A Letter From Coco Ho

Well, I injured my knee trying to be a Ladybird after Stab High, so I’ve got a lot of time on my hands at the moment. 

Apart from the consistent physiotherapy and knee rehab, it’s been kinda nice. I’ve been on tour for the past 11 years. And for the last five years, I’ve also been doing QS events; which results in a lot of time in planes, on the road, and away from home. 

J-Bay was the first event I’ve missed in 11 years, which is crazy. That’s been new for me—taking time off and stepping back from traveling and competing. Being injured, I’ve been thinking a lot about what’s next. Like about what I want to do with this year… what outcomes can happen, if I’ll be able to requalify for the tour, etc. It’s actually refreshing because no matter what, I’ll either be doing what I’ve been doing, which is competing and doing the tour, which I love. Or, I’ll have some time off to take trips with Mason and push my surfing in places that aren’t on the tour schedule. 

“Missing J-Bay was the first event I’ve missed in 11 years, which is crazy. That’s been new for me. Taking time off, and stepping back from traveling and competing. Being injured I’ve been thinking a lot about what’s next.”

Photography

Zak Bush

Mason’s always showing me clips of Deserts that look super doable for me. He’s always like, “look at this one!” That’s the first place I want to go to when I heal up. I also wanna go back to Waco. It’s so easy to learn new things there. I’m not jaded by the injury at all, I think if anything it made me want to go back and figure out how to consistently do airs. The wave pool thing is funny, I think it’s bittersweet for all of us. Like, Waco is fun, and Kelly’s is fun, but then you see someone that just rips a wave in the pool and you don’t want to give them all the credit because they didn’t do it in the ocean. It’s such a funny two-way street. 

Anyway, I’ve been thinking about life off tour a lot recently. I wouldn’t mind taking next year off. I would totally continue to compete. I feel like I’m still growing, and learning, and figuring out my body, and the advantages of certain boards and fins. I wish I was this into that a few years ago! 

But If I do fall off this year, next year, I’d enjoy just five QS events and think about it as a vacation year and go on all the trips I’ve wanted to go on but haven’t been able to. Like, I’ve owned a home in Hawaii for a long time and have barely even stepped foot in it. Maybe I’ll tear that thing down and build my dream home, and just do everything I’ve been procrastinating on for the past 11 years. 

“I can be pretty sassy, being a girl growing up surfing on the North Shore. Anytime I’m in the water and someone burns me or is giving me a tough time, I roust them; I was especially bad growing up.”

Photography

Zak Bush

But as I currently have a lot of downtime, now’s better than ever to be Stab’s Guest Editor. So, over the next week or so you’ll be hearing a lot of stories about me, and my brother, and family, and my take on life and all that fun stuff. 

Before I say goodbye, I’ll leave you with this little story of me and Mason growing up.

I can be pretty sassy, being a girl growing up surfing on the North Shore. Anytime I’m in the water and someone burns me or is giving me a tough time, I roust them; I was especially bad growing up. I’m clever about it, I always do it in front of a crowd to make them even more embarrassed… then it always comes back and my brother has to get involved. Haha. So, yeah, I think I can be kind of antagonizing. 

“I remember this one time surfing this spot on the Big Island when this big crackhead uncle started snapping on my brother.”

Photography

Zak Bush

I used to worry about Mason more than me while surfing because I knew the guys couldn’t hit a girl. I was pretty loud, and always trying to be his protector. I remember this one time surfing this spot on the Big Island when this big crackhead uncle started snapping on my brother. I just remember this lump of fire coming through my body and I paddled up to him. I switched my board to where my fins were first, and I was like, “Don’t F-ing touch my brother or I’ll connect my three fins to your head!” I actually think I said, “F-ing.” Which is funny looking back. And Mason was like, “Coco, shut up.” Because he knew he would take the brunt of it. And, like, seriously what was I going to actually do?  

Anyway, I’m looking forward to this next week. 

We will keep it fun, promise! 

Xo, 

Coco