In an impressive display of skill and determination, Caroline Marks (USA) and John John Florence (HAW) have emerged victorious at the Surf City El Salvador Pro presented by Corona. This is the seventh stop on the World Surf League (WSL) 2024 Championship Tour.
Marks and Florence proved themselves as the top competitors in a highly skilled field, with the event taking place in three-to-four-foot waves at El Salvador’s Punta Roca, also known as La Punta or Punta Chilama.
The results of the competition have also led to some interesting shifts in the World Rankings. Florence has now secured his place in the WSL Finals, while Caroline Marks has moved up to World No. 2, bringing her one step closer to defending her World Title.
Other notable shifts in the rankings include Brisa Hennessy (CRC) moving up to No. 3, and Molly Picklum (AUS) and Johanne Defay (FRA) each moving down one place but still remaining in the Top 5. Jack Robinson (AUS) has also moved up to No. 2, with Griffin Colapinto (USA), Ethan Ewing (AUS), and Jordy Smith (RSA) holding onto the remaining Top 5 spots.
Caroline Marks, 22, has had a particularly successful run at this year’s competition. In 2023, her victory at El Salvador launched her dream of a World Title into reality, leading her to be crowned the 2023 WSL Champion. This year, Marks has once again climbed to the top of the podium for back-to-back wins at Punta Roca. She now sits just behind fellow American Caitlin Simmers in the rankings, with two more events to hold her Top 5 position and defend her World Title.
Caroline Marks expressed her delight at her win, saying, “That feels really good, and El Salvador is always so good to me. It kickstarted my campaign to win the World Title last year. I love Punta Roca. It was also really cool to have a Final with Gabby [Bryan]. She’s a really good friend of mine on Tour, and winning feels good. I’m really happy. That’s why I’m here. I want to win as many World Titles as I can, and I’m super aware of how hard it is to get one, but I just need to focus on myself and my performances. I would absolutely love to go back-to-back to be the World Champion, but for now, I’m just going to enjoy this.”
The Finals were an intense competition, with Marks showing her signature backhand power to score a 7.00 (out of a possible 10) over 2022 Rookie of the Year Gabriela Bryan (HAW). Marks then used her priority to secure the best heat score with a 7.40 at the 14-minute mark, putting Bryan in a combination situation where she needed two new scores to match Marks. Bryan showed resilience and nearly took the lead from Marks in the final moments, falling just short of her requirement by 0.34.
John John Florence also had a standout performance at the competition. He added another Perfect 10 to his list of achievements in the Semifinals before winning his ninth CT event. Florence is now tied for the most Perfect 10-point rides, marking his 18th Perfect 10 on the CT.
Florence’s win has secured his place in the WSL Final 5. This is the first time the two-time WSL Champion will compete in the WSL Finals since its inception. He looks to retain the No. 1 spot heading to Lower Trestles and currently holds a 10,740-point lead over No. 2 Jack Robinson (AUS).
Florence dedicated his win to his newborn son, saying, “That’s for Darwin, oh my god, I’m so stoked. I’m just super stoked to win an event. I’m just feeling so good with where I’m at right now, my headspace, everything. My wife back home, my wife and my son, my mom and brothers, just everyone. I can’t believe it.”
The men’s Final was a spectacle of progression, with both Florence and Yago Dora (BRA) showing impressive displays. Florence took control early to post a 16.33 (out of a possible 20) heat total. But Dora fired back with his explosive style, earning a near-perfect 9.77 (out of a possible 10) under priority. The start of the action-packed event slowed as conditions went silent heading into the final horn, and Florence emerged as the victor for the first time since winning the CT at Pipeline in 2020.
Florence expressed relief and joy at his win, saying, “That was tough and I got a little lucky in the end with it going flat. I think I just feel light, and I feel good. My wife and I have our son, and it’s just been such a good year. Coming into the year, there’s so much going on: having a baby, the Olympics, the Tour, and everything. It was a lot, but it’s just been so much fun and better than I could’ve imagined. This will be my first time making it to the WSL Finals, but there’s still work to be done, and I want to be leading going into it and have the best chance possible.”
What a win by Caroline Marks and John John Florence in El Savador, the tour now heads to Saquarema, Brazil.
