Surf Ranch Places Top Talent Under Microscope
Checking in with the 2023 women’s world title race.
WSL / Pat Nolan
In Lemoore, surfing’s Championship Tour trades sand for dust and seagull calls for cowbells. The event draws curious spectators from the Central Valley and a handful of diehard surf fans who describe the wave as impressive to witness in person.
Purists rail against the prospect of removing the ocean from the surfing equation, keyboard complainers say it’s boring to watch, and the rapid expansion of artificial wave projects globally raises ecological concerns. But wave pools, like it or not, are here to stay. From a professional sporting perspective, it just makes sense.
What makes an event like the Surf Ranch Pro worth watching is the fine-tuned lens it trains on competitive psyche and performance. It brings out subtleties that can otherwise obscured by the dynamic forces of nature. Weaknesses are exposed. Repertoires are tested.
“The hardest part about the pool is just being present and at peace,” said World No. 1 Carissa Moore. The redesigned event format, which includes an all-or-nothing night session, puts stakes on every single wave. “It’s finding that happy place when that train starts coming at you. It’s in your hands if you mess up or don’t.”
WSL / Aaron Hughes
“It’s in your hands if you mess up or don’t.”
Carissa emerged victorious, leaning on her signature power carves and prowess in the barrel to edge ahead of runner-up Caroline Marks by a narrow margin. Caroline, looking to secure her first event win of the season, took to the air on her final wave. She didn’t make the landing, but her surfing represented the new-wave progression that defined this event on the women’s side.
WSL / Aaron Hughes
Caity Simmers, the 17-year-old rookie whose surfing confounds judges and strikes adulating fans with awe, was nonchalant as ever about her standout event performance. During the night session, she took the highest score of the evening off eight-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore to secure her place in the finals. “It’s 10:30 at night,” she told the microphone pointed at her face as she gripped the back of a jet ski. “I should be in bed.”
WSL / Aaron Hughes
“It’s 10:30 at night. I should be in bed.”
She again earned the highest single-wave score in the semifinal against Caroline, coming up short for the heat total. Although she didn’t advance to the finals, she did what needs to be done to make wave pool surfing interesting. Caity doesn’t surf like everyone else.
“This event almost feels more like a skate or snowboard competition,” said Caity. “You have a plan, but if something goes wrong you have to alter your plan. You have to be strategic and try to do different since it’s the same perfect wave every time.”
A static arena calls for the kind of dynamic surfing this new guard of athletes delivers with ease. Heading towards the WSL Finals, the top two rankings are still held by formidable, seasoned world champions. But Caroline, Caity, and 20-year-old phemom Molly Picklum make up the rest of the top five. Will veterans like Tati West and Steph Gilmore reclaim their dominance in time for the Trestles showdown?
We’ll be tuning into the Surf City El Salvador Pro June 9-18 to find out.
Women’s Championship Tour Rankings
Carissa Moore
Tyler Wright
Molly Picklum
Caroline Marks
Caitlin Simmers
Tati West
Stephanie Gilmore
Lakey Peterson
Gabriela Bryan / Bettylou Sakura Johnson (Tied)
