Bio
“No nerves, just amp.” The words spoken by Kelly Slater in the surf movie Black and White are the words to live by for 18-yearold Coco Ho. The heiress to a surfing legacy, Coco is among the new generation of young surfers taking the women’s professional surfing circuit by storm.

To say she was destined to surfing greatness is an understatement, and she is well on her way.

She is the daughter of Michael Ho and the niece of Derek Ho, both surfing legends, and the younger sister of up-and-comer Mason Ho. “I was always around the contest scene (like the Triple Crown) when I was young hearing my Dad and Uncle Derek’s name on the loud speaker. I didn’t know how big they really were until I started getting into the sport.”

She began surfing at the tender age of 7 when she noticed her Dad spending time with her older brother in the water. “After trying I was obsessed and had my dad working hard keeping up!” Coco soon started competing in NSSA regional and national events, as well as local surfing competitions, and has since accumulated an impressive list of accolades. The past three years have been particularly prodigious.
In 2007, she won the VQS Championship, placed second in the

Open Women’s division of the NSSA Nationals, and won the Trials for the ASP Women’s World Tour stop at her home break at Sunset Beach. She went on to make it into the quarterfinals of the event, surfing against the world’s best, and was named the Triple Crown’s “Rookie of the Year,“ topping her list of shining moments.

The following year, in 2008, Coco built upon her 2007 successes even further. She made the finals of the Open Women’s division at the NSSA Nationals, finished runner up at the Billabong Junior in Sunset Beach, runner up at the ASP WQS 6-Star US Open in Huntington Beach while simultaneously winning the event’s Supergirl Junior Pro which ran concurrently. In the ASP WQS 4-Star Rio International Brasil, she claimed third, at the ASP WQS 5-Star Margaret River Pro, she took fifth, and scored a fourth place finish at the ASP WQS 6-Star Reef Hawaiian Pro.

2008 also provided another milestone when she was recognized as the fifth most popular women’s surfer at the prestigious Surfer Poll
Awards alongside some of the her friends and idols including Soifa Mulanovich, Stephanie Gilmore, Carissa Moore and Layne Beachley.

2009 was a banner year for Coco! She won her first WCT event in Portugal, ranked # 4 in the world and took the prestigious Rookie of the Year award. Clearly there’s more to come!

Career Accomplishments – Awards
* 2009 ASP Dream Tour Rookie of the Year
* 2009 ASP WQS World Champion
* 2009 Ranked #4 on ASP World Tour
* 2009 Surfer Poll- Voted #3 most influential surfer of the year
* 2008 Surfer Poll – Voted #5 most influential surfer of the year
* 2007 Triple Crown Rookie of the Year
Career Accomplishments – Contests
• 2009 Rip Curl Women’s Pro Search Peniche, Portugal- 1st place
• 2009 MoviStar Peru Classic- 3rd Place
• 2009 Roxy Pro Gold Coast (Australia) WCT – 3rd place
• 2009 Margaret River Pro (Western Australia) WQS 5-star – 2nd place
• 2009 Estoril Billabong Girls Pro (Portugal) WQS 6-star – 2nd place
• 2008 Reef Hawaiian Pro WQS 6-star – 4th place
• 2008 US Open Junior Pro Champion
• 2008 US Open of Surfing WQS 6-star – 2nd place (took place in youngest competitor final heat in history)
• 2008 Sunset Junior Pro – 2nd place
• 2008 Rio International Brasil WQS 4-star – 3rd place
• 2008 Margaret River Pro WQS 5-star – 5th place
• 2007 VQS Championship – 1st place
• 2007 Open Women NSSA Nationals – 2nd place
• 2007 Sunset Beach WCT – Trials winner (quarter final finish)
• 2006 Hawaii Billabong Junior Champion
• 2006 Open Regional Hawaiian Champion
• 2005 Open Women’s Regional Hawaii Champion
• 2005 Billabong Junior Pro – 2nd place

Named in top 5 of Surfer Magazines “Best surfers in the world” – 2009, 2008, 2007

Lastest News
Listen to Coco on Fox Sports Radio – FoxSportsRadioCocoHo

Rated #3 on the ASP Women’s World Ranking (which does not include the ASP World Title rankings) Courtney competed in every one of the WQS Six-star events. She entered the global competition circuit that included contests in France, Australia, Brazil, Portugal, Hawaii, California and the Cabreiroa Surfing Girls contest in Pantin, Spain which she won.

Although technically she had enough ranking points to qualify earlier, the Haleiwa event finished Wednesday for the Women’s Division, so Courtney has now officially qualified for the 2011 WCT in her first year of competing full time on the WQS.

“Qualifying for the WCT has been a goal of mine since I started surfing.  I don’t think the reality of qualifying has hit me yet.  I’ve been training a lot and I’ve had great support from my family, friends, and all of my sponsors.  I’m really looking forward to surfing and seeing the world on tour and I know it’s going to take a lot of work to achieve my next goal.”

The 18-yr-old streaked blonde wonder-kid holds the 2009 US OPEN Women’s Title, garnered the 2009 Gold medal at ISA World Championships in Costa Rica, and was voted the Orange County Surfer of the year in 2009  and 2010, before embarking on a year-long professional competition circuit in 2010.

She also managed to get selected as one of 5 top women athletes for Outside Magazine’s cover story “The New Goddesses of Adventure.” It was a grueling schedule for a young lady who was finishing High School with honors, but she managed to do very well against the top professionals.

“Courtney has worked really hard to get to this point, and to see that she has qualified for the WCT in her first year trying is a testament to that.  We are all very proud of her accomplishments throughout her career and we wish her the best of luck on tour next year” says Billabong Women’s team manager, Megan Villa.

With a strong support from her sponsors including Billabong, and her family, this former Summer X Games Gold Medalist and NSSA National’s Open Women’s Champion has a very bright future in the ranks of professional surf competition.

www.billabong-usa.com

Career Highlights

2010 X Games Superpipe Gold Medalist
2008 Winter Dew Tour Superpipe Champion (Breckenridge, Co)
2008 X Games Halfpipe Gold Medalist
2006 FIS World Cup 1st Place, Saas Fe, Switzerland
2006 Olympic silver medalist
2006 Overall Grand Prix Champion; won four of the five Grand Prix events determining Olympic team
2005 X Games and Gravity Games Gold Medalist
2005 US Open Halfpipe Champion
FIS World Cup 1st Place, Bardonecchia, Italy
Eight straight wins in 2003
2003 X Games Halfpipe Gold Medalist
2003 US Open Champion
Won 2003 Overall Grand Prix Title
One of only four females invited to coveted 2003 Arctic Challenge
2002 and 2003 Vans Triple Crown Overall Title Winner
Won 2003 World SuperPipe Championships

Be a Supergirl – by Holly Beck

When I was 13, all I wanted to do was learn to surf. Problem was, I didn’t have any friends who surfed, I didn’t have a surfboard, and the worst of it was that my mom said “no”. A year later, after I had saved up enough babysitting money to buy a surfboard and wetsuit at a garage sale, convinced a friend to borrow a board from her neighbor, and found a ride to the beach my mom still said “no”.

“Surfing is for boys,” she insisted, “you should be sitting on the beach looking cute in a bikini, not out competing with them. You’ll never get a boyfriend that way!”

I didn’t agree with her, but something of what she had said made its way into my head and made me feel a little ashamed to learn to surf. I loved the feel the ocean and I craved to skillfully ride the waves, but at the same time I felt I was doing something wrong. Still, I kept at it. I set a goal to learn to surf, but it wasn’t easy. I began to focus all my thoughts on the goal. I covered my walls with surf photos pulled from magazines. I read every article about surfing I could find, and when given the option at school, focused projects on surfing. Eventually after a lot of practice, I started to figure it out. I joined the surf team, got a sponsor, a job at a surf shop, and even won a contest.

My mom appreciated the free bikinis and t-shirts sent by my sponsor. She loved showing her friends the photos of me modeling surf-wear in magazines. She was even somewhat proud of my contest successes. Still, if I asked to be allowed to take the car to beach, she would reply, “you don’t need you go surfing today, you just went yesterday!”

A few years later I graduated high school with a 3.8 GPA and a decent SAT score. Some of my friends from surfing were graduating to a life of travel, following the surf scene and attempting to make it as a pro. I considered that option. However, my parents said that if I went to college and graduated that they would then approve of me trying to make a living out of surfing.

I enrolled at UCSD in San Diego. I could see the ocean from my dorm room and would walk down to Blacks Beach, one of the best surf spots in California. It was tempting to be distracted by the waves. Suddenly, I didn’t have my mom insisting that I do my homework rather than head to the beach. The first year my grades suffered due to surfing. Then, I was invited on a trip to Mexico for a photo shoot for a women’s surfing magazine with a handful of pros. It was a delicious taste of what the pro surfing lifestyle could be. At the end of the trip, the other girls were heading off to Australia for a contest while I was going back to sit in lecture halls. At that point, I set a new goal. I would finish college as soon as possible, so that I could be a pro surfer and travel the world.

I started taking extra classes. I enrolled in summer school for the first time in my life. My surfing time dwindled, but it was a necessary sacrifice. I was able to graduate with a degree in psychology in just three years. Suddenly, I had all the time in the world to surf and travel. Having a college degree made me more valuable to sponsors, which then paid for my trips and contests. It was a dream that came true. I had started surfing later than most with no parental support, and then took the time to go through college, and still was able to become a pro surfer.

Being a Supergirl isn’t about taking the easy way out. A Supergirl sets goals and does everything possible to achieve them. It may take time, and it will definitely take sacrifice, but if you believe in yourself, believe that you too are a Supergirl, then anything is possible!

Latest News

Check Out Jolene’s Nitro Circus Interview

Bio

Jolene was raised around the sport of Motocross, always at the tracks and playing in the dirt. As a
young girl Jolene would cheer on her dad and brother at the tracks each weekend. At the age of 11
she asked her Dad if she too could learn to ride. He taught her how to ride on an old KX80, and then
bought an RM80 for her to ride and use for racing.

She has been racing competitively now since she was 15. She has traveled all over North America
attending different competitions in the CMRC, AMA & WMA. Jolene has gained much experience and
championship titles and is committed to the sport for the long haul. In 2006 Jolene had a large part
in helping to create a National Series for Women in Canada. She was also the first to claim the title of
the series that year as the first Canadian Women’s National Series Champion.

In August 2005 during some downtime between races Jolene and a crew went to friend Travis
Pastrana’s house for a visit. Like everyone that goes to Pastrana Land, Jolene wanted to try flipping an
110cc into the form pit. She quickly succeeded flipping into the form pit that Pastrana encouraged
her to try the flip on dirt. She successfully landed the 110cc on dirt that she wanted to move onto a
bigger, heavier bike. She was determined to flip her RM125. It took two days of persistent trials, but
Jolene became the first female to backflip a full-sized dirt bike ramp to dirt.

After her backflip in 2005 it was like snow ball effect into the Nitro Circus Crew, a group of friends
lead by Travis Pastrana that race, ride and do stunts all across the board to create extreme sports
videos. In May 2007 she jumped tandem into the Grand Canyon on a street bike with Travis driving.
Jolene then went on to backflip herself into the Canyon on a dirt bike with Jim and Travis by her side
in a three-way jump. From that moment on she was also known as Nitro Girl and the first official
female member of this all male group. The Nitro Circus Crew was picked up by MTV in fall of 2008
to take what they do in their videos into a 12 episode series.

Riding dirt bikes has become Jolene’s life, her passion and the door to experiences beyond her
dreams. It’s taking her through tough times and to heights of pure happiness. It has also been the
platform of life long friendships and lessons for her. As Jolene continues to race, jump ramps and
be a part of The Nitro Circus she never knows what may be next or where the road may take her. She
takes much joy in that excitement, taking things day by day and enjoying every moment.

Career Achievements

Guinness World Record – First female to backflip a dirt bike – 2008
Guinness World Record – Longest female backflip – 2008
3rd Place Overall – CMRC Women’s Canadian National Championships – 2008
11th Place – WMA Pro National Southwick, MA. Round 5 – 2008
1st Place Overall – Walton TransCan Grand Canadian National Ladies Champion – 2008
2nd Place Overall – CMRC Women’s Canadian National Championships – 2007
First female to backflip a dirt bike into Grand Canyon – 2007
13th Place – WMA Pro National Steel City, PA. Round 6 – 2007
15th Place – WMA Pro National Budds Creek, MD. Round 3 – 2007
1st Place Overall – CMRC Women’s Canadian National Champion – 2006
Guinness World Record – Female backflip distance record, 60ft ramp to dirt – 2006
16th Place – WMA Pro National Glen Helen, CA. Round 1 – 2006
2nd Place Overall – Walton TransCan Grand Canadian National Ladies Champion – 2005
3rd Place – CMRC Ladies Ontario Provincial – 2005
11th Place – WMA Pro National Steel City, PA. Round 5 – 2005
8th Place – WMA Pro National Washogual, WA. Round 4 – 2005
15th Place – WMA Pro National Thunder Valley, CO. Round 3 – 2005
16th Place Overall – WMA Pro National Series – 2005
1st Place Overall – CMRC Ladies Ontario Provincial Champion – 2004
2nd Place Overall – Walton TransCan Grand Canadian National Ladies Champion – 2004
1st Place Overall – CMX Ladies Canadian National Champion – 2004
7th Place – WMA Pro National Steel City, PA. Round 6 – 2004
7th Place – WMA Pro National Cohcoton, N.Y. Round 5 – 2004
7th Place – WMA Pro National Monster Mtn. AL. Round 4 – 2004
9th Place Overall – WMA Pro National Series (Earning lifetime National #) – 2004
1st Place Overall – CMRC Ladies Ontario Provincial Champion – 2003
2nd Place Overall – Walton TransCan Grand Canadian National Ladies Champion – 2003
2nd Place Overall – CMX Canadian National Ladies Championship – 2003
16th Place – WML Pro National Binghamton, N.Y. Round 5 – 2003

Jolene Van Vugt Gallery - Motorcross

Jolene Van Vugt Gallery

Jolene Van Vugt Gallery

Jolene Van Vugt Gallery

Bio: Kassia Meador embodies grace, balance, style and beauty. She learned to surf in Malibu, California, a long boarder haven at the tender age of 14, where she discovered her talent for cross stepping and nose riding perfectly tapered waves. After winning the first contest she ever entered, the Roxy Wahine Classic at San Onofre, CA, Kassia continued to climb in the professional world of women’s long boarding competition.

QA With Skateboarder Lauren Perkins

How would you describe the day? The day couldn’t have been any better! I won at my home town, with most of my friends and family there. I was so happy.

Who did you hang with? Did you meet anyone you were dying to meet? No, for the most part I just kept to myself and hung out with my friends and family who were there to watch.

What is it like to have a day of sports all about girls in such a male dominated world? I think it’s really awesome!!!! And for women’s sports to get out there and become bigger we need events like Supergirl.

What did you do, what did you wear, what did you eat? I wore Etnies shoes and socks, True Religion jeans, an Etnies red tanktop, Oakley shades, and Skullcandy headphones.

How many hours did you practice/”perform”? 2 hours before the pre-lims and 2 hours before finals.

What inspires you about the S3 Supergirl Jam? That every girl went out there and gave it her best!

Best trick of the day? Front side blunt slide by Evelien Bouilliart.

Any wipe outs to share? Yeah, on Friday morning I was there doing some news stuff and I fell wrong on my foot and rolled it pretty bad.

What is your sports motto? I’m not really sure but for me its “never give up”

Did you try anything new? Yeah I did a lip slide which I had never landed in a contest.

How do you keep your energy up all day? I just knew I wanted to win; I just stayed focused on that and just stayed happy.

Were you exhausted after?  What did you do when you went home/back to hotel/etc.? Yeah, I was exhausted after but still went out with my friends to celebrate the win.

Saving Jane is a band from Columbus, Ohio who are most famous for their hit songs “Girl Next Door “, “Come Down To Me “, “SuperGirl “. The band consists of Marti Dodson, Pat Buzzard, Dak Goodman, Brandon Hagan, and Eric Flores.

What started out as simply a campfire song between strangers soon turned into a musical connection in the form of the Columbus, OH-based alternative pop/rock group Saving Jane. It was at this bonfire that vocalist Marti Dodson (then a junior at Ohio State University) and rhythm guitarist Pat Buzzard first met and subsequently became friends. The pair began writing songs together and when the time came to record their work, local drummer Dak Goodman was recruited to help. The trio found something in each other, and the decision was made to form an actual band. Booking their first show, they took the name Saving Jane from a cartoon Dodson had been doodling one late night at the studio. As the band slowly began making a name for itself around Columbus, an additional lead guitarist, Kris Misevski, and a borrowed bass player from Goodman’s cover band rounded out the group. About a year later, tensions within the band lead to the departure of their borrowed bassist, and Jeremy Martin replaced him in 2002. Two years later, as Saving Jane found their style shifting more from acoustic roots to alternative rock, their manager insisted that Dodson’s be emphasized over the rest of the band; these changes eventually led to the exit of their lead guitarist. In February 2006, Mike Ungar stepped down from Saving Jane for family reasons, and Brandon Hagan joined the band as a replacement, while keyboardist Joe Cochran completed the lineup. Also as of 2008, Jeremy Martin is no longer with the band. The new bassist is Eric Flores.

Saving Jane’s full-length debut, Girl Next Door, was issued in October 2005 on Toucan Cove, and the title track found the band getting major radio air play of the single of the same name. Gaining the attention of major record labels, Republic/Universal Records signed them and they made their debut on the Billboard charts. The single with the same title, “Girl Next Door”, peaked at #31 on the Billboard Hot 100 . The video debuted on MTV ‘s Total Request Live ‘s countdown on April 24, 2006 at #9. The single “Come Down to Me” was released in late August and went on to sell over 100,000 copies.

In 2006, country singer Julie Roberts recorded a version of “Girl Next Door” which was released on her album Men and Mascara. (Saving Jane had released their own country remix of the song the previous winter, which was available on iTunes and got exposure on CMT and CMT.com.)

On August 7, 2007, Saving Jane’s follow up album to Girl Next Door was released with the title One Girl Revolution. A single with the same title debuted in the summer of 2007. The album, One Girl Revolution was release in 2007, with a re-release version with a new song, “SuperGirl” in the album, SuperGirl in 2008.

Fun Facts About Marti Dodson
- signed a publishing deal with Shapiro-Bernstein Music Publishing

- wrote the theme song for the 2009 season of Germany’s Pop Idol

- One Girl Revolution was on the ads for L.A. Ink

- wrote a series of online-only songs for vampire fans

- Supergirl continues to be heard in Wet Seal, Charlotte Russe and other stores across the country

- had a #4 song in Canada with Suzie McNeil’s cover of Supergirl

- still touring the country w/Saving Jane

- adopted a puppy

Just a year before her shining moment, it was doubtful Anastasia “Nastia” Liukin would make the trip to Beijing, as an extended recovery from an ankle surgery put the gymnast’s hopes for Olympic gold in jeopardy. She returned to competition in the Pan American Games and Visa Championships where, by her own admission, she entered competition at 80% fitness. Strengthened by hard work, fierce determination and a steadfast belief in herself, Nastia won a bronze medal in the all-around, a silver medal on the balance beam and her third-straight national uneven bars title. She was named a member of the World Championship team and went on to qualify for the Olympic Team Trials in Philadelphia, where her performance brought about the realization of her dream— selection for the 2008 Olympic team.

Born to Anna and Valeri Liukin, her mother a 1987 Rhythmic World Champion and her father a 1988 Olympic Champion, it was only natural that Nastia would find herself involved in gymnastics. At the age of two, Nastia and her parents left their native Moscow, Russia for Plano, Texas where Anna and Valeri established a training ground for aspiring gymnasts. Unable to afford a babysitter during their early years in the America, Valeri and Anna were forced to bring Nastia to the gym while they worked with students. She soon began mimicking the floor routines of other students, and by the age of six, Nastia began competing on her own.

By 2002, Nastia had evolved into an Elite gymnast and set off a remarkable series of accomplishments. By 2007, Nastia joined 1996 Olympic gold medalist Shannon Miller as the most decorated American gymnast in World Championship competition. Nastia is a four-time World Champion, nine-time World medalist, four-time U.S. National Champion and holds two American Cup titles as well as a Senior and Junior Pacific Rim Championship. Following her success in Beijing, Nastia was named the International Gymnastics Federation Athlete of the Year, Women’s Sports Foundation Individual Sportswoman of the Year, and the United States Sports Academy’s Female Athlete of the Year. In 2009, she was named USAG Athlete of the Year, USAG Sportswoman of the Year and won an ESPY for Female Athlete of the Year.

With an undeniable presence on and off the mat, Nastia has secured a multitude of promotional partnerships including Covergirl, Visa, AT&T, Herbal Essences, Pure Sport, Secret, Sega and the cover of the Wheaties box. Nastia has appeared in several television projects such as the hit TV series, Gossip Girl; the documentary, USA Gymnastics: Behind the Team; and the feature film, Stick It.

Nastia is always aware of how much life has given her and is determined to give back to those who are less fortunate. She is an active contributor to organizations including Susan G. Komen, Women’s Sports Foundation and The National Gymnastics Foundation. In August 2009, Nastia Liukin announced a partnership with USA Gymnastics to create the Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup, which provides a competitive opportunity for the country’s top Junior Olympic gymnasts. Proceeds from the Nastia Liukin Supergirl Cup benefit the Nastia Liukin Fund, a charitable fund within the National Gymnastics Foundation.

Perhaps most important to Nastia, is her desire to be a positive role model for young girls and encourage them to “believe in themselves” and realize with “hard work and commitment to a dream, anything is possible”— a vision every Supergirl shares.

Nastia Photos

Nastia

Nastia

Nastia

Nastia

Nastia

Nastia

Nastia

Nastia Liukin Gallery

Nastia Liukin Gallery

Nastia Liukin Gallery 1

Latest News:

SUPERGIRL JAM 2010 INTERVIEW WITH STEPHANIE

Bio:

Gold Coast girl Stephanie Gilmore stormed onto the women’s professional surfing scene in 2005, winning the Roxy Pro Gold Coast as a wildcard (at the age of 17) and announcing her presence as a major player within the surfing world. Since then, Gilmore has backed up the hype, clinching her inaugural ASP Women’s World Title in her rookie season (2007) and heralding in a new generation for on the ASP Women’s World Tour. In 2008, the girl known as ‘Happy’ for her infectious smile, was back again, looking hungrier and stronger than ever, eager to emulate her past success. She went on to secure five ASP Women’s World Tour victories en route to her second consecutive ASP Women’s World Title, then capped the season off with a Vans Hawaiian Triple Crown Title.

Come 2009, for the first time since her wildcard win Gilmore was victorious at her home break Snapper Rocks, taking out the Roxy Pro; Stop 1 of the ASP Women’s World Tour. Whilst Gilmore wouldn’t win another until the final tour stop, her consistent finals appearances would be enough to see her seal a third consecutive ASP Women’s World Title and once again etch her name in the history books with an unprecedented perfect World Title record.

With the retirement of Layne Beachley, and Gilmore’s penchant for ripping everything from two-to-twenty feet, the young natural-footer is poised to fill the void left by the Australian Legend whilst forging out her own reputation as one of the greatest to ever step foot on a surfboard. Gilmore’s advanced style, combined with her domination of international lineups and competitive fire, makes Stephanie one of the most talked about surfers in the world. There’s even more rookies joining the ranks and the talent pool deepens. But, with Stephanie consistently rising to the challenge, 2010 could very well be another pillar in the building of this surfing powerhouse dynasty.