Throughout Surfer Magazine’s illustrious multi-decade history, only a handful of women have been featured on the cover. To put it mildly, this is a VERY big deal for both Carissa and the sport of women’s surfing. At just 16, Carissa has shattered records, nabbed unprecedented sponsorship deals, and is currently saddled with lofty world title expectations. At such a young age, it’s safe to say that no other professional female surfer has ever felt as much pressure to perform.

To see how far the coverage of women’s surfing has come, check out the past Surfer Magazine covers after the jump.