Two American surfers from Hawaii, world champions Carissa Moore and John John Florence, are already on the team roster, but a third surfing legend from Hawaii joined Team USA earlier this week.
Kailua-Kona’s Shane Dorian has been selected as head coach of the U.S. surfing team for next month’s Olympics in Paris.
“Honestly, it doesn’t feel real,” Dorian said. “I’ve said that to my family and my kids too. I kind of grew up watching the Olympics. The Olympics was a big part of my family. Every time the Olympics came around, whether it was the Summer Olympics or the Winter Olympics, it was a big event. So to have the chance and opportunity to be a part of it and work with the athletes and compete in the Olympics, it’s just an incredible feeling.”
The surfing portion of the event will take place at Tahiti’s famed Choupo, waves familiar to Dorian, cash medalist and five-time world champion Carissa Moore and two-time world champion John John Florence. The 51-year-old big wave surfing legend, a multiple-time Wave of the Year winner, said the opportunity to compete for Olympic gold alongside the state’s best of all time is an emotional one.
“There’s a sense of pride, right? I was born and raised in Hawaii. Surfing has been a big part of my life. It’s an honor to have two world champions from Hawaii, Carissa Moore and John John Florence, on the team. They’re very proud to represent Hawaii at the Olympics. It’s really awesome to have them on the team. A gold medal means a lot, it’s something else entirely. It’s like a childhood dream to win an Olympic gold medal.”
Dorian, Moore, Florence and the U.S. team will begin their Olympic journey in French Polynesia on July 27. Other Hawaiian surfers competing are Tatiana Weston-Webb of Kauai representing Brazil and Brisa Hennessy of Oahu representing Costa Rica. Stay tuned to KHON-2 Sports for continued coverage on-air and online.
