Introduction
Caroline Marks is an American professional surfer of Greek ancestry.She is a multiple national champion and the youngest female to compete in a World Surf League event. She is the youngest surfer ever to qualify for the women’s Championship Tour.
She competed in the elite (top 16) of the World Surf League and ended 2018 season in 7th place, becoming Rookie of the Year. She was born in Boca Raton, Florida on 14 February 2002 and lives in Melbourne Beach, Florida.
Early years
Being the third of six children, Marks grew up in Melbourne Beach, Florida. The house she grew up in had a big backyard with a motorbike-track, halfpipe, and a surf break across the street.She discovered her love of sports, first on horseback through barrel racing. She began surfing when she was 8.
Career
In 2018, her first year on tour, she had three third-place finishes in 10 events, was named rookie of the year and finished the season ranked seventh in the world.
In April 2019, at the first event of the WSL Championship tour, Marks defeated seven-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore at the Australian's home break of Duranbah, New South Wales in the quarter-finals of the Boost Mobile Pro Gold Coast. She then continued through the semi-finals beating Malia Manuel from Kauai. In the finals, she defeated three-time world champion Carissa Moore from Oahu, to claim her first WSL event title (beginning the 2019 season as the world's top-ranked female surfer).
She is the first surfer to receive Team USA’s Best of April Award, which recognizes the outstanding achievements of prospective Team USA Olympic athletes. “Caroline is one of those rare athletes that from when she was 12 years old it was obvious that she was going to be world champion,” said USA Surfing head coach Chris Stone. “Not if, but when. To see what she’s doing at 17 years old must be frightening to all her competitors. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for her.”
In 2019, she finished second on the WSL Championship tour to Carissa Moore. By finishing second, Marks earned a spot on the team for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, along with Moore.
Junior Event Wins
- 2015 US Open Jr. Champion
- 2016 ISA Girls World Champion (U16)
- 2016 US Open Jr. Champion
Open Event Wins
- 2015 Volcom World VQS Champion
- 2x Open Women’s NSSA Champion
- 6x Surfing America Champion
- 2x Open Girls NSSA Champion
WSL Qualifying Series Wins
- 2018 WQS Los Cabos Pro Winner
- 2018 WQS Florida Pro Winner
- 2019 WQS Florida Pro Winner
WSL Championship Tour Podiums
- 2018 WSL Rip Curl Women's Pro: 3rd Place
- 2018 Vans US Open of Surfing: 3rd Place
- 2018 Surf Ranch Pro: 3rd Place
- 2019 WSL Boost Mobile Pro Gold Coast: 1st Place
- 2019 WSL Rip Curl Women's Pro: 3rd Place
- 2019 WSL Corona Open J-Bay: 3rd Place
- 2019 MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal: 1st Place