How Caroline Marks is holding her own at the top of world surfing

Get to know the 19-year-old surfer pushing the progression of women's surfing ahead of Tokyo 2020

4 minBy Ashlee Tulloch
USA_CAROLINE_MARKS_JIMENEZ-2 (1)

(Pablo Jimenez)

Caroline Marks isn't deterred by a challenge. She thrives off it.

Yes she's young, but inexperienced she is not. In her 19 years on the planet she's packed in a lot, making the talented and fearless American the ultimate threat for Olympic glory on the waves.

Although she's the youngest surfer on the WSL Championship Tour it would be unwise to doubt or question her ability. History speaks for itself.

After earning her spot on surfing's elite tour in 2018 she claimed the honour of rookie of the year and finished seventh in the world.

Come 2019 she stormed up the ranks, winning two CT events and finished runner up for the world title. Her second place in the world rankings saw her claim a spot to Tokyo 2020 with 2019 World Champion, Carissa Moore.

The confident prodigy has been soaking up every winning and losing experience, and learning as she goes. But 2021 is sure to be her toughest challenge yet with an Olympic Games medal in her sights.

"One thing about surfing is that you have to be really good at adapting," Marks said on the ISA State of Olympic Surfing show.

"We are relying on mother nature all the time and I think, you know all of us are really good at going with the flow and I think that’s just part of being a surfer."

Surfing is a family love affair

Marks is part of a big family. But having five siblings has only helped her competitive spirit. After showing her four brothers who the best surfer in the family is, she's gone on to show the world what she's capable of.

"I truly believe I wouldn't be where I'm at today without them." - Caroline Marks

Growing up by the beach, the Marks family was very active with a halfpipe in the backyard and a motocross track to play on. The horse lover was destined to be an athlete. But the sport she would do was not an obvious choice.

"My older brother used to surf on the QS (qualifying series) and I just thought surfing was his thing and horseback riding was my thing," Marks explained.

"I just really, really wanted to be like them and I really wanted to impress them so that they thought I was cool so in order to do that I was like, 'well I guess I've got to start surfing really good'," says Marks.

She easily could have down the equestrian route but after success as a nine-year-old, surfing became her priority and she turned professional at 15 years old and has never looked back.

International success

Marks earned her ticket to surfing's Olympic debut by finishing second in the world in 2019, but that same year she attended the ISA World Surfing Games in Miyazaki, Japan which gave her a taste of what the competition in Tokyo will be like.

"The ISA opening ceremony was really cool," Marks said.

"I'd never done something like that and everyone was saying this is a little taste of what the Olympics is going to be like, which is so crazy because I got the chills. It was seeing all the teams and all that; it was so amazing." - Caroline Marks

Having won ISA World Junior Championship crown in 2016, Marks is not shy concerned about competing on a big stage.

She's also expected to do well in the smaller waves expected in Japan for the Olympics thanks to her powerful style of riding.

Juggling life as a young pro surfer

Being a professional surfer and travelling the world to compete didn't allow for a Marks to live a normal high school life like other teens.

She missed school proms and doing things regular teenagers might do, but she knows her professional surfing life has given her riches only experience can give.

"Travelling is something you cannot learn in a book, there's so many things that I've seen at such a young age," Marks said.

"I've gotten to see the world and third world countries and really be able to appreciate where I live and what I have."

She also feels fortunate that she's competing against the women who she's idolised as a young girl and now not just rubbing shoulders with, but beating.

"The girls that I'm competing against are the girls that I've had posters on my wall and I watched every single day and studied their surfing.

"So (it's) pretty funny now because they're all my heroes and I respect them so much but now I just really want to beat these people and I really want to smoke them."

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