Carissa Moore Announces New Chapter Away from Competitive Surfing
BANZAI PIPELINE, Oahu, Hawaii, USA (Friday, January 19, 2024) - Five-time World Champion Carissa Moore (HAW) announced today that she will be stepping away from competitive surfing to start a new chapter in her life and career. The 31-year-old from the South Shore of Oahu will compete on home soil in the Lexus Pipe Pro Presented by YETI before withdrawing from the Championship Tour (CT) and will receive the wildcard to compete in the SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro. She will then compete in the Olympic Games Paris 2024 before taking some personal time away from competition.
"As Carissa Moore shares her decision of this new chapter, we reflect on her incredible journey and the profound impact she’s had on surfing,” Jessi Miley-Dyer, WSL Chief of Sport, said. “She is a champion and a role model in and out of the water. Throughout her career, Carissa has exemplified grace, resilience, and competitive excellence. Her achievements have transcended the sport, bringing a new level of athleticism and progression to surfing. Carissa's dedication to pushing the boundaries has been inspirational, and her absence in the competitive scene will be deeply felt."
A born competitor who always brings her A-game and has showcased her greatness on the CT since 2010, Moore is opting to step away from that aspect of her life and career. At the forefront of surfing’s progression for years, the Hawaiian has decided to challenge herself outside of the jersey following the Olympic Games.
"I’m excited to see what else there is, outside the jersey,” Moore said. “I don’t like the word retirement. I like to say a departure from the tour, or just stepping back, or switching gears, or, like, evolving.”
A two-time runner-up and the defending event winner at Pipeline, Moore will enjoy the opportunity to celebrate an incredibly successful career with the North Shore community and her fans at the Lexus Pipe Pro. Her track record in Hawaii with five event wins, including one as a wildcard before even stepping onto the CT, makes her an absolute favorite.
Surfing’s first Olympic Gold Medalist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, Moore will also look to defend her medal at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 held in Tahiti this summer. She reached the Quarterfinals twice at Teahupo’o on the CT and will receive a wildcard into this year’s event as she continues to build experience and hone her skills in one of the world’s most treacherous lineups ahead of the Olympic Games.
Looking Back: Moore’s Record-Breaking Career in Numbers
Moore’s incredible 13-year career is decorated with almost every professional surfing accolade possible, including five World Titles and surfing’s first Olympic Gold Medal. Moore has competed in 120 Championship Tour events, claiming 28 event wins throughout her career.
Moore arrived on the Championship Tour in 2010, posing an immediate threat to her competition. In her first year on Tour, she finished third overall and was named Rookie of the Year. The following season, she claimed her first World Title at just 18 years old, becoming the youngest man or woman ever to do so. Moore undoubtedly ushered in a new era of power surfing to the CT.
Moore embodies the Aloha spirit and created the Moore Aloha Foundation to inspire the next generation of young surfers. She is truly a trailblazer in the sport and will continue to push the progression of surfing in her new chapter.
Comments
Good luck riss your a true legend of women surfing..
Speaking of YETI i just saw this
https://www.facebook.com/reel/923417159523084?fs=e&s=TIeQ9V&mibextid=0NULKw
Its must watching for everyone - enjoy
What a legend and great timing. She is a real chance to go out with a Gold medal as well. Will be rested and ready skipping all the grind and prepared wildcarding Chopes. Smart.
Amazing surfer, pushing herself at pipe where others of her era take the east way out. You gotta think the trestles debacle triggered this, def missed an extra title maybe two?
Great surfer and seems to be a lovely human.
All the best!
Always good to see mentally healthy individuals giving it their best and moving on to the next chapter. History shows it's hardest to go out on top. You wouldn't want to end up an unhappy grandad chasing unrealistic dreams......
13 years, rookie title, five world titles, Olympic gold and a good shot at another, 28 CT wins, one of the few that successfully took on Pipe/Backdoor and the heavy lefts, and a sweetheart loved by all. Gotta be happy with that.
Probably a couple of titles short but there's a few of them (Mick and Parko come to mind).
She copped some criticism for maybe lacking that killer instinct at times but that actually made me like her more. Good on her. Great timing stepping away now.
Respect ,honour, Carrisa Moore
could it be she is as sick of the tour as we are? this girl won the world title the last 2 years but because of the garbage format she didnt. this is a huge loss as carissa is the benchmark in womens surfing right now. that said sierra kerr and caity simmers etc have already surpassed her in regards to progression. what is not being said is more interesting than what she said. good luck carissa has been a pleasure to watch your rise and dominance.
Too Ture roth,,,,,
She got sick of being grilled the last two years and with the stupid same format coming this year whats the point....why put everything into it and lead by a long way to have to surf for the title in a one day final.......fukin stupid ......anyway she deserved a couple more titles .
I was going to say the same. You beat me… Shame WSL
maybe..and she def deserves more titles....but maybe its time to pursue other interest, have some time to herself, she has been competing all her life.. there is so much more of life and the world to explore and at 31 I reckon its only a couple of year til its time to start a family
We talk a lot about Fil having an asterisk against his world titles but the reality is he's been going into trestles top of the leaderboard both times and therefore would have been the guy to win in any case. So the asterisks should really lie with recent champs on the women's side.
Carissa's been properly skunked by the trestles format twice now. Had she won by points alone, likely to have equalled Layne and Steph's 7 (noting Steph would have never have won her last world title) and cemented her place as a GOAT with plenty of scope to go beyond 7 title too. No wonder she's leaving the shitshow.
That logic gets pushed to try and justify Fils titles, but in reality, that just doesn't fly. Once the final five are set, the prior cumulative points no longer matter. If the title shoot out was at Pipe, he would have zero chance of the win, we all know that. But, yes, I agree with your comments on the women. She should have two more titles no doubt. The new guard are coming though, see Moana and Pickles final at the Volcom Pipe event?
Problem with that is a surfer could theoretically win every heat in every comp on the tour.
They then rock up to Trestles and blow their knee out in a warm up surf.
Title gone. Title winner forever nicknamed asterix.
Anyway Riss is a dead set legend of the sport. That is forever.
2018 Layne claimed her 8th World Title
Queen Steph surfed more/max day comp heats scoring higher than all upstart 10 m/f finalists.
Trawled the sea surface clean of all pretenders & wannabe Yuppie Grom Champ Olympians!
Most determined groundbreaking stylish comeback performance in history of comp surfing.
Champ's 8th World titles were their hardest fought victories against all odds with true grit.
In true Champ spirit...Steph ever plays this down as lucking the right spot at right time!
Never say die Hodad spirit is the Hallmark of all Greatest World Surfing Champ Victories!
Grom competitor Hodad tbb ain't strippin' the ladies of most deserved epic 8th World titles.
Agree Carissa rides a board equally as well & deserving of more champs...good luck to her!
Your the GOAT Layne,
She should have two more world titles to her name, I'd be feeling pissed off too.
Would anyone be surprised if JJF did the same thing?
Perhaps only the WSL.
Wouldn’t be surprised if she’s going to try to have kids at some point (maybe post olympics). Not that it’s any of the public’s business, and it’s not something you’d necessarily broadcast. Good move on stepping away for a bit either way. Tour is an uninspiring mess. Who knows….when they hopefully scrap the finals day format she might return.
I was kinda taken back when I found this out this morning.
Good luck to future endeavors.
Wonder watch coach Mitch Ross is thinking ?
maybe if they dump the Grand Final format and go back to the old format of the regular season winner being WC she'll make a come back. or take the Grand Final to a decent wave...
Yes she got ripped I think we all felt that ! She was the far superior surfer ! The worst part is they didn't even support her! WSL shame! The best ambassador for womens surfing and Hawaii
They could run the pipe masters as the final event of the year/season in January and have the competitive season finish in Jan or Feb. - if that helps with the waves and scheduling
It would be good if she came out and publicly had a go at the Wozzle about the format.
Though I doubt she would be too keen to burn that bridge completely.
A big loss for the women's CT.
Maybe she’s saving that for a post heat interview ala bobby Martinez. One can only hope…
This woman is the essence of Hawaiian loveliness. Early on, Carissa joined the middle break at Ho'okipa one December while we hoped Honolua Bay would work. I complimented her on her style and she smiled broadly, laughed and got back to business. The smiles spread through the pack, Carissa brightened the whole crowd. Her courtesy, friendliness and joy was a lesson to all. Whatever she does, her fine manners should take her to pure happiness.
Beautiful post.
Cheers.
Saw Carissa at 5ft bowl low tide, the speed and flow is what I remember most, a cut above. On that day I thought she was best of all surfers I saw.
It seems Carissa has been questioning her career on the CT for some time.
From 6 years ago......
Carrisa has been the best female WSL surfer for years and the move to a final's day format lost her world titles.
Carissa doing an Ash. Walking away with her head held high to have a life outside the competitive arena.
Someone so well adjusted and widely respected would make a good CEO but the WSL burned her with their bullshit meddling.
What a champion
Time to pop out some kids maybe?
https://beachgrit.com/2024/01/rumor-surf-legend-stephanie-gilmore-to-fol...
Steph too?!
Amazing surfer makes the others look amateur
Hope Carissa has perpetual pipeline wildcards & sponsors for exotic surf holidays
start @57seconds
Another great WSL summary Steve, thanks.
goofyfoot : Me2-3peat Supa Diva Star Shower of Power ...suspense continues...
Supavillain Sal's evil world domination plot is thought bubbling the Queen Bee's Pink Think Tanks!
https://www.codesports.com.au/code-insight/sally-fitzgibbons-addresses-r...
33y/o Sally scraps her way back into the CT...outta my way ...
Homecoming Bridesmaid is gunning for the Queen Bees...better move it or lose it!
WSL CT Supasal can still boost her fav Goldie Gig & rev up her Sydney GWM War on Oz Chariot!
Puttin' some cred back into WSL...all is forgiven...Colossal Corpo cross CT/CS Sportzchixship!
Retro Big 4 Oz Surf Safari leg is back...
Sal puttin' some meat on the Great Aussie Dream Leg...how ya like me now lads!
Pumped up Hodad's dream of Supasal to measure up their hard yards...for a Shed...ya dirty buggers!
Grom : "Dad! Will ya just settle down & peel off that sleazy Man Cave Surf Sticker!"
(Girly Olympic Ideal Slab is Shattered!)
*4 Gold Medals
https://www.dezeen.com/2017/07/25/philippe-starck-paris-2024-olympic-med...
3x ISA World Champ /4th Place Oz Olympian Sally was appointed to IOC Program commission.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sallyfitzgibbons_welcome-to-the-2024-cham...
Sally reviews & analyses which Sports / Disciplines for which Olympics.
Controversial for many reasons...
* Sally alone, backed Goldie for 2032 Olympics which to date has never featured Surfing or Venue.
* IOC appoint positions to retired Olympians...Sally is a very much a 2024 Olympic Competitor
* 2024 Sally naturally scored > [ISA Wildcard] for Goat's WSG Arecibo Killer Slab Olympic Qualifier.
That's the 2nd time on Sally's Dream Tour tbb fell for the Ol' Irukandji sting in the tail wildcard trick!
https://wwos.nine.com.au/olympics/games-paris-2024-world-surfing-games-s...
Supa Sal is by far the most competitive Pro on tour...crew all see that & WSG/CT/CS results prove it!
Olympic year is heatin' up...Watch this space...IOC Rep hitches a free ride on Fernando's Hula Skirt!
IOC Rep / ISA wildcard Spoonin' 4 Gold Weet-Bix from her Eazy Peazy WSL Cereal Bowl.
Huey : "Towering cowering ISA / IOC Godz spillin' Almond Breeze...That's not proper Milk...FFS!"
Supasal : "Get Ready To Sheddy!" Kaboom! ( IOC Pro Shitstorm in a WSL cereal Bowl )
I’ve long followed Carrisa’s heats over the journey. Her style and power for me was always a standout against the other competitors and seeing her face Pipeline and learn to become more comfortable with the fear out there despite some trepidation really highlights what a competitor she is. I’m looking forward to the events she does compete in this year. Go Carissa!!
Onya Carissa, here's looking forward to see where your journey next takes you. Happy wishes to you.
Sorry to see Carissa go but it’s a nice touch going out on top like she is.
Have been lucky enough to see her in the water surfing at Bells and Winki over the years. Amazing to see up close. Seems like a lovely and very genuine person too.
Happy to see she’s competing at Pipe and Chopes.
And Steph is out. Apparently for one year…
Seven world titles and pushing for an 8th would have been far more exciting and compelling than the hollow wsl finals format as it should have been in Carrissa's case. We all know the punctured format isn't and doesn't feel right. A surfer poll on this would overwhelmingly embarrass the wsl even further although the usual fudging of numbers would relay differently. It's a real time shame to see you leave the tour Carrissa, it was a pleasure to watch the best all-round game in women's surfing this past decade. The shamozzle will now have more viewers fall by the wayside...