Michael Ho (July 13, 1957-) |
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The most consistent performer of the past three decades on the heaviest stretch of surf in the world happens to be one of the smallest. At a mere 5'5" and 135 pounds, Michael Ho personally proved size to be of little importance when it comes to bravery on the North Shore. His expertise was not limited to big surf, as he became a highly successful and feared competitor in all conditions, finishing in the ASP Top 16 for 10 consecutive seasons.
Edmund "Chico" Ho was stationed in Cuba, serving in the U.S. Army, when his wife was expecting their first child. They wanted desperately to make it back to Hawaii for the blessed event, but came up short as their son Michael entered the world in San Mateo, California. Chico was an original Waikiki beach boys, carving tikis, shaping boards and fishing to support his growing family (three girls and another boy, 1993 ASP World Champion Derek Ho followed). He hoisted Michael onto his shoulders and introduced him to surfing at age three. A few years later, the youngster was competing in local amateur events with peers Kainoa and Keone Downing, Clinton Blears and Kenny Morrow, soon finding success as the U.S. Boys' amateur champion. Inspired by Jeff Hakman, Larry Bertlemann and Reno Abellira, Ho put equal time into developing his big-wave riding and hotdog surfing. By age 10, he was surfing Haleiwa on the North Shore. At 15, he represented Hawaii at the World Amateur Championships in Ocean Beach and surfed into the finals. After graduation from Kailua High School, he set his sights on professional surfing. At the time, he knew of no one getting paid to go surfing, but he was ready to test the waters. "Rabbit [Bartholomew] and I were talking about getting money from sponsors on a plane ride from somewhere. I got a couple hundred from some wetsuit company, and I was, like, 'whoa.'" As the IPS world tour first wandered the globe in 1976, Ho led a formidable Hawaiian assault, rising to third in 1978 and establishing himself as a barnacle in the Top 16. He twice won the Hawaiian Triple Crown, the Duke Classic and the World Cup, as well as claiming the 1982 Pipe Masters while surfing with a cast on his broken wrist. At any venue, his keen sense of positioning and wave knowledge made him an unwelcome draw for any competitor. Three-time world champion Tom Curren called Ho the person he least liked to compete against. For all his international achievements, nowhere was Ho more dominant than the North Shore of Oahu -- his home since age 17. At Sunset Beach, a spot he first surfed at 15, his knowledge of the complex conditions remains unparalleled. Well into his 40s, he shows few signs of slowing, still an avid competitor and finalist in the 1997 Pipe Masters. Married since 1988, he has two children -- Mason and Coco. They are passionate surfers and finalists in the Rell Sunn Menehune Championships. Surfing has been, and will remain, Ho's only profession. A competitor in each World Masters Championship since its inception in 1997, he came through with a victory in the Over 40 Division in Lafiteria, France, in the 2000 event. "I never beat Rabbit or MR man-on-man before, so that in itself was a feat." Known as "Uncle Mike" across the North Shore, he remains childlike at heart, and his passion for surfing is as strong as ever. -- Jason Borte, December 2000
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