“Now that I’ve qualified, I feel old and like part of my childhood is gone. It’s a weird feeling.”
Seventeen-year-old Coco Ho has become the youngest competitor on the world tour with her recent strong finish at Billabong Pro Maui. A major part of Volcom’s 2008women’s campaign, Coco’s rise hasn’t exactly been a smooth ride. This past year was filled with conflicts and controversy as she battled everything from self-doubt to a major interference call against Layne Beachley at the Reef Hawaiian Pro in Haleiwa. Although let off with a strict warning, the incident none the less labeled the teen as surfing’s “bad girl” with unwavering loyalty to her Hawaiian teammates. (The drop-in was rumored to have been purposely executed to keep friend and neighbor Carissa Moore in first place.) But no matter how you want to break it down, Coco is exactly where she’s always dreamed of being.
