Trent Reinsmith
- What: Men’s Rip Curl WSL Finals
- When: September 8-16, 2022
- Where: Lower Trestles, San Clemente, California
When the 2021 World Surf League Championship tour ended in September, Gabriel Medina sat at the top of the standings with 43,400 points. Medina finished nearly 13,000 points ahead of runner-up Filipe Toledo, who had 30,735 points. Medina racked up his impressive point total by winning three of eight tour events and finishing as a runner-up in three other events. The win gave the then-27-year-old three WSL World Titles.
The WSL wraps up the 2022 Championship Tour season between September 8-16 when the top surfers in the world compete at the Rip Curl WSL Finals in Lower Trestles in San Clemente, California.
Filipe Toledo is leading the pack this season with 54,690 points. Jack Robinson (51,345) and Ethan Ewing (44,290) follow Toledo in the standings. Italo Ferreira (40,460) and Kanoa Igarashi (40.270) make up the rest of the top five of the men’s division of the WSL Champion’s Tour.
Before we look at the pick to win the overall 2022 WSL Surf League Championship, 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.
2022 WSL Men’s Championship picks
| To Win 2022 WSL Championship |  |
| Filipe Toledo | -175 |
| Jack Robinson | +300 |
| Ethan Ewing | +800 |
| Italo Ferreira | +1200 |
| Kanoa Igarashi | +2000 |
Filipe Toledo
Filipe Toledo looked like a lock to win the 2022 WSL Title heading into July’s Corona Open J-Bay. Heading into that event he had two second-place finishes and a win in the three previous WSL stops. He placed ninth at that event. Things got worse for Toledo in August when he placed 17th at Outerknown Tahiti Pro.
Toledo is no longer a sure thing to win the 2022 Championship. However, Toledo had a fantastic finish at the 2021 Rip Curl Finals at the Lower Trestles, making it to the final before losing to the nearly perfect Gabriel Medina.
If Toledo is not too deep in his own head at the Rip Curl competition, he should be able to come back from his two bad finishes to win the title at the Lower Trestles.
Jack Robinson
Jack Robinson did not have the best start to the 2022 WSL season, but after finishing 17th, fifth and 17th in the first three events, the Australian turned things around. Since then, Robinson has been a picture of consistency. Robinson has two wins during the past seven tour stops to go along with one third and one second place finish.
Robinson has slipped a little in his past three outings with two ninth place finishes, but he has a very real chance to win the 2022 WSL Championship, especially if Toledo can’t get out of the funk he is in.
This year is Robinson’s second year on the WSL Tour and the 24-year-old looks like he will be in the mix for a long while.
Ethan Ewing
The 24-year-old Ethan Ewing is going to be nearly perfect if he hopes to win the 2022 WSL Title. He has a win this year, taking first at the Corona Open J-Bay, but that victory was bookended by two ninth-place finishes.
Ewing has a chance here, but it is a longshot that he will win the title.
Our pick
If the 2022 WSL Championship was being held in a different location, I would have my doubts about Filipe Toledo, but after his performance in the 2021 Rip Curl Finals, I think he will rebound from his past two finishes to win the overall title.
Pick: Filipe Toledo to win the 2022 Men’s WSL Tour Championship.
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