For Carissa Moore, the importance of participating in the Tokyo Olympics from the USA wasn’t merely a change of allegiance. As per her, Hawaii is still the “sovereign surfing nation” where the world champion has had her best attempts in the WSL. But it is the USA that made her able to reach the competitive zone by getting education and training. So when Carissa Moore had participated in the 2020 Olympics in the USA color, no one had batted an eye on that. Rather, after the Games, she received a fine accolade from the US Senator of Hawaii.
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Now, when the Olympic champion announced her retirement from surfing, the USA team faced a possible jeopardy. With this wunderkind’s exit creating a lacuna, what is the plight and the road ahead for surfing in the grand scheme of things?
The void Carissa Moore creates in the surfing battle
There was already a rumor swirling around regarding Carissa Moore’s retirement talk. But after her stepping from the upcoming Championship tour of the World Surf League made the rumor true. But there was still a plinth of discussion, as the reigning Olympic champion had already achieved Paris Olympics qualification. So appearing in the WSL wouldn’t have mattered to her. But Carissa herself clarified that the Pipeline event in Banzai and the Paris Olympics surfing in Teahupo’o will be in her best interest in the Stars and Stripes. As per NBCSports. com, including Carissa Moore, the US Olympic surfing team is ready to take the competition. However, what would happen in her absence remains a question.
In the WSL, the surfing phenom holds a clear advantage over her compatriots, Caroline Marks and the teenage sensation Caity Simmers. Last year, the 30-year-old surfing pro had three surfing championship titles, taking the fight with veteran Stephanie Gilmore. Moreover, last season saw an injury-affected Marks finding her best surfing days, brimming behind Carissa. Eventually, both Marks and Simmers earned their Paris Olympic berth after a hard contention fight. So eventually, that showed the importance of the Hawaii-born surfer.
The experience Carissa Moore brings in
In September last year, Rip Curl WSL Finals in California noticed Caroline Marks and Carissa Moore locking horns with each other, earning the ultimate title. The 5x WSL champion already had her experience to push Marks out of the contention. However, some late fury of surfing prowess earned the Boca Raton talent the WSL title at that time. However, Carissa Moore was there just after Marks to solidify her claim. Apart from these two, there remained no American surfing pro to take the reins.
So after Carissa Moore, the only American surfing talent who could come near to fill the place is Kirra Pinkerton. However, after the 2022 ISA World Surfing Games victory, the 21-year-old surfing prodigy is yet to get a notable chance in the final lineup. So, as of now, several unpleasant questions are there regarding the absence of Carissa Moore in the USA team.
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