Move over Sally Fitzgibbons and Carissa Moore: there's a new phenom after your crown - 14 year old Malia Manuel. Yep, she probably hasn't even started her periods yet but this Hawaii born loc rips; enough for her to be the youngest ever US Open of Surfing winner this Saturday, July 26.
She didn't make the finals of the Juniors - fellow Islander Coco Ho, her closest competitor won that - but on finals day, when the Huntington Beach waves were so-so, Malia turned on the magic - which saw her beat current ASP number, Women’s World Champion and 2006 U.S. Open Champion Sofia Mulanovich in the Quarter Finals, followed by a thrashing of Aussie Starlet Fitzgibbons before reaching the final.
“I’m so stoked right now,” Manuel said. “My sponsors gave me the wildcard into this event and I was just happy to be here. To get to surf against some of my heroes and to be in the Final with my friend Coco (Ho) is just something I would have never dreamed of.”
Coco may have just missed out on a double win at the US Open but she still impressed; she defeated Word Tour veteran Melanie Bartels (Makaha, HI) then reigning ASP Women’s World Champion and defending U.S. Open Champion Stephanie Gilmore (Tweed Heads, AUS) - held back from first only by Malia.
“The conditions really came down to the one who got the wave with the wall,” Ho said. “I couldn’t find my feet and I had to watch her catch a really good right. It was just cool being in the Final, because it was my goal to just make the Quarters, so I’m over the moon.”
It was a teen topped podium at the weekend, as Fitzgibbons, who broke records herself by being the youngest male or female ever to qualify for the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour, finished in equal third-place behind Manuel.
“Malia was surfing really well and got off to a great start and just kept going from there,” Fitzgibbons said. “It was hard to play catch-up with the waves that were coming through and she’s the deserving heat winner.”
Equal third place finisher, Stephanie Gilmore was knocked out after the Semi Finals when she couldn't make the score to beat North Shore native Ho. But, never bitter, Gilmore was super impressed.
“I’ve been watching Coco (Ho) the whole event and she’s probably my favorite up-and-coming surfer,” Gilmore said. “It was cool to have a heat with her and see what her strategies are. These are some really valuable points on my WQS seeding. I’m bummed I didn’t get the win, but that’s competition.”
It wasn't just in the Open that Ho was on fire; the ASP Grade-2 S3 Supergirl Pro Junior also took place on Saturday with the 16 year old taking first over fellow finalists Nikita Robb (East London, South Africa), Sage Erickson (Ventura, CA) and Courtney Conlogue (Santa Ana, CA) - in a close cut final with Ho taking victory with just seven tenths of a point.
“To be here standing on the beach with the crowd with the Pro Junior Title and the runner-up finish in the WQS, I’m really happy.” Ho said. “It’s been a long week of surfing and I’m going to Indo tomorrow with all of the girls that surfed in women’s Quarterfinals and just going to relax after the week.”
For a full report and details of the tour keep logged on to ASPWorldtour.com.
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