Mason Ho continued the legacy Saturday at a spot all too familiar for his famous family by winning the HIC Pro at Sunset Beach.
It’s an event that dad Michael won four times and world champion uncle Derek did twice. The victory also gave Mason the title of Hawaii regional champion, a 64 seed into the Haleiwa and Sunset events of the upcoming Triple Crown of Surfing and $15,000. Ho’s win at his home break was also his first win on the World Qualifying Series.
The final featured past winners Pancho Sullivan (Sunset Beach) and Evan Valiere (Kauai), along with first-time Sunset finalist Gavin Gillette (Kauai) The waves were in the 6- to 8-foot range.
The final began slowly, with no one scoring in the six-point range for the first half of the heat. Ho and Sullivan registered the first two significant scores, Mason posting a 7.33 (out of 10) for some precise power-carving turns and Sullivan an 8.33 for a short barrel followed by two strong snaps. Valiere and Gillette had trouble finding any quality waves. Sullivan only needed a small score to hold the lead. He took a smaller wave and hammered it twice for a 4.67. He thought it was all he needed.
But behind him Ho caught one on the outside and pulled into a huge barrel that led to a huge roar from those lining the beach. The wave netted Ho an 8.93 and gave him the win.
"It feels great to win in front of all my best friends and all the people I walk past everyday," Mason said. "It’s so sick to win just because I have never won one so I am so stoked.
"I have done so much of these and lost so many times that I learned how to lose. When I was a kid I used to be like I am going to beat everyone and then I realized anyone can beat you and that’s what I love about surfing and competing. Cool to finally win one."
Finding the right wave was even better.
"That was cool and unexpected," Ho said "Whatever comes your way out there you just want to try and get it. I saw that wave do this kind (of) fishbowl thing that looked like it was going to barrel and that’s my favorite, so I just assumed the position and made it. I am super fired up for the Triple Crown (of Surfing) right now."
Sullivan placed second with a 13.00 (out of 20).
"I am really happy for Mason," the 40-year-old Sullivan said. "He actually got that good barrel right in front of me, so I knew that was going to do it for me, that was the nail in the coffin. It was really tricky conditions, but there were some really good waves out there. I saw some amazing surfing all day that was really inspiring watching every heat. It made me want to get back out there and join the fun."
Third place went to the 29-year-old Valiere.
"It was difficult to have a game plan because there were not many waves out there," Valiere said. "You kind of have to just get lucky. Mason is an incredible surfer. I am super happy for him and he deserves to win he has such good spirit."
