Surfing-Brazil's Toledo wins first world surf title, Gilmore goes Gr8t

:Australia's Stephanie Gilmore surfed her way through the field to claim a record-breaking eighth world title in California on Thursday, while Brazil's Filipe Toledo claimed his first to cement his reputation as the world's best small wave surfer.

The stylish Gilmore https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/surfing-australias-happy-gilmore-wants-it-all-2021-05-18, who won her first title as a rookie in 2007, overcame Hawaii's five-times world champion Carissa Moore in decent waves at Lower Trestles, near San Clemente.

The 27-year-old Toledo, the top seed after the 10-stop world tour, beat high-flying countryman Italo Ferreira to extend the dominance of the "Brazilian Storm" in men's surfing.

Toledo, originally from Ubatuba near Sao Paulo, now lives close to the Finals venue of Lower Trestles, Southern California's premier cobblestone pointbreak.

Its long, sloping walls, seldom much above head-height, were ideally suited to Toledo's arsenal of searing carves and high-speed aerial punts.

"It's just the relief. All the hard work you know, nine years, sacrificing a lot, my family - you know how hard it is to leave your kid behind," Toledo said after embracing his family on the beach. "This is for Brazil, this is for my family, this is for you guys," he told his chanting supporters.

Toledo and Ferreira are leading figures in a tight-knit pack known as the "Brazilian Storm," who have between them won all but two of the men's world titles since 2014, as well as taking the first men's Olympic gold medal through Ferreira.

The live-wire Ferreira had to battle through a series of head-to-head matches for a chance at the best-of-three title decider, consistently taking to the air and stomping high-risk spins to beat Japan's Olympic