Hurley U.S. Open Of Surfing: Day 2

Justin Cote

• July 19 2009
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Hurley US Open Day Two: Coco Ho Plots Her Revenge At The Nike 6.0 Pro Junior

Coco Ho. Photo: Michael Lallande/hurley.com

Big scores, clean conditions highlight Day Two at the Hurley US Open of Surfing

The heats marched on at Huntington today, with Coco Ho taking top honors in a blazing semifinal at the Nike 6.0 Pro Junior. Surfing against her friend and fellow finalist from last year’s US Open Malia Manuel, Ho opened up on a lined-up left with three big backhand blasts. The judges approved, awarding her a 9.67 — the highest wave score in the event so far. “Malia had a wave right before me and I heard them say she got a nine,” said Ho, whose legendary dad Michael cheered her on from the beach. “I thought, ‘I gotta do better than that.’”

2008 US Open champ Manuel, who also advanced through the heat, will now have a shot at another title at Huntington Beach. “Coco and I have a good thing going out here,” she said. “She makes me try harder, that’s for sure.”

On the flip side, current WQS leader Carissa Moore suffered an upset in a wave-starved second semifinal. That sets up for another showdown between Ho and Manuel — along with finalists Cannelle Bulard and Sage Erickson — next Saturday.

In the Mens division, three rounds of trials went down in the morning, with four surviving competitors making it to the Round of 144 tomorrow. The fantastic four include: Jason Harris, New Zealand’s Richard Christie, Matt Pagan and Ventura’s Kellen Ellison.

The second day of the Hurley US Open of Surfing couldn’t have been more favorable. Hot, slack-wind conditions and fun, shoulder-high peaks welcomed the competitors today, and the beach was already sunbathing room only. With music acts, a Walk the Walk fashion competition, BMX and skate events on the schedule for later this week, the most ambitious event in Huntington to date is just getting warmed up. Check back tomorrow for full-bore surfing from the Mens Round of 144.

RESULTS:
Mens Trials Round of 148 (top two advance to Main Event Rd. of 144)

HEAT ONE
1. Matt Pagan
2. Kellen Ellison
3. Manuel Selman
4. Tyler Newton

HEAT TWO
1. Jason Harris
2. Richard Christie
3. Michael Hoisington
4. Austin Smith Ford

Nike 6.0 Pro Junior Womens Semifinals

HEAT ONE
1. Coco Ho
2. Malia Manuel
3. Courtney Conlogue
4. Biana Buitendag

HEAT TWO
1. Cannelle Bulard
2. Sage Erickson
3. Carissa Moore
4. Alana Blanchard

Monday’s Lineup:
7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Men’s Surfing Round of 144

Stay tuned for more extensive coverage of the US Open of Surfing on www.hurley.com and www.usopenofsurfing.com

For up-to-the-minute updates, follow us on Twitter@HurleyLive.