Surfing Champion Carissa Moore | Photo courtesy of the Association of Surfing Professionals

Hawaii surfer Carissa Moore wins world championship in France

By Heidi Chang, July 15, 2011

When Hawaii’s Carissa Moore hit the waves in Biarritz, France today, she accomplished an amazing feat, and made history. Not only did she win the world championship in women’s pro surfing, but at 18 years old, she also became the youngest surfer to ever win a world title–male or female, in the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP).

Hawaii’s surfing community is elated.

“Carissa’s world title win officially underscores her incredible talent,” says Jodi Young Wilmott, a former pro surfer. “Watching her surf for the first time when she was 12 years old was an awakening to what was inevitably to come,” recalls Wilmott, who’s now a spokeswoman for surfing events in Hawaii. “Her combination of athleticism, personality, intelligence and character are sure to result in her becoming the greatest female surfer of our time.”

Not bad for a local girl, who graduated from Punahou last year. Moore is also the first woman from Hawaii to win a world championship since Margo Oberg, 30 years ago.

Update: Since this story was posted, the Association of Surfing Professionals changed its name to the World Surf League (WSL).