00:03Surfing, it's an indescribable feeling.
00:06There's something about the ocean that is just so soothing,
00:08and it makes you forget about everything else that's going on,
00:11and I think that's something really special.
00:13And when you ride that one wave all the way to the beach, it's addicting,
00:16and you're going to want to keep doing it for the rest of your life.
00:25I started surfing when I was about four or five years old,
00:28back at home with my dad at Waikiki Beach,
00:30and, you know, I just started doing little Menehune contests,
00:34Grom contests, and I remember telling my dad,
00:36hey, I want you to help me become one of the best surfers in the world.
00:39And he's like, you sure? I'm like, yeah.
00:42And that's what I've been doing ever since.
00:49I was sitting in the water when the horn blew,
00:51and I found out that I won the world title,
00:53and I wouldn't have wanted to win anywhere else
00:56except for where it started, in the water.
00:58It started and ended in the water, right where I wanted to be,
01:00and it was great because I got to kind of just surf
01:03and be by myself with the ocean for a little bit
01:05before I saw my dad and my boyfriend and everyone on the beach,
01:09so that was really cool.
01:14It's really exciting how surfing has evolved.
01:16For the most part, in the past, it has been really male-dominated.
01:19You know, the guys are the ones who innovate and progress the sport,
01:22but I think that the women right now are closing that gap.
01:27Surfing is a great thing for young girls to be a part of,
01:29especially growing up.
01:30You know, there's a lot of distractions,
01:32a lot of different influences,
01:33but surfing, I think, kept me really level-headed,
01:36and I had met some really amazing people
01:38that guided me in the right direction,
01:39and I'm really thankful for that.
01:46I think my advice for anybody, girls, guys, anyone,
01:51it would be just to have fun with whatever you're doing,
01:54and don't be afraid to fail.
01:57You know, you're going to fall down a lot,
01:58but eventually when you land that maneuver or land that trick
02:02or make that basket or, you know, whatever it is,
02:05it's going to feel amazing,
02:06and that accomplishment is so empowering,
02:08and I believe that if you put your heart and mind to anything,
02:11you can do it,
02:12so don't ever sell yourself short.
02:14I'm Carissa Moore, and I'm a professional surfer.
