Carissa Moore Qualifies for USA Olympic Team

Hawaiʻi’s Carissa Moore joins fellow surfer Caroline Marks in representing the USA at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, where surfing makes its Olympic debut.

The two gained provisional qualification through the World Surf League’s Championship Tour.

Both are currently competing in the lululemon Maui Pro at Honolua Bay and advanced to today’s quarterfinal round where the hunt is on for the WSL World Title.

Lululemon MauiPro. PHOTO: © WSL

“I am honored to be going to the Olympics next year and representing the US,” said Moore in an event press release. “I haven’t even let myself dream about it because I wanted to make it and then finally dream about it. I am excited to go home and celebrate with my family. More work to do for Finals Day but overall I am so grateful and happy.”

The lululemon Maui Pro, the final stop on the World Surf League Women’s Championship Tour, got underway on Sunday with the first three rounds of competition in four-to-six foot waves. With only one day left of the women’s 2019 season, the World Title will come down to the final day of competition.

For the second year in a row, World No. 2 Lakey Peterson (USA) fell short of the World Title with an early elimination on Maui. This time, Peterson’s World Title and Olympic dreams were cut short by Tyler Wright (AUS), who returned to competition at this event after a 17-month recovery from illness. The close heat saw Peterson lose out by only 1.07 points with a 9th place finish.

The elimination of Peterson now sets the battle between Moore and Marks.

Moore’s hunt for her fourth World Title will continue into Finals Day after winning her Round 1 heat and her Round of 16 heat, taking out event wildcard Summer Macedo (HAW).

To clinch the World Title, Moore will need to make the Finals but could potentially match-up with Marks in the Semifinal, should they both advance from the Quarterfinal. Moore will be against Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) in Quarterfinal 3, while Marks will be in Quarterfinal 4 against seven-time WSL Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS).

The next call for the lululemon Maui Pro will be at 7 a.m. HST on Monday, Dec. 2, for a possible 7:35 a.m. start. The event will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app.

Carissa Moore. (12.1.19 at Honolua Bay, Maui) PHOTO: © WSL / Cestari SOCIAL : @wsl @kc80.

Carissa Moore. (12.1.19 at Honolua Bay, Maui), PHOTO: © WSL / Sloane SOCIAL : @wsl @edsloanephoto.

Caroline Marks. (12.1.19 at Honolua Bay, Maui) PHOTO: © WSL / Cestari SOCIAL : @wsl @kc80.

Caroline Marks. (12.1.19 at Honolua Bay, Maui) PHOTO: © WSL / Sloane SOCIAL : @wsl @edsloanephoto.

Lakey Peterson Falls Out of World Title Race at lululemon Maui Pro. PHOTO: © WSL / Sloane SOCIAL : @wsl @edsloanephoto.