Teamwork and Sheer Grit Ruled ISA World Surfing Games Day 4

Carissa Moore battled through six repechage heats. Courtney Conlogue gutted through four. Caroline Marks dominated round four, but placed third in round five and moves to repechage. 
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Miyazaki, Japan (September 9, 2019) – Teamwork and sheer grit were on full display at day four of the Vans International Surfing Association (ISA) World Surfing Games (WSG). WSL World No. 1 Carissa Moore battled through six double-elimination repechage rounds and fellow CT surfer Courtney Conlogue charged through four repechage rounds. 
 
Carissa and Courtney found themselves competing together in two heats, which provided opportunities for each of them to use their priority to keep opponents from getting scores. Both women embraced after the final round, thanking the other for the saving assists. “That’s what team members do,” said Conlogue who wowed the crowd by tucking into one of the event’s only barrels, rode out and smashed a section. 
 
Moore said she couldn’t think about the number of grueling rounds ahead of her, which started in the morning and ran through early evening. “I took each heat one at a time and kept my focus on just doing what needed to be done to get through,” Moore said. 
 
Caroline Marks dominated her main round four heat, but placed third in round five heat with South Africa’s Bianca Buitendag, Brazil’s Tatiana Weston-Webb and Australia’s Stephanie Gilmore. Marks moves on to the repechage rounds and will need to make it through two repechage rounds and a semi-final to be in medal contention. 
 
Tomorrow’s action starts with repechage round 8 with Courtney Conlogue surfing in heat one at 3:30 pm Pacific Time and Caroline Marks and Carissa Moore competing in heat two at 3:50 pm Pacific. Womens finals will run at around 6:00 pm Pacific. 
 
Taking advantage of lingering typhoon swell, the men’s main round heats will also start tomorrow at 7:15 pm Pacific. Team USA’s men - Kolohe Andino, Conner Coffin and Kelly Slater– will face competitors from 55 other nation’s. Conner Coffin will be the first American man to surf in heat 9. Eleven-time world champion Kelly Slater surfs in heat 17. Kolohe Andino is in heat 25. Watch all the live action at www.isasurf.org.The men and women’s heat draws can be viewed here.
 
This week World Surfing Games in Miyazaki, Japan marks the first time the WSG is an Olympic qualifier for the more than 40 countries not represented in the World Surf League (WSL). The event is being webcast at www.isasurf.org. 
 
The team’s selection is based on the surfers’ rankings following the World Surf League’s fourth event in Margaret River. The top three ranked surfers for each country are invited to surf as part of eligibility requirement to qualify for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. 
 
According to the Olympic qualification rules, the top 10 eligible men and eight women, maximum two per country, at the end of the 2019 WSL CT season, will earn qualification slots for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. This end-of-year ranking will also be used to determine who is nominated to be members of their national surfing teams at the 2020 WSG. The 2019 WSG is in Japan, but the 2020 WSG location is to be determined. With four WSL events remaining for the women and five for the men, Olympic qualification is adding a new element of excitement to the WSL season. 
 
Contact: becky (at) usasurfing (dot) org
 
USA Surfing is the National Governing Body for surfing in the United States, recognized by the International Surfing Association (ISA) and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC). USA Surfing’s mission is to promote and grow the sport of surfing and support United States athletes of all backgrounds to achieve sustained competitive excellence in Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American competition. USA Surfing will oversee and support America’s Olympic team as surfing makes its debut in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and surfing and stand-up paddleboarding athletes compete in the 2019 Pan American Games.
 
OLYMPIC HOPEFUL BIOS
Carissa Moore– Carissa is a three-time World Champion from Honolulu, Hawaii. She surfs with remarkable power and joy and is known for her work to help young girls develop confidence. Carissa started tallying up wins at NSSA junior surf competitions and top spots at the ISA World Junior Surfing Championships, where she helped Hawaii win a team victory. In all, she clinched a record 11 NSSA amateur titles, and at age 16 became the youngest champion at a Triple Crown of Surfing event. Currently ranked No. 1 in the world, she is eager to claim another world title.  
 
Caroline Marks– Caroline grew up in Melbourne Beach, Fla., where she learned to surf with her brothers when she was 8 years old. In 2014, she made the move to split her time between Florida and California, making the most of San Clemente’s world-class waves and year-round surf to improve her performance. She made history as the youngest surfer (man or woman) to qualify for the World Surf League Championship Tour at just 15 years old and finished the year ranked No. 8 and was named WSL Rookie of the Year. Before going on the Championship Tour, she racked up multiple USA Surfing championship wins with powerful surfing that just keeps getting more impressive. Her strong start to the season earned surfing’s first Team USA “Athlete of the Month” award – a distinction awarded by the USOC to top athletes in all sports.
 
Courtney Conlogue– Born and raised in Santa Ana, Calif., Courtney started surfing at the age of 4 and was the youngest athlete to make the USA Surfing international team at 11 years old. Don’t let her big smile and infectious laugh fool you, she’s fierce. After being sidelined by a foot injury for the first half of 2018, her comeback form and tenacity earned a US Olympic Committee nomination for its Athlete of the Month award. She won two titles in just under two months (the 2018 Vans US Open and Roxy Pro France). She is a two-time runner up for the World Champion title and her determination to clinch it this year is on full display. 
 
Kolohe Andino– Growing up in San Clemente with a pro surfer dad, Kolohe won seven USA Surfing Champion titles and nine National Scholastic Surfing Association championships – a record for boys under 18. One of the most entertaining surfers to watch, Kolohe has an aggressive, progressive style. Many of the local groms look up to Kolohe, who is quick to encourage and support the up-and-coming talent. Currently ranked No. 1 in the world, he is hungry for a world title and chance to compete in the 2020 Olympics. 
 
Conner Coffin– Always known for his speed and style, Conner Coffin is expanding an increasingly progressive repertoire. He and his brother Parker were repeatedly making finals and the podium at USA Surfing Championships and stoking up the energy level on the beach. He says his family has always watched and loved the Olympics. “Everyone has definitely talked about how cool of an experience (the Olympics) would be. Everyone’s trying to do their best this year, train harder and surf harder, and the Olympics would be the icing on the cake of a good year on the tour,” Conner told TeamUSA.org. A man of many talents from gardening to guitar, Conner is always keeping life on tour interesting and in perspective.  
 
Kelly Slater– The greatest surfer of all time grew up on the East Coast and still has a home in Florida. Racking up 11 World Titles, 55 career victories, and holding the distinction of youngest and oldest World Champion in men’s history, his surfing continues to inspire and impress. Surfing for Olympic gold would be an athletic feat made for the GOAT.