Coco Ho Takes Rip Curl Pro Search
Halfway through the season and the standings are anything but definite for the surfers on the ASP World Tour- Rookie Coco Ho (HAW) shook up the rankings with her first ASP win at the Rip Curl Search in Belgas, Portugal.
Just as the title race narrowed focus to previous 2009 title winners Silvana Lima (BRA) and Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), the ASP World Tour wildcard and the tour rookie claimed stake in the quarterfinals, eventually facing off in the Search finals.
After giving birth to her daughter Meika in 2008, Chelsea Hedges (AUS) returns to the tour as a wildcard, validating her threat this year by eliminating two-time world champion Gilmore in the quarterfinals, and Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) in the semi’s.
“This year, I was kind of questioning my ability a bit at the first event with these young girls like Coco (Ho) and Sally (Fitzgibbons) (AUS),” Hedges said in a release. “They are surfing so good and it really pushes my surfing and makes me look at what I am doing. It felt really good to take out Steph (Gilmore). She is the best out there in my opinion- her surfing still has that little edge. I still feel that, come the end of the year, she is going to be the one to beat.”
Ho took out 2004 World Champ Sofia Mulanovich (PER) in the quarterfinals, earning 15.06 points compared to Mulanovich’s 9.16. Then in the semifinals, Ho beat Lima, setting up the rookie and the wildcard for the Rip Curl Search Finals.
The beachbreak at Belgas pumped 2-3 foot surf to the backup venue of Belgas (originally Supertubes). Sunset Beach, HI native Ho hit the peaks and used the energy of the hallow waves to maintain high scores throughout the day’s heats and ultimately upping her rankings from fifth to third on the ASP World Tour.
“It feels so good to be on top,” Ho said in a release. “I’m trying not to think about too much. I love my trophy. When I started the year, I set a goal to make Quarterfinals or better at every event in order finish Top 5 by the end of the year, and I'm doing my best to accomplish that."
With so many of the surfers earning top rankings in the past four events, it will sure be anyone’s game as the tour moves to Peru and Hawaii in the month of November. Two ladies that will be visiting their stomping grounds are Mulanovich (PER) and Melanie Bartels (HAW)- both edging towards competing in the finals, and finishing in the top three, of at least two events on tour this season.
RIP CURL WOMEN’S PRO SEARCH FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Coco Ho (HAW) 15.83
2 – Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 9.37
RIP CURL WOMEN’S PRO SEARCH SEMIFINALS RESULTS:
SF 1: Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 11.17 def. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 5.10
SF 2: Coco Ho (HAW) 14.84 def. Silvana Lima (BRA) 8.66
CURRENT ASP WOMEN’S WORLD TOUR TOP 5 (After RC Pro Women’s Search):
1 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 3793 points
2 – Silvana Lima (BRA) 3636 points
3 – Coco Ho (HAW) 2923 points
4 – Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 2691 points
5 – Melanie Bartels (HAW) 2535 points
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Sick photo up top!