Surfer Magazine named Carissa Moore one of the most influential surfers of the year. The night before the awards ceremony, she and her friend were causing such a ruckus at their hotel that Andy Irons came out into the hall to find out what was going on. The girls had been practicing walking in their heels...in their PJs. "I guess we were a little loud," she giggles, embarrassed.

Such is the life for 16-year-old Carissa Moore. Drawing her own lines between becoming one of surfing's elite and just being a good kid, Carissa's incredible talent and vibrant personality have industry insiders looking to her as the "next big thing." Carissa, though, just loves to surf. And while she may straddle two worlds, she has just one goal: to be the best.

ON TOP
On November 28, 2008, Carissa upset seven-time world champion Layne Beachley to take the Reef Hawaiian Pro title and become the youngest-ever Vans Triple Crown of Surfing event champion. A hard-fought win, Carissa advanced from the prelims in the sole wildcard spot and won every heat to lead the series ratings.

"I have to say standing up on that podium was one of the best feelings I've had in my whole life," she explains. "It all happened so fast and I wasn't really expecting it, so I was just really living the moment. To win at Haleiwa, one of my favorite waves, was just a dream."

Though the wins are why she competes, Carissa never lets her first love stray too far out of sight. One of her favorite competitions is the Roxy Pro at Snapper Rocks, Australia: "I just absolutely love the wave, the location and the people," she says. "I like the man-on-man format because you really don't have to deal with paddle battling and stuff like that and you can just concentrate on your surfing. I also love the fact that even if you don't do well you can still find some pretty fun waves to surf."  

SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK
Although she's been a fixture in the surfing world since she was eight, Carissa has postponed turning pro to focus on school. She's a junior at the Punahou School, an elite private school in Honolulu, and is interested in photography, her friends and the ritual of going to school. "I really enjoy it. I just like the atmosphere, seeing my friends, carrying books, sitting in a classroom and walking across campus," she says. "I don't think I would pass it up for anything."

In a sport littered with burnt-out dreams, Carissa likes to keep the bigger picture in mind. "I love surfing. But I know that one day I will want to do something else and it's good to have [an] education to support me."

INFLUENCING THE INFLUENTIAL
Born and raised on the south shore of Oahu, Carissa first surfed Waikiki with her dad when she was 4 or 5. Now her coach and mentor, Carissa's dad is a source of advice and inspiration. "I think my dad really pushes me to be a better surfer," she says. "He keeps me honest and motivates me to do my best."

In the surfing world, Carissa draws inspiration from, well, the surfing world. "I look up to Kelly Slater, Dane Reynolds, Jordy Smith, Bobby Martinez--all the guys on tour. They are so fun to watch in contests and free surfing," she explains. "I also love watching all the kids around my age that are surfing right now, boys and girls. They are really surfing well and it will be very exciting to see whey they go in the future." As for women's surfing, it's the girls from Hawaii that Carissa keeps her eye on: "Coco Ho, Malia Manuel, Bethany Hamilton, Alyssa Quizon, just to name a few, are really surfing well and are pushing the level of women's surfing."

MORE MOORE
While the Triple Crown may someday weigh heavily on her head, Carissa is looking forward to practicing more difficult maneuvers and trying to improve her surfing every time she goes in the water. Qualifying for the WCT is on her wish list, but more than anything else, Carissa relishes the opportunity to just travel and surf. With her full attention on her surfing, there's no telling what Carissa can achieve or how many times she will achieve it. But in a style that may become her trademark, Carissa is focusing on the more immediate reality: "I am definitely a lucky girl to be living that life that I live."