Gabriel Medina of Brazil celebrates with fans after he won the world championship at the World Surf League Finals at Lower Trestles on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021.
Gabriel Medina of Brazil does an aerial on his way to becoming the world champion at the World Surf League Finals.
(K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Thousands of people lined the beach as Gabriel Medina of Brazil won his third world championship and Olympic gold medalist Carissa Moore of Hawaii won her fifth world title at the Rip Curl World Surf League Finals at Lower Trestles on a picture perfect day.
It was the first time the WSL decided its world champions in a one-day, winner-take-all format involving the top five women’s and men’s surfers based on the season points standings.
Moore was seeded directly into the final match, where she beat Australia’s Tatiana Weston-Webb to defend her world title.
Medina, beat third-seeded Filipe Toledo of Brazil in the men’s final. Toledo had eliminated Olympic gold medalist and defending world champion Italo Ferreira of Brazil, the second seed.
Shark sightings halted both the men’s and women’s finals for a bit before surfing resumed.
Moore and Medina each won $200,000 out of the identical $470,000 purses.
The high tide rolled in as fans lined the beach to watch the World Surf League Finals at Lower Trestles.
(K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Gabriel Medina of Brazil celebrates with fans after he won the world championship at the World Surf League Finals at Trestles.
(K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Gabriel Medina of Brazil celebrates with fans after he won the world championship at the World Surf League Finals at Lower Trestles.
(K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Carissa Moore of Hawaii does a cutback on her way to becoming the world champion at the World Surf League Finals.
(K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Carissa Moore of Hawaii surfs her way to becoming the world champion at the World Surf League Finals.
(K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Gabriel Medina of Brazil does an aerial on his way to becoming the world champion at the World Surf League Finals at Lower Trestles.
(K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Filipe Toledo of Brazil was the runner up at the World Surf League Finals.
(K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Fans line the beach to watch the World Surf League Finals at Lower Trestles.
(K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Gabriel Medina of Brazil does a cutback on his way to becoming the world champion at the World Surf League Finals.
(K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Gabriel Medina of Brazil celebrates on a wave on his way to winning the world championship at the World Surf League Finals.
(K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Lifeguards patrol the surf break as a shark sighting caused a delay at the World Surf League Finals at Lower Trestles.
(K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Gabriel Medina of Brazil, left, celebrates with runner up Filipe Toledo he won the world championship at the World Surf League Finals.
(K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Gabriel Medina of Brazil gets emotional after he won the world championship at the World Surf League Finals at Lower Trestles.
(K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Women’s runner up Tatiana Weston surfs at the World Surf League Finals.
(K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
A sea of fan’s bikes line the beach at the World Surf League Finals.
(K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Carissa Moore of Hawaii surfs her way to becoming the world champion at the World Surf League Finals at Lower Trestles.
K.C. Alfred has been a staff photographer at the Union-Tribune since 2001. Prior to the U-T, K.C. was a staff photographer at the Ventura County Star. His photographs have been published in newspapers and magazines worldwide. During his career, he has photographed four Olympic Games, along with countless NFL, MLB, PGA and NCAA sporting events.
