Now Playing

Honolulu’s beloved surf siren in her element

Wild Ride!

by Jennifer Thornton | Modern Luxury Hawai'i magazine | November 26, 2011

Six pro titles, including ASP’s youngest women’s world champ, has surf wunderkind Carissa Moore riding a wave of success that few of us can imagine—and she’s still in her teens.

At barely 19, Moore has reached the zenith of the surfing world, which, while always an ambition, shocked even her. “It was my goal, but I didn’t think it would happen when I was so young,” admits the Honolulu native, who was just 18 years old when she nabbed the coveted world title.

A fierce liquid shredder? Check. A totally angst-free teenager? Not entirely. “I do find myself feeling sort of lost… kind of like, now what? It’s all a little weird,” confesses the title-holding teen. “I don’t really feel like I’m at the top of my game. I just did the best I could… I actually feel like it is just the beginning.”

As Moore’s warm-up gives way to her encore, Hawaii holds its breath for the pride of Honolulu—this winter she’s slated to be the only female competitor among a world-class field of 200 surf studs battling it out in the 2011 Vans Triple Crown (competing in the Reef Hawaiian Pro and the Vans World Cup). And when the ASP season starts back up in February, Moore will follow the tide.

When Moore isn’t competing against the world’s best—many of them in her circle of besties—she’s training. “It feels really good to work hard,” says the poster surfer girl, who, despite all the accolades, the world traveling, and the supernatural talent, is just your average 19-year-old—except for the whole idol thing.

“I hope my victory inspires young girls to dream big… You can achieve what you put your heart and mind into. I really believe that.”

Moore’s Hots
Surfing, hanging with friends, cooking, hiking, snuggling with my sister, musicians Paramore and Colbie Caillat

Moore’s Nots
Standing in long lines, missing flights, layovers, feeling salty and sandy, people fighting, potato chips, sunburns, arrogance