Though she was traveling and competing alone, Brianna Cope made sure she was never too far from those closest to her. “I did call my mom and dad before every heat to calm the nerves,” she said. The 19-year-old from
Though she was traveling and competing alone, Brianna Cope made sure she was never too far from those closest to her.
“I did call my mom and dad before every heat to calm the nerves,” she said.
The 19-year-old from Kauai’s South Shore earned her best World Qualifying Series result at the Los Cabos Open of Surf two weeks ago in Mexico. The 6-Star event drew some of the biggest names in women’s surfing, but Brianna made it all the way from the Round of 60 to the final, finishing runner-up to Coco Ho.
“I haven’t surfed against Coco since I was very young,” Cope said. “We competed in the (National Scholastic Surfing Association) when we were younger against each other. She is such a good competitor and a really good surfer.”
The second-place finish gave Cope a huge boost in the WQS world rankings. She entered the contest 48th in the standings but left Mexico in 14th. That puts her into the mix for world tour qualification. The top six surfers who aren’t already qualified with their World Championship Tour ranking will make it on the 2015 circuit, which currently puts Cope just five spots off the qualification bubble.
“My goals going into 2014 were to take this year as a learning year on the World Qualifying Series,” she said. “Of course, in the back of my mind I wanted to qualify. I worked really hard with my personal trainer (Sundey Dillberg) and my coach and my sister (Gabrielle), who help me get physically and mentally ready. This year I started off in the very low rounds, but I built myself up to the Round of 60.”
The successful trip to Los Cabos justifiably changes her perspective a bit.
“It was a huge jump and a boost of confidence,” Cope said. “Moving that much in the rankings really made my goals much more obtainable. I know I have a much better shot at qualifying now being ranked 14th, but still I am taking one contest at a time and learning throughout the experience of competing on the WQS.”
A few of the wahine in her path to qualification are actually her fellow Garden Isle competitors. Alana Blanchard and Malia Manuel are already on tour, Nage Melamed is currently in position to gain a spot with her WQS ranking and Leila Hurst and Tatiana Weston-Webb are each just ahead of Cope, also looking to pick up a permanent spot in the Top 17 for 2015. Despite being the opposition, that many familiar faces at each stop can be a comfort.
“Being from Kauai and growing up with all those girls definitely builds a bond,” she said. “We are all very competitive, but we look out for each other and cheer each other on. Every heat I made, Alana and Nage were supporting me. It was cool having my friends but competitors cheer me on.”
This was Brianna’s fifth QS event of 2014, which is already more than her previous career total. With only a few of those having been 6-Stars, which attract the best surfers and reward the most points and prize money, her runner-up performance was the highlight of her young career.
“I did a lot of things differently (at Los Cabos). I traveled alone, stayed alone and really just focused on the contest,” she said. “My friend that was competing (Cory Arrambide) and his coach (Bob Carr) helped me stay relaxed and focused during the event. When I got to Mexico and had my first surf, I felt very relaxed and at home. I looked at this contest as a whole experience; I’m in a beautiful place with great waves and friends. I just took it heat by heat and enjoyed the ride.”
It’s that fun-loving attitude that Brianna intends to carry with her as she moves on in her 2014 campaign. The experience of defeating surfers like Lakey Peterson and Laura Enever will be a huge confidence boost, but she seems to want to focus more on the big picture than strategy or tactics.
“Have fun and look at the experience as a whole, not just the contest,” is what she said she’ll take from Los Cabos. “We get to travel to really beautiful places and learn about other cultures, which is one of my most favorite parts of pro surfing. I am definitely excited for the rest of the year and ready to put the jersey back on.”
Brianna’s impressive story isn’t so far-fetched for a number of the groms and grommettes currently charging Kauai’s waves and dreaming of one day also paddle battling for a spot on the world tour.
“Work hard, never give up and believe in yourself,” Brianna said to those hoping to follow in her footsteps. “It might sound cheesy, but I truly do live by these words of wisdom.”
Up next on the WQS tour is the Supergirl Pro in Oceanside, Calif., on Aug. 8. That will be the first of three straight 6-Star women’s events throughout August. It makes for a very important month for all six Kauai wahine, a group that now includes Cope as more than just a long shot.
“Thank you everyone for the support and love,” Brianna said. “I am so grateful to be born and raised on such a beautiful island.”
