Matt Banting and Coco Ho Win ASP 6-Star Los Cabos Open of Surf

Matt Banting (AUS), 19, and Coco Ho (HAW), 23, have won the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 6-Star Los Cabos Open of Surf in excellent four-to-six foot waves at Zippers in Los Cabos, Mexico on Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Matt Banting started strong in the Final at Zippers, opening his victory strike with a 7.00 in an all-Australian final. The Port Macquarie native built momentum throughout the heat and while fellow finalist Dion Atkinson (AUS), 28, fought hard for the win, he was unable to find the scores needed to surpass Banting.

“We had great conditions and it’s a great system with the new priority, it’s a lot more surfing,” Banting said. “Like Dion (Atkinson) said, if you told me I was going to make the final hopping on the plane, I wouldn’t have expected it. To take the 25 grand and be here in Cabo for one last night, it’s amazing!”

Banting’s win at the Los Cabos Open of Surf marks his second ASP 6-Star win this season, placing him in excellent position to qualify for the 2015 WCT. While the regular-footer was elated with the Mexican victory, he remains focused on the long year ahead.

“It’s a long year to go, but to get two 6-Star wins feels amazing,” Banting said. “I just hope I can stay consistent and get a few strong results in the upcoming Primes.”

Dion Atkinson, current rookie on the WCT, put together an impressive display of power-surfing at Zippers, consistently posting standout scores throughout each round. Atkinson put together a strong effort in the final, but was unable to find the scores needed to surpass Banting for the win.

“It feels great to make the final,” Atkinson said. “If someone told me I was going to finish second when I was getting on the plane I probably would have to pinch myself because it didn’t treat me too well last year. We had amazing waves and I’ve had some fun heats. Congrats to Matt (Banting) he’s been ripping the whole event. Hopefully we both have a good year and it’d be great to have him on tour.”

Coco Ho, top seed at the Los Cabos Open of Surf, was a standout throughout the entirety of the Los Cabos Open of Surf and maintained her form throughout the final day of competition. The Hawaiian topped Australian Dimity Stoyle (AUS), 22, and Kauai’s Brianna Cope (HAW), 19, to claim the win at Zippers.

“I was definitely on the harder side of the draw, but it was great to surf against Silvana (Lima) and Dimity (Stoyle) after her cracker of a heat,” Ho said. “The waves are so fun. It’s like a toned down Lowers (Trestles) and it’s non-stop waves.”

Ho, current No. 10 on the Women’s WCT, has had a series of highs and lows throughout her 2014 campaign and hopes to carry the momentum from her Los Cabos Open of Surf win through the back half of the season.

“I’ve had and equal amount of ups-and-downs this year and it’s hard,” Ho said. “You’ve got to keep your head up and my Dad told me at the start of the year that it’s a marathon, not a sprint. This is definitely a nice feeling.”

Brianna Cope put together a breakthrough performance in Mexico, taking down some of the world’s biggest names en route to the final. Cope defeated ASP WCT surfer Lakey Peterson (USA), 19, in the Quarterfinals and Laura Enever (AUS), 22, in the Semifinals, but was unable to surpass Ho for the win.

“To make my first career QS final, I’m really happy with this result,” Cope said. “This is been an amazing week we’ve had fun waves and thanks to everyone for putting this event together and my sponsors for the support.”



LOS CABOS OPEN OF SURF MEN’S FINAL RESULT:
1 – Matt Banting (AUS) 15.30
2 -  Dion Atkinson (AUS) 13.20
 
LOS CABOS OPEN OF SURF MEN’S SEMIFINALS RESULTS:
SF 1: Matt Banting (AUS) 14.43 def. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 14.00
SF 2: Dion Atkinson (AUS) 15.94 def. Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 15.80

LOS CABOS OPEN OF SURF MEN’S QUARTERFINALS RESULTS:
QF 1: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 16.63 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 6.60
QF 2: Matt Banting (AUS) 15.33 def. Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 14.80
QF 3: Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 12.60 def. Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 12.33
QF 4: Dion Atkinson (AUS) 16.20 def. Medi Veminardi (REU) 15.50

LOS CABOS OPEN OF SURF WOMEN’S FINAL RESULT:
1 – Coco Ho (HAW) 17.10
2 – Brianna Cope (HAW) 11.60

LOS CABOS OPEN OF SURF WOMEN’S SEMIFINALS RESULTS:
SF 1: Coco Ho (HAW) 18.13 def. Dimity Stoyle (AUS) 8.77
SF 2: Brianna Cope (HAW) 12.60 def. Laura Enever (AUS) 10.10