Insights

Surfer Profile: Caroline Marks – Surfd

November 19, 2023

Raised on the sandy shores of Florida, in a family where surfing was as natural as breathing, Caroline Marks found her calling in the waves.

In the world of competitive surfing, Caroline emerged as a prodigy, a young gun charging into the World Surf League’s arena as its youngest contender. Her approach to surfing is a blend of raw power and poetic grace, a style that speaks volumes of her fearless heart.

Beyond the accolades, she’s the quintessential surfer’s surfer, with a demeanor as sunny as her home state. Her infectious enthusiasm and genuine stoke for the sport resonate through the surfing community, making waves far beyond the competitive sphere.

Place of Birth	Boca Raton, Florida
Hometown	Melbourne Beach, Florida
Year of Birth	Feb 14, 2002
Weight	127 lbs (58 kg)
Height	5 ft, 5 in (165cm)
Stance	Goofy
First Season	2013 Women’s JUN

Milestones

#2 Women’s CT 2021
8 Heat wins
12.09 Avg. heat score
4.31 Avg. wave score

Event Wins

Women’s Championship Tour

2021	Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic presented by Corona – 1st place 10,000 points
2019	Boost Mobile Pro Gold Coast – 1st place 10,000 points MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal – 1st place 10,000 points

Women’s Qualifying Series

2019	Florida Pro – 1st place 3,000 points
2018	Ron Jon Florida Pro – 1st place 6,000 points Los Cabos Open of Surf – 1st place 6,000 points

Women’s Junior Tour

2016	Vans US Open of Surfing (W JUN) – 1st place 1,000 points
2015	Junior Women’s Vans US Open of Surfing – 1st place 1,000 points

Specialty Events

2020	Nissan Super Girl Pro – 1st place

Backstory

Caroline Marks grew up in a house with 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.
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.

Caroline Marks is sponsored by Roxy, Red Bull, Gromsocial.com, Chemistry Surfboards, Ron Jon, FCS, Tonic.

Surfboards

Caroline Marks rides Mayhem Surfboards particularly 5’6 18 1/8 2.2 Magic board.

News, Articles and Interviews

Quotes by Caroline Marks

A huge goal of mine as a surfer, especially as a female surfer, is to really push the sport. To be the girl that pushed the progression of women’s surfing. I want to be the next generation that is pushing the sport and leading the way, surfing bigger waves, getting barrelled more, and doing airs.

Caroline Marks