The US Olympic Surf Team Was Just Decided…Almost

Follow all our live coverage from WSL Finals Day here (and maybe win a free surfboard).

How interesting to have the two 2023 Tahiti Pro finalists competing at the most un-Teahupoʻo like wave for a chance to represent their country at Chopes in 2024. 

Caroline Marks just took out Caity Simmers at the 2023 WSL Finals at Lower Trestles, meaning she’s provisionally qualified for her second Olympics, joining fellow 2X Olympian and reigning champ Carissa Moore. As long as they follow all ISA protocols, they’ll be dining on poisson cru thousands of miles away from Paris next summer. 

Caroline, the lone goofyfoot in the 2023 WSL Finals and making her first appearance in the format, eliminated Caity in the second women’s heat of the day with her trademark backhand attack. She notched an 11.67 heat total by picking cleaner rights and finishing her waves on tricky end sections. 

Team USA is looking pretty stacked to at least make the podium in the upcoming Olympics — Griffin Colapinto and John Florence hold down the two men’s spots; recent qualifier Caroline Marks just won the Teahupoʻo CT event last month; defending Olympic gold medalist Carissa Moore will be looking to renew in 2024.

However, the red, white and blue roster isn’t yet complete. Team USA gets a third women’s slot at Teahupoʻo because the team won the 2022 ISA World Games at Huntington Beach. We pontificated at length on this point, here on who might get the spot.

You can follow all our live coverage from Lowers today here. Leave a comment and maybe you’ll win a free board!