Surfer Caroline Marks Says She’s ‘Definitely Bringing a Helmet’ to the Olympics, Explains ‘Big Risk’ (Exclusive)

Caroline Marks may be going for gold, but safety comes first for her.

The reigning world surfing champion spoke to PEOPLE about her second Olympic debut and the precautions she plans to take at Teahupoʻo, the Tahiti site that will host surfing during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

For those unfamiliar with the waters around the island, Marks, 22, says the area has “some of the most beautiful, most incredible waves” — but also tells PEOPLE that “it’s also some of the most intense and scary waves in the world.”

Marks explains that part of the unpredictability of barreling waves has to do with the ever-changing “range” in size, noting that waves can be as small as two feet one day and as big as 12 feet the next. “We’re dealing with Mother Nature, so there’s no guarantee that it’s going to be perfect, but it does have the potential to be amazing,” she says.

While surfing comes with its risks, the Teahupoʻo wave takes it to the next level thanks to its notorious underwater mechanics. “It comes out of really deep water and breaks over this really shallow reef,” Marks says, making it “really intense.”

Hitting the reef after a wipeout is one of the biggest consequences at this particular surf spot, a factor Marks is weighing as she prepares to compete when the Games begin. “I think helmets are awesome,” she tells PEOPLE ahead of the VIVO Rio Pro stop on tour.

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“I think if you’re surfing over a shallow reef, there’s a big risk of hitting your head and somewhere else on your body, but your head is obviously somewhere you don’t want to mess with,” the surfer continues. “That’s a really dangerous spot, you can knock yourself out.”

To non-surfers, wearing a helmet in the water may seem like a foreign concept, but Marks says more and more surfers have been taking this safety precaution “in recent years.” However, she notes that “it’s all a matter of preference” whether an athlete chooses to wear one or not.

“It’s obviously not natural to wear a helmet when you’re surfing, so it takes a while to get used to it,” she explains. “Some people don’t mind it at all. Some people feel more confident with it, some people feel like it gets in the way… It just depends on how you feel.”

Marks admits she hasn’t worn them “too much in competition” herself, but says she’ll “definitely be taking one to the Olympics.” What’s more, she says the newer helmets are “much better” than past models.

“They’re just a lot lighter on your head and they work really well,” she explains. “Oakley made a great helmet for us and Red Bull made a great helmet for us as well… Yeah. I’m definitely going to take it.”

While Marks says she’s “not sure yet” if she’ll wear it, she says “it’s great to have the option,” she explains, “because I think they’ve saved a lot of people from injury.”

Marks made history as the youngest female surfer to qualify for the WSL Championship Tour in 2018 at age 15. At age 19, she made history again as the youngest female surfer to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (which were postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

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Now, Marks tells PEOPLE she’s “really excited” to return to the Olympics to represent Team USA again — but this time in Tahiti. “It’s very different from Japan… Teahupo is a whole different wave,” she says.

“We also had to deal with a pandemic in Tokyo,” Marks continued. “So I feel like this Olympics could have a different atmosphere, but obviously still have the same goal and that is to win a gold medal.”

To learn more about all the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, visit TeamUSA.com and go to people.com to watch ongoing coverage before, during and after the Games. Watch the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, starting July 26, on NBC and Peacock.