Caity Simmers is a rare type of surfer. She’s a generational talent, a surfer who will, if she so decides, go on to do big things. She’s just 17 years old, but already she’s carved her initials deeply into surfing’s tree.
Like most 17-year-olds from Oceanside, California, Caity hasn’t put in a ton of time at Pipeline. She does, however, have a sort of innate sense of what to do on a wave there — or anywhere else, for that matter — and so she secured an invite to the Vans Pipe Masters. Which has got to be a bit of a dream for a surfer so young.
A while back, The Inertia was fortunate enough to spend some time with Caity in El Salvador. It was just after she’d made the cut to join the 2022 CT and decided that she wasn’t ready just yet.
“Although it is eventually a goal to be on the CT, I’m declining the spot for 2022,” said Simmers to the WSL at the time. “I’d like to work on my surfing, spending time with my family and friends, and school to be more mentally and physically ready to face that challenge.”
When it comes to surfing Pipeline, she’s pretty excited about the opportunity to do it with no one out at the Pipe Masters. “I’ll probably just freak out and get a bunch of waves,” she says. “I’m not a very strategic person. I’m not trying to make this elaborate strategy. I’m just trying to go out there and get some barrels.”
Her goal at the Pipe Masters is twofold. One, to win. And two? Well, Caity just wants to go surfing.
