Marks celebrates winning the world title at Lower Trestles in California. Pat Nolan/World Surf League/Getty Images“I feel like I had a special connection with the ocean already that day, and my board felt amazing,” says Marks. But for Marks, winning the world title was the culmination of years of hard work, a goal that had formed in her mind even before she became the youngest surfer to qualify for the Championship Tour aged 15. But this year’s world title, Marks says, was even more satisfying after last season’s four-month absence from competitions. “The world title to me was my biggest goal ever,” says Marks, who won the Tahiti Pro event in August.

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Persons: Caroline Marks, Marks, Carissa Moore, Tyler Wright –, ” Marks, idolize Moore, Moore, Pat Nolan, ”, “, Caitlin Simmers, Wright, Kelly Slater, Marks “, Ryan Pierse, –, I’ve, that’s, “ I’d, She’s, Mike Parsons, “ She’s, Marks hasn’t, there’s, Matt Dunbar, She’ll, gunning Organizations: CNN, CNN Sport, women’s, SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro, Tokyo, Kyodo, Tokyo Games, Tahiti Locations: Trestles, Southern California, Florida, California, Melbourne Beach, Tahiti –