Sept 9 (Reuters) - American surfer Caroline Marks powered her way to her first world title on Saturday, while Brazil's Filipe Toledo went back-to-back to claim his second championship with a hard-fought win over surprise finalist Ethan Ewing from Australia.
Toledo, however, showed once again his mastery of his adopted home break, combining his own searing turns with high-risk aerials to edge Ewing 2-0 and retain his title.
Marks, already a five-year world tour veteran at 21, overcame Hawaii's five-time world champion and Olympic gold medallist Carissa Moore in the women's final.
Everyone from Florida and from San Clemente has been supporting me, I just can't believe it," Marks said after her win.
The win breaks the stranglehold that Moore, Wright and Australia's Steph Gilmore have had on the world title since 2007, and confirms Marks' place alongside Moore in the U.S. surfing team for the Paris Olympics in Tahiti next year.
Persons:
Caroline Marks, Brazil's Filipe Toledo, Ethan Ewing, Ewing, Brazil's Joao Chianca, Griffin Colapinto, Toledo, Marks, Carissa Moore, Caitlin Simmers, Tyler Wright, Moore, San Clemente, Wright, Steph Gilmore, Hugh Lawson
Organizations:
Toledo ., Paris, Lincoln, Thomson
Locations:
American, Australia, Tahiti, Lower Trestles, Southern, Toledo . Toledo, Toledo, San Clemente, Florida, San, U.S, Sydney