Coco Ho Shares the Love with XO COCO
Coco Ho: Surfing Royalty and Her Impact on the Sport
Coco Ho is part of one surfing’s greatest dynasties. The daughter of North Shore legend Mike Ho, niece of world champion Derek Ho, and sister of one of the sports funniest and most charismatic characters (Mason, of course!), it would have been easy for Coco to get lost in the shadow of her star-studded family. Instead, she has become one of the world’s most popular surfers—with both female and male fans—due to her world tour success, stylish approach to waves, down-to-earth attitude, and equally stunning smile and personality.
Early Life and Rise to Fame
Growing up on the North Shore, Coco started surfing at age 7 and was sponsored by the time she was 9. She was Triple Crown Rookie of the Year in 2007, when she was only 15, and qualified for the world tour at 17. Not only was she the youngest woman to ever qualify, but she also won Rookie of the Year in 2009. In 2011, she was ASP Pro Junior World Champion, and also ended the season as the WQS tour champion.
Photo Courtesy: athenasports.com
She spent more than a decade on the world tour, and ranked in the top five of the Surfer Magazine poll numerous times. She also acted in the Hollywood films Blue Crush and Six Days in Paradise, and has featured in a number of full-length surf films. And, as most people know, she has spent the better part of her life as the face of the Volcom surf brand.
Transition from Competition to Passion Projects
Now in her early 30s, Coco has taken a step back from full-time competition—but that’s not to say that she is any less involved in surfing or the ocean. On any given day, you can find her out at Velzyland with her dad Mike, dominating the lineup—that is, of course, unless she’s off on a photo/surf trip somewhere! Few people have lived as charmed a surfing life as Coco, so it is no surprise that she’s so popular with surf fans from all walks of life.
XO COCO: Surfboards Designed
As Coco’s surfing has matured, her focus has become more and more on fun—and her board choice is a direct reflection of that. Recently, Coco teamed up with shaper Matt Parker to release a line of boards that are built for fun. They are an invitation for everyone to get in the water and “celebrate our love of surfing together." The brand employs individuals at every step of the board-building process, from design and distribution to actual performances in the water. In addition, the brand helps more people discover the ocean by developing resources and hosting events to help them learn to surf.
The XO COCO Board Collection
XO COCO has a number of awesome boards in their quiver, and one of our favorites is the Tryst. An updated version of the retro twin-fin fish, this board features a flat entry rocker and wide outline, providing lots of paddle power and down-the-line trim speed. It has that classic swallow tail and is ridden short, giving it a skatey, pivoty feel that’s perfect for small days during summer.
The Bliss is a slightly narrower, more high-performance twin-fin, similar to the boards that Mark Richards won all of his world titles on. Featuring a bit more rocker and a small wing swallow tail, this board turns more aggressively than the Tryst, but is still speedy down the line and relatively easy to paddle, despite being ridden super short.
For something a bit longer, the Halcyon is a round-pin mid-length and a twin-fin rolled into one—the sort of board that is quickly taking over the lineup at Sunset (one of the Ho family’s favorite waves). The wide template provides lots of volume for paddle power and trim speed, and the twin fin setup means ultimate drive down the line. However, that’s balanced with a pulled-in wing round tail, which gives the board responsiveness and control.
Coco obviously enjoys twin fins—that’s clear from the fact that half of her quiver is twin—and so it’s no surprise that she also has dialed in her own signature twin fin models. The XO COCO Modern Keel Twins from Futures is perfect for the Tryst, as well as for giving the Bliss a slightly more retro feel. Meanwhile, the XO COCO Twins from Futures have a more aggressive, high-performance outline, making them perfect for the Bliss and Halcyon.
Beyond Twin Fins: The Aurora and Silhouette
Of course, Coco isn’t only about cruising on twin fins. After all, she was one of the top performers on the world tour for years. The Aurora is XO COCO’s all-around shortboard—a modern shred-stick with a bit of forgiveness and fun mixed in. The performance rocker lends itself to top-to-bottom surfing, while the narrow outline makes fast, critical turns in the pocket easy and fun.
The Silhouette is the wet dream of any retro-loving throwback—a 1970s-style mini-gun with wide point forward and a pulled-in round pin, similar to what guys were riding at Pipe and Sunset during the later years of the Shortboard Revolution. This is the ultimate step-up for anyone who appreciates style and clean lines, and will make the overhead days at your local spot feel fun instead of frightening.
The Serendipity: A Classic Longboard Experience
Finally, the Serendipity is a classic longboard inspired by Coco’s childhood trips across the island to Waikiki. The wide nose supports long noserides, while the pulled-in tail comes in either a pin or square option, providing versatility and the ability to turn. This longboard rounds out the ultimate quiver for ultimate fun—which is exactly what Coco Ho and XO COCO are all about.
Getting to know the Coco Ho Surfboard Shaper
Like many of today’s leading shapers, Matt Parker started mowing foam in a garage in Southern California. Starting more than two decades ago, in 2001, Parker cultivated a love for clean lines, understated colors, and a polished, solid aesthetic, blending his experience in graphic design and fine art with his budding love of surfboard design. Over the years, he approached each board as if it were a work of art, putting meticulous attention not only into the shapes that he was creating, but also the entire glassing process, from resin and tints to sanding.
Parker’s boards quickly gained a reputation for its blend of quality and artistic flourish, and his brand Album soon had a large following, both in Southern California and around the world. From retro fish to round-tail stepups, from big wave guns to asymmetrical twin/quad blends, Album boards were as reliable as they were beautiful, their shaper was virtually destined for success. From his base in San Clemente, he has created a global movement of surfers (and snowboarders, with his Korua collaborations) who are dedicated to clean lines.
Recently, the North Shore’s Coco Ho teamed up with Parker to create a new line of boards for women. Featuring the same commitment to quality and aesthetic, but with a feminine twist that is soft, friendly, and focused on fun, the XO COCO boards from Ho and Parker are the latest manifestation for a two-decade love affair with good waves and beautiful boards. Judging from the success of the Album label over the years, it once again seems inevitable that Parker’s new collaboration is destined for success.
Recommended Fins:
Shop XO Coco Surfboards Here
Read More 👈
How to Choose Futures Fins - The Choice of Pros and Amateurs Alike