Caroline Marks has been making waves in the surf world for years. The 21-year-old surfer from Florida was the youngest person to ever qualify for the WSL Championship Tour — she was fifteen when she qualified. She finished seventh in the world and was awarded “rookie of the year” for her performance. At 19, Marks competed in surfing’s Olympic debut in Tokyo.
Marks grew up close to the beach in Florida, but claims she was more of a farm girl until she followed her brothers into the water with a surfboard. She credits her family, and specifically her brothers, for her passion and surfing talent.
“My first memory of a surfboard was just surfing behind my house in Florida and wanting to be like my brothers,” says Marks. “I’d come in crying if I didn’t get a section that they wanted me to. But it was cool being able to walk to the beach and surf.
At the time I thought they were so mean but now I’m so grateful for it because I feel like I wouldn’t’ be in the position I’m in without them. I don’t know if I would have even started surfing if it weren’t’ for my brothers. It really just stemmed from wanting to be like them.”
In the above video, Marks talks about her surfing start, her family, and her strategy heading into the WSL finals at Trestles.
