The World Surf League’s championship format was once again unkind to Carissa Moore. In typical Moore fashion, that did not stop her from extending kindness to her opponent.

Hawaii’s Moore lost in the championship round of the WSL Finals for the second straight year as 21-year-old Florida native Caroline Marks broke through for her first title with a head-to-head victory over Moore at Lower Trestles in San Clemente, Calif., on Saturday.

“Massive congratulations on your first of what I’m sure will be many world titles,” Moore wrote to Marks in an Instagram post. “You will be and already are a great champion.”

As was the case in 2022, the Punahou School alumna Moore was the No. 1 seed in the five-person, winner-take-all Finals competition by virtue of her top point total throughout the regular-season Championship Tour.

Last year, veteran Stephanie Gilmore tore through the staggered bracket as the fifth and last seed, eventually topping Moore in consecutive heats to claim her record eighth world title.

Nearly the same scenario played out Saturday as the No. 3 seed Marks won two preliminary matches against Caitlin Simmers and Tyler Wright to reach the final with Moore, who had not competed yet that day.

The goofy-footed Marks, riding a wave of momentum, outdid Moore 17.10 to 14.97 in Heat 1 and 14.60 to 13.53 in Heat 2 in the best-two-of-three final.

Marks, the 2018 WSL Rookie of the Year, became just the fourth different women’s world champion in the last 15 years.

“It's so inspiring to have my name on that list. It's been a goal of mine since I started surfing,” Marks said afterward, per the WSL. “Super happy, I feel really grateful, I just wanted to have fun today. Huge respect to Carissa, it was a dream of mine to be in the final with her. I had a special day with the ocean, (and) wow it feels so good.”

Felipe Toledo of Brazil won a second straight WSL men’s title, defeating Australian Ethan Ewing in the final. No Hawaii surfers qualified for the men’s bracket.

Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.