Trent Reinsmith
- What: 2023 Men’s Rip Curl WSL Finals
- When: September 7-15, 2023
- Where: Lower Trestles, San Clemente, California
When the 2022 World Surf League Championship Tour Finals came around in September, the top five point-getters during the tour were: Filipe Toledo, Jack Robinson, Ethan Ewing, Italo Ferreira and Kana Igarashi. Ferreira, who was the No. 4 seed, had a rough row to hoe to get to the best-of-three final round, but the 2019 WSL Champion made his way to the final by beating Igarashi, Ewing and Robinson. However, Ferreira stalled out in the final, losing 2-0 to Toledo. The win gave Filipe Toledo his first WSL world title.
The road to the Final 5 of the WSL Championship Tour begins on January 29 with the Billabong Pro Pipeline WSL event at the Banzai Pipeline in Oahu, Hawaii. Thirty-four men will begin the WSL season, following the tenth tour event of the 2023 WSL Championship Tour schedule, which is the SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro in August. The five surfers with the most points on the year move on to the 2023 Rip Curl WSL Finals at Lower Trestles in San Clemente, California.
Before we look at who those five surfers competing at the 2023 Rip Curl WSL Finals might be, check out our sportsbooks guide to get started on making the best WSL bets, and while you’re at it, take a look at the best sports betting apps and mobile options.
2023 World Surf League Men’s Picks to Reach WSL Final 5
| 2023 Mens - Reach WSL Final 5 |  |
| Gabriel Medina | -400 |
| Filipe Toledo | -300 |
| John John Florence | -175 |
| Jack Robinson | -175 |
| Italo Ferreira | -115 |
| Griffin Colapinto | +100 |
| Kanoa Igarashi | +100 |
| Ethan Ewing | +150 |
| Yago Dora | +250 |
| Kelly Slater | +400 |
| Joao Chianca | +400 |
| Jordy Smith | +500 |
| Barron Mamiya | +600 |
| Kolohe Andino | +600 |
| Rio Waida | +1000 |
| Samuel Pupo | +1000 |
| Ezekiel Lau | +1000 |
| Callum Robson | +2000 |
| Miguel Pupo | +2000 |
| Caio Ibelli | +2000 |
| Matthew McGillivray | +2000 |
| Leonardo Fioravanti | +3300 |
| Seth Moniz | +4000 |
| Connor O'Leary | +4000 |
| Ryan Callinan | +4000 |
| Nat Young | +5000 |
| Liam O'Brien | +5000 |
| Michael Rodrigues | +5000 |
| Ian Gentil | +5000 |
| Jackson Baker | +10000 |
| Jake Marshall | +10000 |
| Jadson Andre | +10000 |
| Maxime Huscenot | +10000 |
| Ramzi Boukhiam | +10000 |
Gabriel Medina
One would have to scroll past the top-10 ranked surfers in the world to find Gabriel Medina‘s name before the start of the 2023 World Surf League Championship Tour. However, that ranking should not be considered when looking at Medina’s chances to make the final five in 2023. Medina missed the first five events of 2022 to take care of his mental health and the last two events of the year because of injury. In the three events he competed in, Medina took third place in two of those events.
The 29-year-old Brazilian is a three-time WSL World Champion (2014, 2018 and 2021) and if he can stay healthy and focused, he’s almost a lock to make the final five.
John John Florence
Like Gabriel Medina, injury kept John John Florence from surfing a complete 2022 WSL Championship Tour season. The 30-year-old Hawaiian missed the final four events of the year because of injury. Florence has won the WSL World Championship twice (2016 and 2017). He is currently the No. 12 ranked surfer on the WSL Championship Tour, but expect him to move up quickly in those rankings when competition begins later this month at the Billabong Pro Pipeline WSL event, where he finished in fifth place in 2022. Florence had four top-five finishes in the six events he competed in during the 2022 WSL Championship Tour.
Griffin Colapinto
If you’re looking for a young surfer who might make it into the top five in 2023, look no further than the 24-year-old Griffin Colapinto. Colapinto struggled with consistency last year, finishing with wins at MEO Pro Portugal and Surf City El Salvador Pro, but also with three 17th-place finishes and ninth-place finishes in the final two events of the 2022 Championship Tour.
If Colapinto can be more consistent in 2023, look for him to make the final five. The California-born Colapinto enters the 2023 WSL Championship Tour as the No. 7 ranked WSL surfer. He finished last year with 40,120 points, which was 150 less than the final top-five surfer Kanao Igarashi.
Our picks
The best bets to make the final five for the 2023 WSL Championship Tour are defending world champion Filipe Toledo and former world champions Gabriel Medina and Italo Ferreira. As for surfers, who have yet to win WSL world titles, pick Jack Robinson and Griffin Colapinto to make the cut and if you’re the sentimental type, Kelly Slater is listed at +400 to make the final five.
Best bets to make the WSL Championship Tour Final 5: Filipe Toledo, Gabriel Medina, Italo Ferreira, Jack Robinson and Griffin Colapinto.
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