When she was just seven years old, Coco Ho learned to surf in a spirited effort to impress her older brother. “My brother’s one of the most innovative surfers around, and I wanted to be just like him,” says Coco, now 21, of professional surfer Mason Ho. “My first memory surfing was going before school on a new board I got for my birthday, and coming to class with wet hair and telling everyone I went surfing before school,” she adds. “I thought I was so cool.” But while her family also includes surf legends Michael Ho (her dad) and Derek Ho (her uncle), Coco soon became an idol in her own right. Qualifying for the Association of Surfing Professionals Women’s World Tour at age 17—and repeatedly voted a top three fan favorite in Surfer magazine’s Surfer Poll—Coco now seeks to build on her award-studded surf career while inspiring other girls to break through barriers and pursue their passions.

I had a casual shoot with this amazing woman recently in Encinitas. Below are some of the shots.  XOX