It was a day full of what Tahitians call Mana, with a strong camaraderie across the field, none more so than that of Team USA, whose five members include the current World No. 1 and 2 of both the men and women, along with Tokyo 2020 Gold Medalist and five-time World Champion Carissa Moore. In the last heat of the day, Moore earned a 9.00 ride and 16.50 heat total to cap wins across the board for the United States.
“I can’t wait to go back and relish in today and the success that everybody had, because it was truly pretty special,” Moore said. “I feel like we’ve been the good vibe tribe. Everybody’s just been really supportive and encouraging of each other. It was really cool, last night Griffin [Colapinto] kind of prompted an appreciation and intention for today and it was just nice to talk about our feelings and be sensitive and talk about just how grateful we all are to be here, which I think really set the mood for a fantastic day for all of us.”
Moore’s teammates also each stole the limelight. Caroline Marks easily the earned best of the day for the women, while Griffin Colapinto and John John Florence found the highest of the men, and Caitlin Simmers took out a super-heat.
Marks, the 2016 ISA U/16 World Junior Champion and 2023 WSL World Champion, wasted no time in picking up an excellent 8.50. A dramatic take-off under the lip of a heaving barrel followed, seeing her spit out and earning a 9.43, the highest single wave score of the day for the women. Her 17.93 two-wave heat total was the highest of the day overall.
Colapinto picked up the highest single wave score of the day, a 9.53, to defeat local Gold Medal hopeful Kauli Vaast (FRA) and two-time Pan American Gold Medalist Lucca Mesinas (PER).
Florence displayed why he is considered one of the greatest barrel-riders of all time, putting on a masterclass to earn a 17.33 two-wave heat total, the highest of the day for the men. Having competed in Tokyo 2020 with a significant knee injury, the two-time WSL World Champion and current World No. 1 is feeling relaxed and confident entering his second Olympic Games.
“So cool to be representing where I’m from, representing America, Hawaii, everything, and come and get into the heat and start feeling really good and excited and energized,” Florence said. “I think that’s always, you know, you get into the heat and you’re like, ‘How am I going to feel? Am I going to be nervous?’ I think I got into that and I was just excited, the waves were fun. I feel like I’m in a really good place right now.”
The casual cool of Simmers saw the 2018 ISA U/16 World Junior Champion and current World No. 1 take the win in the most talked about Round 1 match-up leading into the event. The super-heat featured two other of the world’s best barrel-riders, Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) and Molly Picklum (AUS), but the 18-year-old delivered pure style on every wave that contributed to her 12.93 heat total to earn the victory.