Caroline Marks (USA) won the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal, the penultimate stop on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT). Claiming victory in the Final bout against Lakey Peterson (USA), respectively, Marks excelled in pumping four-to-six foot surf at Supertubos.

Stop No. 9 on the women’s CT, the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal, witnessed incredible performances and major Title Race drama, culminating today with Marks’ victories.

Caroline Marks (USA), the 17-year-old surfing phenomenon, showed once again that she is a major threat to the world’s best surfers and now has a shot at a maiden World Title in only her second year on the elite Tour heading into the Hawaii Pro in Maui next month, starting November 25.

“That was incredible I’ve been dreaming of making a Final against Lakey (Peterson) and we’ve been talking about it since I started working with Mike (Parsons),” said Marks. “I just want to say thanks to her for pushing me so much, I wouldn’t be here without her. That was super fun, I’m so stoked this is the best year of my life and I can’t believe it!”

Marks claimed a second event win this season (after the Boost Mobile Pro Gold Coast) in only her second season on the Championship Tour to get even closer in the World Title race conversation. The young sophomore eclipsed seven-time WSL Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) in the Quarters before eliminating Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) in the Semis and Peterson in the Final. The Floridian came in ranked fourth on the Jeep Leaderboard and will leave Europe in third position after a runner-up in France and the win in Peniche.

“I’m just trying to live in the moment but staying in the Title Race is the goal,” she added. “I want to go all the way for sure, that’s so exciting. I’m not going to change anything, I’m just going to surf all day and have fun.”

Marks got the nod in the first half of the women’s Final, nailing a couple of good turns on her lethal backhand to build a healthy 12 point total and push Peterson against the ropes early on. The 17-year-old stayed patient in the lineup while Peterson scoured the beach for opportunities and once again Marks got the better of the next exchange to improve her lead and put Peterson in a combination situation.
Lakey Peterson (USA) has arguably been one of the strongest surfers in the back half of the 2019 Championship Tour season, posting an equal 3rd, two runner-ups and a win in the last four events to tighten up the World Title race before the last event of the season. In a remake of their Roxy Pro France Semifinal, Peterson this time eliminated the Jeep Frontrunner Carissa Moore (HAW) to make her way in the Final today. She solidifies her second spot on the Jeep Leaderboard and narrows down the Title Race to less than 3,500 points between her and Moore.

“It’s almost like I put too much into that Semifinal and ran out of fuel in the Final,” said Peterson. “There is so much on the line for everyone right now, and I was just so stoked to have a heat with Carissa again in conditions that were a bit better. I was so stoked to make the Final with Caroline, we surf a ton together and she’s pushed me a lot so I just want to say congratulations to you, Caroline, you really deserved it.”

The women’s second Semifinal was arguably the most important heat of the whole season between Jeep Frontrunner Carissa Moore (HAW) and World No. 2 Peterson. In a remake of their Roxy Pro France Semifinal matchup, this time it was the Californian who got the upper hand early with her attack of the Supertubos lefts to put pressure on Moore. In an unusual turn of events, the ever-so composed Hawaiian seemed affected by the tension as she made a couple of priority mistakes and couldn’t complete her waves, chasing a mid-range 6.74 (out of a possible 10). With a third equal 3rd place finish this season, Moore retains the Jeep Yellow jersey heading into the final event of the season, but the gap with Peterson and Marks has melted slightly with the two Americans’ results today. The domination of the three compatriots atop the Jeep Leaderboard marks a historic first in 38 years, since the Margo Oberg (HAW), Liz Benavidez (USA) and Brenda Scott-Rogers (USA) era in the 1981 season.

With the completion of the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal, the Jeep Leaderboard has once again been re-shuffled, here are the new current Top 5:

Women’s Championship Tour Top 5:
1 – Carissa Moore (HAW) – 58,600 pts
2 – Lakey Peterson (USA) – 55,125 pts
3 – Caroline Marks (USA) – 53,410 pts
4 – Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) – 48,950 pts
5 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) – 44,555 pts

Three Women’s World Title Contenders – Carissa Moore, Lakey Peterson & Caroline Marks

If Carissa Moore wins Maui she clinches the World Title;
If Moore gets a 2nd Lakey Peterson needs a 1st to take the World Title from Moore;
If Moore gets a 3rd Peterson needs a 2nd & Caroline Marks a 1st;
If Moore gets a 5th/9th/17th Peterson needs 3rd & Marks a 2nd to force a 3 way Tie Surf Off for World Title decision in Maui;

The 2019 CT season will culminate in Hawaii with the Hawaii Pro for the women from November 25 – December 6. The event will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app. Also, check local listings for coverage from the WSL’s broadcast partners.

MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Women’s Final Results:
1 – Caroline Marks (USA) 13.73
2 – Lakey Peterson (USA) 6.27

MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Women’s Semifinal Results:
SF 1: Caroline Marks (USA) 13.16 def. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 7.70
SF 2: Lakey Peterson (USA) 13.23 def. Carissa Moore (HAW) 11.50

MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Women’s Quarterfinal Results:
QF 1: Caroline Marks (USA) 15.17 def. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 12.07
QF 2: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 13.67 def. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 9.14
QF 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) 16.06 def. Johanne Defay (FRA) 7.50
QF 4: Lakey Peterson (USA) 11.33 def. Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 8.83