--Sebastian Inlet State Park, FLA
Home is where the surf is. For Caroline Marks, her heart is here too.
“You know I don’t come home that much anymore so when I do it’s really special,” Marks says. “All my family and close friends are here it’s awesome.”
Here is Melbourne Beach, FL where Caroline lived the first twelve years of her life before moving to California. She was back in town this month competing in the Florida Pro surf tournament at Sebastian Inlet.
“Yeah I literally grew up surfing this wave,” She says.
She’s just your average 16 year old girl, soon to be 17 on Valentine’s Day. She just happens to be one of the best surfers in the world.
“You know she climbed to fame really quick it kind of happened over night,” Her Dad Darren Marks says.
Last year Caroline became the youngest surfer ever to qualify for the World Surf League championship tour.
“Yes it’s awesome to have my name attached to that,” She says.
She’s had quite a ride. From Australia to Bali….France and every where in between.
“Oh man it’s been absolutely amazing like a dream come true everything I’ve wanted it’s super special I’m really enjoying it.”
“What we do is just try to keep her balanced,” Darren Marks says.
Darren and his wife do their best to always have one of them with Caroline on the road. When she’s not competing she’s taking classes through a home school program called Lighthouse Point Christian Academy. It’s an intense lifestyle. Caroline credits her upbringing in Melbourne Beach for a lot of her success.
“If it wasn’t for my brothers I wouldn’t be where I am today,” She says.
Caroline has four brothers that all surf. Originally horseback riding was her thing.
“Then one day I just started surfing and I was like oh my God what have I been doing this is the best thing ever.”
As big of a deal as Caroline has become in the surf world she never hesitates to stop and take a selfie with a fan. Especially the young girls that she’s out inspiring.
“I just try to my hardest to be good role model. The little girls are awesome there are so many surfer girls coming up so its awesome to see,” She says.
After winning the Florida Pro for the second straight year, Caroline is embraced by a group of young girls as soon as she gets out of the water. She’s then hoisted onto several people’s shoulders and carried to the podium. Darren says “Proud of you kid” as she’s carried by.
“This is probably one of the most special events we’ve done,” He says. “My kids were brought up here. 15 years every day surfing, if the waves were flat they’d fish, snorkel. They learned how to play and grow up with other kids here.”
From little girl to the next big thing in surfing. Caroline Marks is still that same kid from Melbourne Beach.
“It’s seriously like a dream come true,” She says. “If someone were to tell me this was going to happen I’d be like oh my God that’s the best thing ever and the fact that it’s happening it’s definitely surreal.”