While five-times WSL world champion and Olympic gold medallist Carissa Moore’s announcement last week that she is about to “step away” from the world tour did not come as a jaw-dropping shock, among surfing aficionados, there was a collective groan at losing a near GOAT way too soon.
I use the term “near GOAT” advisedly. Consider the following: the Hawaiian champ went into the Rip Curl WSL finals series at Lower Trestles in poll position (number one in the world) in both 2022 and 2023, losing out in conditions that didn’t ideally suit her to Steph Gilmore and Caroline Marks respectively. Under the old first-past-the-post system, she would have won both years, giving her seven world titles, and she would now be greatest of all time in the women’s division, alongside Steph and Layne Beachley.
Does this grate with Riss? Possibly it did at the time.
Has it contributed to her “don’t call it a retirement” stepping away at 31?
Nah, that’s a more elemental thing, stemming from her oft-expressed desire to start raising a family, although she did tell the New York Times, “I would have loved to have won a world title and then dropped the mic and walked away. I would have loved the fairytale ending.”
In her NYT interview she also briefly canvassed the possibility of returning to the tour after having children, but for now we have to grin and bear the fact that the power surfer from Oahu will surf only in the Hawaiian season-opening event at Pipeline, accept a wildcard for the WSL Tahiti Pro and then represent her country and defend her Tokyo gold in the Paris Olympics surfing event in Tahiti in July before going home to make babies with husband Luke Untermann.
WSL chief of sport Jessi Miley-Dyer said in a statement: “As Carissa Moore shares her decision of this new chapter, we reflect on her incredible journey and the profound impact she’s had on surfing. She is a champion and a role model in and out of the water. Throughout her career, Carissa has exemplified grace, resilience, and competitive excellence. Her achievements have transcended the sport, bringing a new level of athleticism and progression to surfing. Carissa’s dedication to pushing the boundaries has been inspirational, and her absence in the competitive scene will be deeply felt.”
The WSL statement also noted: “Moore’s incredible 14-year career is decorated with almost every professional surfing accolade possible, including five world titles and surfing’s first Olympic Gold Medal. Moore has competed in 120 Championship Tour events, claiming 28 event wins throughout her career.
“Moore arrived on the Championship Tour in 2010, posing an immediate threat to her competition. In her first year on tour she finished third overall and was named Rookie of the Year. The following season, she claimed her first world title at just 18 years old, becoming the youngest man or woman ever to do so. Moore undoubtedly ushered in a new era of power surfing to the tour.
“Moore embodies the aloha spirit and created the Moore Aloha Foundation to inspire the next generation of young surfers. She is truly a trailblazer in the sport and will continue to push the progression of surfing in her new chapter.”
And in more distressing news for surf lovers, another great women’s champion was shown the door, not at her behest, after more than 30 years representing the Roxy brand as global ambassador.
Lisa Andersen became the face of Roxy in 1993 just ahead of winning four world titles, and in the process taking Roxy from a fledgling sub-brand of Quiksilver to a financial powerhouse in its own rights. Driven by Lisa, the brand went from $US20 million in sales in 1996 to $US650 million in 2006.
During my time at Quiksilver Europe I had the pleasure of working with Lisa on many occasions and found her to be a true star, in and out of the water, always obliging her fans and prepared to work hard for her brand. And man, could she surf! As Surfer Magazine reminded its male readers on a famous cover: “Lisa Andersen surfs better than you!”
But times change, different strokes etc, and with Roxy now part of the brand factory Authentic Brands, where stripping costs and raising sales through supermarkets is the watchword, there’s no place for a 55-year-old icon, even if she still looks great in a bikini.
Surfer saves ‘roo
Let’s end on a positive note, with the feel-good story of the summer from one of my old stomping grounds, Bawley Point on the NSW South Coast.
Local surfer Brendan Riddick was coming in after a session at Gannet Beach when he noticed a kangaroo struggling to keep its head above water in the break.
According to the Illawarra Mercury: “Still wearing his wetsuit and with his surfboard in tow, he swam out to the ‘roo and managed to pull it into the shallows before dragging it up the beach by its tail.”
“It looked like it was swimming OK in the calm rock pool area, but then it started drifting out into the current and was getting taken out to the point. I thought, geez, if I don’t go in there, that poor thing is going to drown,” Brendan told the paper.
Well done, Brendo! Happy Australia Day!
