US Olympic surfers win first round heats in Tahiti

“I can’t wait to get back and enjoy today and the success that everyone had because it was really special,” Moore said after the first round. “I feel like we’ve been the good vibe tribe. Everyone’s just been really supportive and encouraging of each other.”

American Caroline Marks had the highest combined score of the first round with a score of 17.93 in her first round heat and recorded the best single-wave score, 9.43.

Caitlin Simmers, an 18-year-old phenom from the United States, won her first round with a combined score of 12.93.

In the men’s event, it was American John John Florence who emerged victorious from the first round on Saturday with a combined score of 17.33, with fellow American Griffin Colapinto winning his opening heat with a score of 17.03. Griffin had the best top-wave score of the round with a 9.53, while Florence had the second-best top-wave score with a 9.33.