Taking the Throne

Event: Quiksilver Presents King of the Groms
Date: June 6, 2007
Location: Kewalos
Conditions: 3 to 6 feet

Fourteen-year-old Carissa Moore is making a habit of showing up to contests and making surf history lately. In glassy, South Shore surf at her home break of Kewalos, Carissa was cool and competent among more than 60 competitors (and only three other girls) ages 16 and under at Quiksilver’s King of the Groms Hawai‘i qualifier. Showing the boys who’s boss and taking the crown, Moore is the first girl to advance to the world final in the event's three-year history.

The contest format allows surfers to score on only one wave per heat, which they must claim by raising their hands above their heads. "Here at Kewalos, she can match what the boys do because she surfs here so often," said Carissa’s father, Chris Moore. "Some of these guys are doing men's [pro] events, so for her to keep getting through heats and then come out on top was delightful. But this is her home break and that's one of the reasons why we entered this one.”

Home break or not, Carissa is notorious for showing up and blowing up. Earlier this year she defeated seven-time ASP women's world champion Layne Beachley twice to take second place at the WCT 2007 Roxy Pro Australia. In July, Carissa continued to make history as one of five team members for the USA as part of the first-ever women's X-Games surfing competition.
Among the loaded Quiksilver prize bags, winners at each of the regional qualifiers will receive an all-expense paid trip to the Quiksilver King of the Groms World Final held in Capbreton, France this month. The “Queen” will be unable to attend the final in France due to a prior commitment so the trip will go to second place finisher, Albee Layer of Maui.—TH



Results:
1) Carissa Moore
2) Albee Layer
3) Luke Hitchcock
4) Ford Archbold
5) Hizson Lin Kee
6) Timothy Rowlands