As Hawaiian rookie Coco Ho claimed her first win on the ASP tour at Belga, Portugal, beaten finalist Chelsea Hodges hailed the new generation of surfers coming through, saying how their high standards have made her raise her game.
“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),” said the Australian, who took a year out of competition to become a mum. “They are surfing so good and it really pushes my surfing and makes me look at what I am doing.
Whatever effect the Ho and Fitzibbons had on the former world champion, it paid dividends as she reached her first final since 2007, beating current world No1 Stephanie Gilmore in the quarter finals. “It was close but no cigar,” she said.
“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.”
The one to beat in Portugal, though, was Ho, who outlined her ambition for the season. “It feels so good to be on top,” said Ho, who beat Sofia Mulanovich and Silvana Lima en route to the final. “I’m trying not to think about too much. I love my trophy. When I started the year, I set a goal to make quarter finals or better at every event in order finish top five by the end of the year."
The next stop on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour will be Mulanovich’s home event, the Movistar Peru Classic from November 3-8 at Lobitos in Northern Peru.
ASP Women's Tour Top Five
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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