Carissa Moore Wins The 2008 Reef Hawaiian Pro

If you were to wager some bets this past Saturday on who would be crowned the 2008 Reef Hawaiian Pro Women’s Champion, the odds would be stacked in Carissa Moore’s favor. The winningest competitor in NSSA history had slightly vanished this past year as she focused on school rather than a full WQS campaign. But showing up to try and advance into the regular rounds of the event via a winner-take-all surf-off, Carissa was clearly a different — and focused — individual. The once Roxy wonder girl had just inked major deals with Red Bull, Nike 6.0 and a soon-to-be-named department store chain and was clearly out to prove that she hadn’t gone anywhere.

And she didn’t. Not in Round One. Or Two. Or the Quarters or Semis. She would not lose or cease to dominate or disappear, no matter who she was up against. Peers like Alana Blanchard went down to her. Heroes like Layne Beachley went down to her. And although fellow competitors and finalists Coco Ho, Laura Enever and Beachely put up high stakes surfing as the rounds unfolded and peaked in the Final, you would have still been pressed to find a gambler that didn’t have it all on the little girl in the yellow singlet.

Though the north swell that had been predicted showed up Thursday with perfect weather in tow, good sets were coming in slowly. The bowly rights that offer up the fastest, most rippable walls here at Haleiwa were shutting down because of the swell direction and the lefts — although much slower — were the main course.

Although Enever went to work the fastest and grabbed the most waves, it was clear that the fight was between Moore and 7X World Champ Beachely. But in any good fight, sometimes you could use a little backup. With less than minute remaining, Layne needed a 6.68 to overtake Moore and out on the horizon, it appeared things would go her way. But knowing she had already folded her cards, Coco Ho pulled the stiff-arm card, snuck inside, burned Beachley, popped an air on the one section that would have given the veteran a chance to take the lead and kicked out. What was left for Beachely was a piddly line draining into Toilet Bowls. Hardly a 6.68. Time was out and Moore was sitting out the back a winner.

“It was pretty good Hawaiian teamwork,” Beachley said after the awards ceremony. “I’m sure if Coco kicked out of that wave I could have still hit the lip, but as I was bottom turning I saw her go for an air and, well, that just ruins any chance of doing anything.

That’s what happens here in Hawaii,” Beachley continued. “But also, getting off to a slow start put extra pressure on me. You can only control what’s coming instead of what just happens.”

Sixteen-year-old Moore, who had clearly out-surfed the girls contingent this week, was shell-shocked as she accepted her $4,500.00 winner’s check.

“It’s pretty cool,” the Punahou High School Junior said. “It was my dream to one day win out here and I’m really happy.”

Carissa Moore

With the win, Carissa picks up 2,500 WQS points — a massive start to a full-time ’QS campaign when she is ready. And when that time comes, all bets are off…this girl will be a world champion.

While the girls exited the podium, the Men’s Round of 64 action was already underway. Top seeds were showing up psyched, trained, hung-over, whatever. Point is, they showed up, did their best to poise themselves for Triple Crown glory.

But it was Huntington Beach, CA’s Timmy Reyes that led the charge, posting the highest heat total of the day (15.64) with a full-rail assault on the rights racing across the lineup. Meanwhile, greenhorns Brett Simpson and Tonino Benson ousted big-timers Mick Fanning and Yadin Nichol in the first heat of the morning, while Roy Powers showed up later in the day firing on all cylinders and ready to defend his Reef Hawaiian Pro title.

Unlike the girls, the odds are spread pretty even in the Men’s match-ups, so as we enter the final day of competition, it’s anyone’s game.

To see all the live action, go to: http://triplecrownofsurfing.com/?cat=17. And for all your daily wrap-ups, keep it here at surfingthemag.com.

Reader Comments 

Posted Fri Nov21, 2008, 6:23 PM — By David

I think what Coco did was lame. She should be fined or her prize money taken back. Just another punk kid not showing respect for her elder. Michael Ho, you should be embarrassed by your daughter. I would be if she was mine. Layne on the other hand handled it with dignity and reverence. She's the example to young girl surfers everywhere.

Posted Fri Nov21, 2008, 11:48 PM — By sarah

i cant believe coco did that! thats just wrong period i always thought coco was so nice and everything... but now i may be wrong. i can see how she wanted carissa to win, but u dont do that. ya know?

Posted Sat Nov22, 2008, 12:55 AM — By miksurf

Actually, it is typical of Hawaiians. They gang up on people, over and over. Da Hui, the Wolf-packs, its everywhere. I would go so far as to say that Derek and Sunny won their world titles more out of political bias in the judges booths—to placate the Hawaiian contingencies in order to have contests on the North Shore—than out of actually ability. Kinda like paying the Mafia off in order to open a little shop on their block. Its a negative scene that "Busting Down the Door" sheds some much needed light on. Layne handled it well, but partly because she knows how miserable life can be there if you speak out too loudly. Da Hui may run things, but believe me it isn't out of respect for them. It is out of fear. They might think about that when they wonder why no one buys their clothing line. Someday, what happened with the Bird Rock Bandits will come down on the North shore, and when the reality of a life in jail settles in, maybe things will change. BTW: Carrissa doesn't need your help Co Co

Posted Sat Nov22, 2008, 4:32 AM — By james

Lame move by Coco, but when is the last time we really cared about women's pro surfing??? Bad press is good press. It puts Coco right into the spotlight doing a sold air. It might be the best thing that has happened to women's pro surfing in some time...

Posted Sat Nov22, 2008, 8:26 AM — By JM

Well it is true Derek Ho won his world title in 93 thanks to the hawaiian gang at Pipeline blocking Gary Elkerton out of waves. A real shame. However as surfer magazine or surfline once wrote, Derek became the most ignored world champion of all times. Call it karma. No doubt Coco Ho won't be doing herself any favor by abiding to these kinds of dirty gang tactics she inherited from the Ho brothers... She's still young so she may grow out of it especially after suffering from all the criticism. But more importantly, the ASP should set some new rules against collusion of that kind during a heat. I've seen Michael Ho communicating via hand signs from the Lopez house while Derek was in a heat at Pipeline. A coach can't give advice to a tennis player during a match, shouldn't it be the case in surfing too? This though wasn't advices, it was telling Derek where the sets were going from a better vintage point than the competitors had. That's cheating! We need the ASP to sanction dirty gang

Posted Sat Nov22, 2008, 1:36 PM — By seabass

Hawaii sucks....wah, wah, wah...respect us!!!!! But we can shit all over everyone else. Da wolfpack, Da hui, Da idiots....all a bunch of retards. Any by the way Derek Ho is a kook.

Posted Sat Nov22, 2008, 10:25 PM — By Butch

Who cares about womans surfing anyhow it is so lame. I am a chick, but not stupid enough to think that girls surfing is fun to watch. It is boring, soft, and like watching 10 and 12 year old boys. Sorry ladies you blow, but I love you anyway, Butch

Posted Sun Nov23, 2008, 2:49 AM — By BM

I am so glad to see I am not the only one who thinks these Hawaiian scum bags can kee getting away with the crap. One day karma is going to get guys like Kala, Maukua and Eddie and I hope they start to realize the world does not revolve around them. No worder people like Coco Ho do stuff like this, look how they are raised. Look at all the punk kids on the NS today and how they act. I really hope ths is taking its toll on her and she is thinking hard about what a stupid move it was. Watch the video and you will see she even looked back and kept going like they all do. And I agree, Derek Ho as world champion and his retarded head snaps is the biggest joke there is. Do you ever see that clown at any events for past champs? Never!

Posted Tue Nov25, 2008, 5:33 AM — By Girl

I think its pathetic of you giys to pass judgemet on coco for this, she was obviously in a stress full situation and needed a score to bost her wqs campain, it was an unfornate event, but things like this happen all over the world, ive competed for years, an have seen events worse than this one occur. People act diffrently in stressed situations. Also who ever says girls cant surf, im sorry but thats a lie,have u seen carissa surf?? Do u surf? And unless you do and unless you surf better as good as the top guys, u have absolutly no right in saying that we cant surf!

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