honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, April 14, 2006

Carissa Moore to compete in Tahiti

 •  60 from Hawai'i set to run

Advertiser Staff

Carissa Moore

spacer spacer

Honolulu surfer Carissa Moore will test her skills against some of the world's best surfers in some of the world's best waves next week.

Moore, 13 and an eighth-grader at Punahou School, has been invited to compete in the trials for the Roxy Pro women's contest at Tavarua, Fiji.

Moore will compete against four other international surfers in the trials. The winner of the trials will earn a spot in the main event of the Roxy Pro.

Among the surfers in the main event of the Roxy Pro are current world champion Sofia Mulanovich of Peru, former world champion Layne Beachley of Australia, and Hawai'i pros Megan Abubo, Rochelle Ballard and Keala Kennelly.

"The competition is sort of secondary for Carissa on this trip," her father Chris Moore said. "We want to go there more for the experience. If she makes it (to the main event), great. If not, it'll still be a great opportunity."

Moore is still an amateur competitor, but has already entered a few professional contests.

"It's not like she's a stranger to this," her father said. "But it is sort of a lot to ask a girl to go to Tavarua and be competitive against the best in the world."

Moore is considered the top female surfer in the nation for her age group, and is expected to compete in several amateur national championship events this summer.