September 19, 2021: Caroline Marks (USA) claimed a massive win at the World Surf League (WSL) Nissan Super Girl Surf Pro Qualifying Series (QS) 3,000 over Caitlin Simmers (USA). Marks powered her way through four rounds of head-to-head, finals day competition beginning with Round 4 in two-to-three foot, occasional plus, south swell at the Oceanside Pier to earn her first-ever Super Girl Pro victory over Caitlin Simmers (USA) – and with it her first Super Girl cape. This notes the two-time North America Regional QS Champion’s fourth QS victory.
A clash of event threats and teenage phenoms unfolded between Marks and Simmers in the Final. The hometown hero, Simmers, started off putting her world-class opponent on the ropes with a 7.10 (out of a possible 10) and 7.17 as Marks answered with her own 6.50. Simmers added another 7.10 in her scoreline to stay ahead, but, heading into the final minutes, Marks went sky-high with an air-reverse to garner an excellent 8.33 – ultimately stealing the lead and victory as the horn sounded to a last-ditch effort from Simmers.
“It feels so good,” exclaimed Marks. “I’ve gotten second here before and third a bunch as well so I’m really stoked to get that win. It was such a fun Final. I did that air-reverse to win which was really special. It’s something I’ve been working on and my goal, just in general, is to push the progression of women’s surfing.”
The now 19-year-old has chased this victory since her first appearance in 2014 and made that dream a reality after overcoming a stacked field. Marks had to cross the likes of The Ultimate Surfer contestant Tia Blanco (USA), 2016 North America QS Regional Champion Meah Collins (USA), and Alyssa Spencer (USA) – who entered this event as North America QS No. 1. Marks now prepares for the opening heat at the US Open of Surfing Huntington Beach presented by Shiseido.
Hometown hero Simmers went ballistic in her Quarterfinal matchup against fellow emerging talent Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW). Simmers’ backhand attack left the beach in an eruption as she earned an 8.17 off one single-maneuver after she already claimed a Round 4 win over established competitor Vahine Fierro (FRA). The roar of her friends, family, and fans on the beach after every wave pushed the 15-year-old to her second-consecutive Super Girl Pro (2020 specialty event) Final where she nearly capitalized on a historic repeat win.
“It feels pretty good (to get make another finals day) and I wished I would’ve won,” laughs Simmers. “I would not have wanted to lose to anyone else but Caroline (Marks). She does the sickest airs. I wanted to go left more because I’m better at backside airs so I need to work on fronthand airs. It was really fun to have all my friends and family come down to get me amped up before my heat.”
Encinitas, California’s, Spencer, felt right at home utilizing her dominant forehand attack to overpower WSL Rip Curl Finals, World No. 2, Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) with a 15.00 heat total. Spencer took that momentum then went on to claim another big result against former CT competitor Chelsea Tuach (BRB) in their Quarterfinal affair.
Former CT competitor, Andrew, blazed through her Round 4 and Quarterfinal bouts with fellow former CT competitor Macy Callaghan (AUS) and Sawyer Lindblad (USA), respectively. The Mooloolaba. Australia, competitor garnered one of the day’s highest single-wave scores of an excellent 8.67 in Round 4 and now both Andrew, and Spencer head into the US Open of Surfing Huntington Beach pres. by Shiseido in fine form.
For more information, visit www.supergirlsurfpro.com and www.WorldSurfLeague.com.
Nissan Super Girl Surf Pro Final Results:
1 – Caroline Marks (USA) 14.83 3,000 points
2 – Caitlin Simmers (USA) 14.27 2,400 points
Nissan Super Girl Surf Pro Semifinal Results:
SF 1: Caitlin Simmers (USA) 14.97 DEF. Keely Andrew (AUS) 11.17
SF 2: Caroline Marks (USA) 14.76 DEF. Alyssa Spencer (USA) 12.73
Nissan Super Girl Surf Pro Quarterfinal Results:
QF 1: Keely Andrew (AUS) 14.43 DEF. Sawyer Lindblad (USA) 10.00
QF 2: Caitlin Simmers (USA) 15.50 DEF. Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW) 11.70
QF 3: Alyssa Spencer (USA) 11.00 DEF. Chelsea Tuach (BRB) 10.50
QF 4: Caroline Marks (USA) 14.20 DEF. Meah Collins (USA) 10.73
Nissan Super Girl Surf Pro Round 4 Results:
Heat 1: Sawyer Lindblad (USA) 11.27 DEF. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) 9.94
Heat 2: Keely Andrew (AUS) 13.50 DEF. Macy Callaghan (AUS) 6.67
Heat 3: Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW) 12.27 DEF. Coco Ho (HAW) 11.43
Heat 4: Caitlin Simmers (USA) 14.86 DEF. Vahine Fierro (FRA) 12.50
Heat 5: Chelsea Tuach (BRB) 10.20 DEF. Sarah Baum (ZAF) 5.30
Heat 6: Alyssa Spencer (USA) 15.00 DEF. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 10.24
Heat 7: Meah Collins (USA) 12.17 DEF. Molly Picklum (AUS) 7.90
Heat 8: Caroline Marks (USA) 13.34 DEF. Tia Blanco (USA) 8.57