Teenager Carissa Moore Wins 2008 Reef Hawaiian Pro
November 21, 2008 – 12:53 am PT by GregTags: Carissa Moore, Layne Beachley, Reef Hawaiian Pro —
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The 2008 Women’s ASP World Qualifying series ended Thursday with 16-year-old Carissa Moore taking the title over 7x world champ Layne Beachley and two fellow teens, Laura Enever and Coco Ho, both 17.
Moore, who won 11 National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) National Championships, becomes the youngest winner of a Vans Triple Crown of Surfing Event. On her way to the title, Moore defeated current world champion Stephanie Gilmore and World Tour hopeful Alana Blanchard.
The win did come with some drama as Ho, Moore’s close friend, helped block Beachley’s chances at a win toward the end of the final when it became clear that Ho could not win. Beachley needed to score a little more than six points for the win and with less than a minute left, it looked like there was a wave that could get her that score. But Ho also dropped in and ensured Beachley couldn’t get her score.
“It was pretty good Hawaiian teamwork,” said Beachley. “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 Coco go for an air. And, well, that just ruins any chance of doing anything. That’s what happens here in Hawai’i.
“I was really thankful that Coco ended up getting that one,” Moore said after the win. “I’m definitely thankful that she is one of my best friends.”
Moore is not competing for a spot on the 2009 World Tour but Ho and Blanchard still have a chance to make the tour depending on how the final two women’s events go down.
One Response to “Teenager Carissa Moore Wins 2008 Reef Hawaiian Pro”
Moore seemed pretty smug about Coco’s tactics. If I were Moore, I probably would have said something different, maybe along the lines of ” I’d rather have a clean second place than a dirty first place, but that’s how it goes.” I certainly wouldn’t call Coco a friend after that tactic.
By H on Nov 22, 2008