CNN's Human to Hero series celebrates inspiration and achievement in sport. Click here for times, videos and features
(CNN) -- For the millions of us who sit at desks all day, Carissa Moore's description of her workplace might sound a little cruel.
"The water is my office
and yeah, I get to spend almost every day in the ocean, and that's
tremendous," Moore told CNN's Human to Hero series.
A place that conjures up an image of air-conditioned confinement to most means nothing but fresh air and freedom to the Hawaiian surfer.
"I just love riding a
wave. I love getting up early in the morning and driving down to the
beach and paddling out and every time I go out, I'm looking for that
perfect wave," she explains.
"When you're out there and you find that one that you want to go for, it's just like everything else in the world disappears.
"It's just you and the
ocean and just spontaneity and an expression of yourself. There's not
really any thinking involved, it's just doing."
Admittedly, it may not be
the most original statement ever uttered by a surfer, but Moore's
career so far has been anything but derivative.
Carving up the field
The 22-year-old has taken
the surfing world by storm in recent years, winning the women's world
championship twice in the last four seasons.
Her first world crown
was not only a personal triumph but a significant landmark for the sport
as she clinched the title at the age of 18 to become the youngest-ever female world champion.
"My first world title in
2011 was a dream come true. I mean, I dreamed of it my entire life and
so for it to finally pay off was the best thing ever," she says.
"I never really thought
of myself being the youngest person. I still don't. I really don't look
back and think, 'Oh! that was such an accomplishment!' I think it was
more just like, 'Yeah, I won a world title and that really meant
something.'
In a way it was nothing more than surfing aficionados had expected given her incredible progression as a junior.
Moore was born in Honolulu, on Hawaii's third biggest island, Oahu -- home to some of the world's most hallowed surf.
"Not only are the people
so sweet, amazing and welcoming -- there's so much "aloha" -- but the
waves are perfect for growing up as a surfer," she says.
Oahu's 110 miles of
coastline is dotted with spectacular surfing spots from the vertiginous
waves of Waimea Bay on the north shore to Waikiki Beach.
It was here, in the more benign waters in the south of the island, that Moore's father introduced her to the sport.
"My dad actually was a
very serious water man. He swam, he paddleboard raced, he did all sorts
of things in the water," she says.
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