Hawaiian surfer Carissa Moore provides insight into her different perspective. She has long been lauded for her powerful style and relentless drive to elevate women’s surfing as she made history and became the first women’s gold medalist at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics. That same year, Moore secured her fifth world championship title. Earlier this year, the 5x World Surf League champion announced her plans to step away from competitive surfing after the Paris Games. 

“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,” she told WSL at the time. With 28 event titles under her belt, Moore is content with her achievements. As the Paris Olympics approach, the 31-year-old will enter the competition as both the defending champion and a soon-to-be former pro. Fans and the surfing community are eagerly anticipating her next move.

Recently in an interview with Hawaii News Now on July 26, 2024, defending champion surfer Carissa Moore spoke about what the future holds for her while training down in Tahiti. When asked whether another Olympic victory could convince her to return to the World Championships, her reply was unexpected. Moore said, “I don’t know honestly, I haven’t really thought too much further than this summer I’m just trying to really simplify things.” However, she is open to giving herself the space to figure out what she wants to do next. 

Moore in her own words is, “excited to see what else there is, outside the jersey.” The 2021 gold medalist has a few things in mind that she wants to pursue in the future. She was just 19 when she won her first World title and it’s been a long journey since then. Now the 31-year-old is setting her sights on starting a family with her husband Luke Untermann. Moreover, she is eager to work alongside the Moore Aloha Foundation, leaning into her philanthropic side to make the world a better place. Moore has further expressed her desire to define success in her terms, away from her professional accolades. However, she assured on Instagram, “Surfing is a part of who I am, and it always will be. This is by no means the end,” giving her fans around the world a sliver of hope. 

Carissa Moore’s path to greatness in surfing world

Ever since she was 13, Moore has been part of the World Surf League tour. She won the women’s world titles in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2019, and 2021, finishing the season without a podium finish only once. In 2021, during the Tokyo Olympics, she won the first round of the competition with 11.74, advancing directly into the 3rd round. There, she won her heat by scoring 10.34 which helped secure a spot in the quarterfinals. During the gold medal match, Carissa Moore defeated South Africa’s Bianca Buitendag with a score of 14.93 against 8.46, bagging the medal. 

Carissa Moore has dedicated much of 2024 to Tahiti, where she received a wildcard entry to this year’s Tahiti Pro, ultimately securing a fifth-place finish. Describing the exhilaration of surfing Teahupo’o, she shared, “When you catch that wave and emerge on the other side, you feel unbeatable, like you’re on top of the world.” Given her 2023 WSL results, she had already qualified for the Paris Olympics. On this she admits, “Only 44 surfers every four years get to be a part of the Olympics.” She further continued, “I’m feeling super grateful to be able to represent my country again and just all the people that have played a part in my journey.” 

In 2022 and 2023, she finished the Championship Tour becoming the 2nd ranked surfer in the world. She competed in the Pipe Pro on the North Shore of Oahu and her surfboard quiver was inspired by the time when she broke 11 NSSA National titles, beginning in 2006. Carissa Moore will go down in history as one of the best surfers in our generation and her retirement plans make her even more of a treat to watch during the 2024 Games.