.
The chances become less and less as you go down the seeding.
Pretty good breakfast.
- Brunch, lunch. What is it? - Brunch.
This year was incredibly long and really rough, really tough.
I started with COVID. I didn't get to do Pipe.
I only just made the cut.
And then I finally found my feet heading into the back half of the season.
I feel like last year, I'd kinda had a similar year.
And then when I showed up for the final day,
I think I was underprepared.
Last year, I was, like, taking all of it a little bit less seriously.
Like, this time around I'm applying myself much more...
intensively, which is great.
Last year, I swear I was thinking all the same stuff.
And then I just crumbled, first heat.
Shocker. So embarrassed.
You got smoked by Johanne.
You can't always get what you want
Yeah.
My intentions are a lot clearer this year.
I want to win.
I have to really, like, remind myself that it's possible.
I can go the whole way.
Like, I'm a sports fanatic.
The way that they've set it up is more like a video game than a sport.
And in the women, physically, it actually, kind of looks like that.
Like, Carissa's the b--
- the biggest, bad boss at the top. - Big, bad boss.
I'm very confident.
I've worked super hard the last few weeks
just to make sure the machine is running great
and all systems are firing.
I guess at this point in my career,
to get these opportunities to go for a World Title again in this--
in this setting, at this wave,
I don't know if I'll ever get that chance again.
So you've gotta go all in.
I just can't wait to see all the other girls' faces
when you start steamrolling through.
Like, you're gonna be scary as shit.
Steph's got some techniques.
You're gonna turn into psycho competition mode.
She's just a competitive bitch.
The time has finally arrived.
The Rip Curl WSL Finals 2022.
It's game day. This is our Super Bowl of the sport.
The stakes are so high.
You're looking at World Titles here. Dreams.
Hey, guys.
- How ya doin'? Lovely to see you. - I got your T-shirt.
Good morning.
Surf fans, it's time to get fired up.
Be quick and be strong on your decisions.
Excellent scores for really committing to the lip.
Make them surf hard.
We are looking for surfers to be pushing the level of the sport.
Surfing that's high-risk
and doing things that we don't see.
Steph Gilmore getting past Brisa Hennessy in this opening match.
Her hope for an eighth World Title continues.
And now she'll take on Tatiana Weston-Webb in match number two.
It's really identifying that bit where you can attack.
It's not like linking three together.
It's about reading it
and then loading up to get to your money turn
when it offers ya.
This year, I was able to really knuckle down on my diet,
my nutrition, my routine.
And I've got my awesome coach, Tom Whits, with me now.
We worked really hard on enacting what the day would look like.
Just practicing it over and over again.
I got through Brisa.
Best of luck, Tommy.
Thanks, Bris.
Now I'm against Tatiana.
We need to be savage competitors. That's how it works.
I've gotta go out for blood.
We have a lot of Tatiana supporters on the beach right now.
So this year, being third, I have an amazing chance,
but I know I need to work harder than I've worked before.
What I experienced last year
has really helped me be mentally prepared for these finals.
Yeah, just going into it, I wanna leave the pressure on the other girls.
I don't feel any pressure whatsoever.
I feel really, really excited, and I look forward to the challenge.
It's top of the tide right now,
so there's only been, like, three real sets in this.
- Yeah. - So it's ice queen, three waves.
You've got the chance to keep paddling, keep looking until that one you want.
Tatiana has all the confidence that you need to be a world champion.
Let's go, Tati.
Thank you.
And she is not afraid to surf the way she wants.
She will be a really hard one to beat.
If I can get past Tatiana, I think I can go the whole way.
Steph is the queen of style, and she's one hell of a competitor.
She just loves competing. She's kinda like a Kelly.
You never really know what they're gonna do.
But I'm still gonna beat her.
There's a lot of recent history
and dare I say it, there's electricity that crackles under the surface
when these two ladies do battle.
We're starting off here with Steph Gilmore.
A little bit caught behind the section there.
Similar to how we started last year
with Steph maybe picking the wrong waves.
- Fuck. - That's all right.
Tati is interested in the second wave of the set.
Tati, the only goofy foot in the mix on the women's side.
Winds up off the bottom, chops off the top.
One more to finish.
Early advantage to Tatiana Weston-Webb.
That was sick.
Looking left here, Tatiana Weston-Webb.
Go, Tati. Go!
That's a good wave.
Solid surfing from Tati.
Nice to see, you know, that fresh perspective on the left.
She's just attacking.
She's not giving the seven-time world champ an inch in this lineup.
I know it's early on in the day, but I have to click into a higher gear.
Just stay in it. Give yourself a chance.
Gilmore drops in.
Really aggressive on these inside maneuvers.
Wow.
That's gonna be Steph Gilmore's best wave so far in this match.
There's so much more to achieve in my surfing,
and I really want to push myself harder in that creative zone.
Medium-size wave from Steph.
She needs a 7.88.
That's a chunky score.
Unbelievable. You don't see that every day.
That wasn't really in the playbook.
8.3, Steph Gilmore turns the heat.
Oh, my gosh. Just warrior mode.
Scores are in. Gilmore advances!
And some good sportsmanship right at the end of this heat.
It was almost like the universe just asked me,
"You can decide today what you want to achieve.
So this is the moment. Make that decision."
And I did. I wanted to win.
Last year, many people were asking,
"Is Steph Gilmore a spent force?"
But with this win,
are we witnessing a new dawn for the seven-times world champion?
- Holy fuck. - That's out of the way, you fuckhead.
Idiot.
Can't even believe how dumb that start was.
So it will be Steph Gilmore moving on to match number three.
Tatiana Weston-Webb is out of competition.
Ready, 1, 2, 3.
I did everything I could in my heat,
and I was proud of myself, you know. I didn't feel like I made any mistakes.
I felt like I surfed really well. And it wasn't my best year,
but I'm just proud of myself for getting through the ups and the downs
and being able to, like, survive.
Match number one of the men's Rip Curl WSL Finals.
Ítalo verse Kanoa. So much pressure, so much drama.
Good luck but don't beat the Brazilians.
I don't know.
When you get the left
and you go back, you have priority.
My season wasn't as I expected it to be.
I didn't win the whole year
and I must win the final.
My first competitor is Kanoa
where that heat could decide a lot of things.
Kanoa is a dedicated athlete. He's talented.
- Thanks. - There you go.
This is one of the biggest moments of my career.
Having a shot at winning a World Title. That's a lifelong dream.
To be in this position, you tighten your straps, now you buckle in.
But what I'm worried about is the people that are talking good about me
being let down.
- I believe in you, mate. - Yeah.
- Yeah? Yeah. - Yeah. I believe in everything we've done.
- Let's go get it, okay? - Yeah.
Let's hear it for men's match one!
We have just 35 minutes
to have a 110% performance.
I can do it.
I have a chance at becoming world champion.
Let's see how hard I can surf right now.
Let's go!
Kanoa attacking with his first wave.
Throw tail reverse.
The intensity's definitely clear.
Ítalo winding up.
Board disconnected on what usually is that signature move.
A stylish start from Igarashi.
Really nice first carve.
Griffin Colapinto just missed out on the Rip Curl WSL Finals.
Watching things unfold.
Zips it across just to be able to give that little extra flair.
A little slip right there. But he recovered. He gets it.
Let's go!
He's coming in here on a hot streak. The confidence is through the roof.
Ítalo on the other hand, he knows that he needs to really step up.
I think about myself
on what I can change
how I can improve.
You have to believe anything is possible.
Ítalo, he's got that look to him.
Spring-loaded, tail-high, full-rotation punt.
And it is complete.
And that's as pretty as it gets for the landing.
Fuck yeah. Come on, Italo.
8.17 for Ítalo. Gets the lead off Kanoa.
Three, two, one.
Igarashi will fall short to Ítalo Ferreira in match number one.
Kanoa now finishes fifth in the world.
Ítalo.
Look out to the rest of the field.
Five more.
He could be peaking at the right moment.
That's really hard, honestly. That hurt me.
I worked hard towards it, you know.
- I had so much left in the tank. - Yeah.
I had a really good mentality today
and I was ready to go all the way.
But I learned a lot about myself and my character.
What kind of athlete that I am.
I saw sides of me that I was really proud of.
I came so close. I know I have so much more to give.
I can't wait to get ready for next year.
Here in Trestles, Ítalo was in pain on his feet,
a little bit on his knee.
But I think when he has something in mind, he just goes for it.
The adrenaline is set too high that he doesn't feel his body.
Doesn't care about hurt, or feelings, anything.
I'm exhausted.
aI arrived from Brazil straight to the water.
Surfed, surfed, surfed, surfed.
Surfed in the morning, surfed in the middle of the day.
Surfed in the afternoon.
Yesterday I surfed the whole afternoon.
You are crazy, man.
Coming into the final five, Ítalo's got something to prove.
He hasn't had a great year. He had to fight for every heat.
But he's still got the opportunity to go on and become world champion.
There was a lot of heats this year, it was pretty strange.
Ítalo lost to Filipe twice.
Jack and Ítalo had that problem at Bells Beach.
Ítalo is looking forward to give them a payback.
What are the judges looking for here in Trestles?
Looking for Jack Robinson.
In Bells Beach against Jack, I think that was making me sad
and that was breaking my heart.
Ítalo, a 6.7. Jack Robbo wins.
Ítalo now out of the contest.
Go fuck yourself.
In that moment, I feel he was-- Fuck.
He was not better than me in that heat.
He was the favorite in that moment.
I think the judges are looking for big waves, big maneuvers,
you just gotta go big.
Fingers crossed to see good waves for Ítalo.
I hope so.
Ítalo just seemed a little off all year.
Things didn't go his way.
There were a lot of complaints about the scoring.
I don't know whether Jack should've won the heat or not.
But he's really a threat.
I grew a lot this year I think. I won two events.
So I feel super good coming into the finals.
I'm just finding my zone, you know. I'm finding my momentum now.
What sets me apart from other guys I think,
might be my ability to stay super calm in real heavy moments.
Remember if you've lost your concentration,
close your eyes and reconnect.
I had Leandro come in.
He sort of brings that aura. He's got the power, you know.
I feel that energy off of him.
Connect for this place
in free breathing.
But slow.
When I lock into my focus, it's way better.
So I want to be super focused for this one.
Yes, this is your energy
in your head, your brain.
If I stick to my strengths and do it against the guys,
then I'm gonna take them.
Good opportunity to-- this year to take one.
Ítalo! Ítalo!
Ítalo Ferreira takes out Ethan Ewing in match number two.
Impressive performance.
Well, this is gonna be a whole lot of fun.
Match three features Jack Robinson taking on Ítalo Ferreira.
Wowee. This is a spicy one.
I think we're gonna see some fireworks right here.
I really want to compete against Jack.
I got all my energy
and put it on that heat,
because I really want payback
for what happened in Bells.
When I beat Ítalo this year, it was just another heat.
He made a proper scene out of it.
I think he wants it badly.
I'm very angry at him,
and now is my chance to get revenge for all that happened this year.
2019 world champion, Ítalo Ferreira!
Your number two seed in the blue jersey, Jack Robinson!
Your whole life, it's all led up to this.
You have an opportunity to take it, and it'd be a beautiful moment.
When we go head to head,
I can show him who I really am.
Match three out there in the lineup.
- Here we go. -Ítalo, just really ramping up.
You just know what the MO is, and somehow he hangs on.
And starting to gather some more speed for the finish.
When you are competing you don't want to be 2nd or 3rd.
I put it in my mind I would only stop in the final.
That the more I surfed, the more confident I would be.
Jack Robinson, he's gonna feel the heat now.
Looking for answers here.
Go on, Jack. Get up there. You gotta get up there.
Love that turn.
Needs to make this one count.
Pushes it, forces it...
but doesn't complete the rotation.
That's what pressure will do.
It's a whole different level of pressure. It really is.
Let's go. Open wide.
Jack Robinson goes to one of those big, clean, stylish carves
to get things started.
Come on.
This is a bit more like it from the current world number two,
as he looks to save himself.
- That was a strong ride, start to finish. - Wow.
But Ítalo is back out there.
He's going again.
Wow, Ítalo, airdropping out of the sky.
Absolutely punishes the opening section.
And he must've heard the crowd cheering Jack on through his ride,
'cause he has answered in kind.
What a way to finish.
Signs the check.
Match three is in the bag for Ítalo.
Wow, that was an absolutely amazing way to finish that heat.
One more.
And he is gonna give himself a shot at a second World Title today
against Filipe Toledo.
Incredible.
Let's go. There's only Filipe now.
Wow. Did you see that?
Super upset.
If you're not upset, then you don't care, you know?
Yeah, you just get super bummed.
But I'm so young. It is what it is.
It was all new to me, you know.
I'll come back next time, and I'll change a lot of things.
You just learn, you know? It's the experience, eh?
It comes with experience.
Good job, I'm so happy.
- We go again next year. - Yeah, man.
- Thanks for being here. - For sure.
Jack's super determined.
He seems to be the guy who backs himself more than probably anybody that I've seen.
I feel like he's gone and gotten his surfing just, like, on point.
He's really just become his own man. And I was just so proud.
Steph Gilmore moving on to match number three
against Johanne Defay.
What we have is a rematch of the first heat of the finals
for the women last year.
You're gonna die on your ass if you keep that, like,
hectic start and come-from-behind.
Let's try and do it the other way.
Give yourself that first ten minutes
to really tee off on a nice one.
Last year, I panicked the whole heat, and then it was over.
And I was, like, "Oh, well. That sucked."
But you have to adapt. You have to change your approach.
I think this is my 14th year on tour, but I'm yet to consider retiring.
And I just think about how much room to improve there is.
That's really the ultimate feeling. That's what keeps me coming back for more.
I got to improve. I gotta get better.
You're on fire. Keep believing.
- Love it. I love it. Yeah? - Yeah.
Let's just go get this one.
Find that rhythm.
Technique over fatigue, yeah?
It's not gonna hurt, at all.
Go get it, champ. Yeah?
Revenge is always a neat way of finding some motivation.
Johanne will be tough, but I think I can do it.
Match three, and what a matchup it is.
I had to come from the very bottom to get to where I am now.
And I don't care what anyone thinks.
I'm gonna do it the way I wanna do it.
Stephanie Gilmore.
She's had some slow starts.
She wants none of that here in match three.
Getting things started here.
Ramping things up, and she knew she had to.
Have a look at that score, 8.83.
And she has left Johanne Defay with a lot of work to do.
Wow, look at that one. Impressive.
It's gonna be a big number.
There it is.
An excellent heat score, 16 point plus for Steph Gilmore.
Well, Johanne Defay,
she's gonna finish third on the championship tour this year.
As Stephanie Gilmore brings it through to the beach to the applause of the crowd.
What a performance from the seven-time world champion.
She's gonna get herself that title matchup against Carissa Moore.
Now you're feeling it.
I think she's been really disenchanted with pro surfing.
I think she's been burned out for years.
Beautiful. And they rewarded it.
But you see Stephanie like a raging bull through all her competitors.
It very well could be a floodgate just opened for Steph.
The idea that someone from fourth or fifth
can surf all the way through,
it's kind of just that. It's an idea.
No one's done it yet.
If Steph is able to make it happen, I think it would be incredibly historic.
Last year, both the number-one-ranked surfers won on finals day.
But on the men's side of things,
Filipe's watching Ítalo tear through the other finalists.
It is somewhat intimidating.
You know, if you asked Filipe what he was feeling,
there'd be nerves and a certain amount of fear, without doubt.
Activate the glutes, quadriceps.
Use your breath, swap.
Last year, I gave my heart in that finals,
but I finished second.
I was so close, you know?
It was like one hand was already there,
and then all of a sudden, it's not.
Like, I don't want that to happen again.
Fit in the shoulder.
That's it. To the top.
I don't wanna be the best surfer to never win a World Title, you know?
That's it. Use the breathing.
All that matters for me, it's winning the World Title.
Prepare.
What's different?
This year, I was kind of controlling my feelings a little bit more.
- Yes. - Go.
Stabilize the arm. It was not coordinated.
Let's go.
Do it better.
Stronger.
So, it's definitely my best year on tour.
Probably the best year of my career.
- Better. - I fixed the arm.
Yes, here. You adjusted it.
Now it makes sense.
- What? - He goes flying.
Having the yellow jersey, being on the number one spot,
going into the finals, I feel like it's a better advantage.
And I feel like it's a good year to win the title.
That's it. Active foot.
Two. Let's go.
Let's go.
Filipe's worn the yellow jersey in the past,
but hasn't converted it into a World Title.
Why is that? I think, fundamentally,
that's because of a lack of self-belief at critical moments.
But it feels like this year, though,
he's in a much better state of mind.
And his form is incredible.
It really feels like it's already Filipe Toledo's title to lose.
Done.
The biggest day in pro surfing continues.
An all-Brazilian matchup to decide the men's world champion today.
Historical moment in pro surfing history.
Go Filipe.
Going into the day of the competition,
of course there's a lot of feelings.
There's a lot going on, a lot of pressure, a lot of people.
There's definitely the anxiety.
It's hard to control all those emotions.
There's so many things that can get in your head
on the lead-up to a big day like today.
Everyone knows he's the favorite.
What if you don't get it?
What if you never win a World Title?
What if, what if?
Ítalo!
Ítalo, a remarkable run from him to get from fourth into this position
to chase a second World Title.
All day he's been building to this moment.
I think that to win a second championship
is something that pushes you,
both physically and mentally,
to win, win, win.
I knew if I had to surf against any of the four guys,
it would be really, really hard.
But I know if there's one guy that could do it all the way, it is Ítalo.
We wanna beat each other, so it's gonna be a good fight.
God is with you.
Go for it, okay?
Come on, man! Bloodshot eyes.
Ítalo Ferreira!
He's kinda fizzing like someone's thrown a Mentos in him
and he's just exploding.
Number 77, Filipe Toledo!
Filipe, looking calm and comfortable.
The biggest heat, it's against myself.
If I win the heat against myself, I feel like I can do anything I want.
God bless you.
Pick your waves. Okay?
Filipe! Filipe! Filipe!
Filipe is coming, and there will be trouble!
Filipe Toledo.
Setting up his opener.
Big blitz off the lip.
Total control!
Winds up and punches out the finish.
Holy Mary, I have goose bumps.
No warm-up required for Filipe.
He's on.
Just to see his confidence on that opening ride.
He's making a statement.
Back to Filipe.
First turn, a dynamic one.
Toledo looking perfect.
And he'll slip off.
First mistake and might've been a painful one.
That thing belted him.
It's a lot of pressure. Ítalo already has a World Title.
It gives you that butterflies in the stomach.
But I have a lot of faith, and that gives me more confidence.
Ítalo Ferreira rolls in.
Incredible series of backhand snaps.
Come on.
Ítalo just put it all out on the line there.
6.97 just misses the lead change, and he can't believe it.
Wow.
Praise the Lord!
Title match heat number one, Filipe Toledo.
Wow, that one got incredibly close.
Filipe now needs one more win to become a world champion.
Filipe is chasing this title for a long time
and I feel the pressure on his shoulders.
Focus on what you came here for.
Focus on what you worked the entire year for.
Focus on what you told me that day on the beach when you were a kid, remember?
When you looked into my eyes and said,
"I want to be a world champion".
I know how hard he's worked for this.
How many things he left behind to keep his dream alive.
He's still fighting for this every day, every year.
He never give up. I'm so proud for this.
Come on.
Heading into the second title match,
Ítalo in a must-win situation.
But will it be Toledo's day?
An aggressive start from Filipe Toledo.
Pushes so hard through those forehand carves.
Here goes Ítalo.
He can't afford to lose.
Come on.
Ítalo Ferreira really having a push through
since his return from that injury.
Filipe stepping into motion. Clean.
Watch the speed he gets through these turns on. It's incredible.
This guy is the fastest guy I've ever seen.
Frames it perfectly.
He'll stare down the entire beach.
With the momentum that I have,
I feel, like, super confident. I'm ready for anything.
Remember, if Toledo wins this title match number two, it's all over.
But it's incredibly close. Ítalo needs a 7.18.
It's not a giant score that Ítalo needs to flip this heat.
Ítalo going left.
Go.
He's loading up.
He gets out without a problem.
Super crazy.
Stomps a reverse again on the finish.
- 8.60 to take the lead. - Oh, my gosh.
With time winding down,
it looks like Ítalo will force a third and deciding title match.
Hang on a second. Here's Filipe.
Real cool-looking carve.
Feels like he's in the flow state,
- in total control. - Yeah.
He's just flying through it.
This could be it. This could be Filipe's moment.
Filipe's got the better carves.
It's decision time.
Scores coming through for Filipe Toledo.
8.67.
Yeah!
It's the year of Filipe Toledo, your 2022 World Champ.
Absolutely incredible.
He's been so close so many times. Today's his day.
Filipe's season really stood out
from the other athletes.
He really deserved it
for everything that he did during the year.
Ítalo did everything in his power to make a comeback this year.
But it felt like Filipe's day.
Filipe, I think, is the best surfer in the world right now.
I have a lot of respect for him, and I love his surfing.
I think Filipe winning the World Title
proves that the best surfers win competitions.
It feels special for sure.
After all the sacrifice, all the moments that, you know,
I wasn't able to be with the kids.
Seeing the happiness in my parents' face
and the kids' face and my wife's and my brother's.
It's all worth it in the end.
Time for the title match. Two of the best ever.
Carissa Moore and Stephanie Gilmore.
There is a huge advantage going into that finals day
with the number one seed,
because you're not surfing possibly six heats.
You're only having to surf three at the most.
So, if you see anything with any sort--
- Go for it. Yeah. - Yeah.
To take home the championship title this year, it'd be awesome.
I'm very content, but I really want it.
Carissa not surfing yet.
She's gonna be very fresh,
whereas Steph's gonna have a little bit of fatigue.
Carissa is so strong, so fit.
She's the final stage, the hardest of everyone to beat.
It's hard because you want
to manifest things and you want to make it happen.
But you're also thinking, "I don't know if I'm strong as Carissa."
I haven't thought too far ahead
what it would mean to her to win an eighth.
It's groundbreaking.
She goes to the greatest female surfer of all time.
We can do this. Like, not easy,
but actually we have a really good shot here.
Title match number one, best of three series.
Carissa looking for a sixth title.
Steph looking for a record-breaking eighth.
Carissa always pushes to the inside
to have the first wave of the heat.
I don't like dirty play, but I just thought,
"I want to see if I can get in ahead.
I want the inside."
The Australian, Steph Gilmore.
Boy, those first two carves
- were so sweet. - Wow.
8.33. What a way to kick off this heat.
Carissa Moore lining up.
Fins out the back.
The Hawaiian's on the board.
She's still trying to build her momentum.
She just needs another one.
The defending World Champ trying to turn it on.
Big sweep.
Carissa's gotta keep that peaceful mental attitude
and save the rage for the wave.
Steph opens up again.
It's a constant back-and-forth battle of two of the all-time greats.
That was good.
Steph Gilmore has just taken the first match over Carissa Moore.
I'm still in it. I'm still going.
I'm still building momentum.
Each heat, I got a little bit better. I got a little bit stronger.
The energy was building, and I know for a fact that Carissa was feeling it.
I feel like the Pacific Liner.
The train's coming, and it's not gonna slow down.
Time for title match heat number two.
Stephanie Gilmore, with one more win, she'll create history.
Here we go. Steph up to get it going.
She's pulling a trigger.
I like it.
Go, Steph!
Carissa Moore is looking to answer.
Carissa's gonna throw down a turn right in front of Steph. Jams it.
Sprays her a little bit there on that last one.
Carissa in a must-win situation.
Yellow, no real critical turns on a critical section,
but surfs the wave nicely.
In the press conference, the Indigenous community chanted a song.
And I just started humming it to myself over and over and over.
And, yeah, it gave me this headspace that was untouchable.
Rolling in now, Steph Gilmore.
Come on, Stephanie.
- Lays into that with some style. - Nice.
Steph looks really on point here.
What?
Wasn't expecting that type of move.
Stephanie Gilmore drops a 7.23.
We're witnessing a record-breaking moment
in surfing history.
I have always said that I wanted to win an eighth World Title,
but then I kind of shied away from it.
It's a natural thing that humans do when they have a fear of failure.
You sort of lower your expectations.
But I didn't realize until that moment when I'd won how much it meant to me.
I really thought that, getting to eight,
my desire to hold that "best ever" had died off.
But when it happened,
and having to perform in that fashion to win like that,
it just hit me like,
"That's exactly what I wanted to do.
That's how I want to feel in competition.
This is why you wanted eight World Titles.
This is the best feeling ever."
I feel like I just opened a whole new portal,
and that's a really wild feeling at this point in my career.
People have been saying, "She's gonna catch you."
I'm like, "That'd be cool." I'd be stoked if she got 11 or 12.
It'd be really cool to see Steph go on and do that.
Eight-time World Champion, Stephanie Gilmore.
And your 2022 World Champion, Filipe Toledo.
It's the champions.
It was always a dream of mine to win eight World Titles
since I was 12 years old
and decided I wanted to be the best female surfer in the world.
Yeah, I'm stoked I had a shot at it, and here we are. Anything's possible.
I also want to say, like, Filipe, you're the coolest guy ever.
Such an honor to share the stage with you.
Whoever, you know-- Chasing your dreams, it does pay off.
You know, it's hard.
Lots of ups and downs. Lot of, you know, really bad thoughts.
But, you know, we did it.
There was a lot of moments throughout the year that just
tested me mentally and tested my toughness.
And to be able to, like, push through and come out with a win at the end,
best year of my career.
And the final day was probably the best day of my life.