Date of Birth: April 25, 1976

Best Known For: Being way out there on the biggest days at the Mexican Pipe

Local Spot: Playa Zicatela, Puerto Escondido

My Crew: David Rutherford, Oscar Moncada, Roger Ramirez and Checo Ramirez

Board of Choice: 6'10" Doc Surf Prescriptions...magic!

Dream Wave: Tahiti?

My Top Five:

1.) When I was a kid living in the streets as a runaway 2.) When I arrived for the first time to my new home, Puerto Escondido, when I was 11 years old 3.) 1995/96: many good things happening, like meeting good friends and surfing some really good big swells back to back 4.) In 1999 it was a privilege to be sponsored by Hurley and continue my dreams 5.) The moment right now. Having the opportunity and the blessing of living life happy and getting barreled

Finding perfection close to home

Mexico isn't all life-or-death beachbreak barrels. There's plenty of spots that are so rippable and perfect. You just have to know where and when to go. We recently got a fun south swell so we headed up to a spot that's been so good this year. Just long, perfect draining sand-bottom barrels with rippable sections. And it's not the "somewhere" you saw in the Rip Curl contest. Anyway, here are a few shots from the trip, taken by my good friend, Edwin Morales. Until next time. — Coco

Remembering the one that got away during late-July's bomb swell in Puerto

The swell was big and powerful. A solid SW swell — so not many clean ones but every once in a while there was a perfect bomb. I decided not to paddle because the good ones were hard to find. I thought it was better to tow and ride more waves.

I got a couple big lefts to warm up, then on my fourth wave was the right. I have to say it was the biggest barrel I've been in. Thinking about it, it felt like I did everything right. When I was in there, I saw a lip falling closer to me and I thought I was too close to it. So I tried to make one big pump to go higher in the barrel. But it was a mistake because my board skipped from me and I felt myself coming out of the barrel as I was falling. I took beatings from that wave and two more after it.

I was pretty happy and thankful that I didn't get hurt. At the same time, I was bummed I didn't come out on my feet. It could have been a real contender in the XXL. But maybe God didn't want that for me yet.

Now I have to stay strong and positive and wait for my next chance. — Coco

Coco checks in from Puerto

We've been having really good waves this summer. Last week from Tuesday to Friday was pumping surf, 10 to 12 feet solid Mexican Pipeline! Broke my only 2 guns, 7'6" and 8'0" and the last day swells I had to go with a 9'2" cause it's all I had left.

You can see in this sequence the size of the board but it still worked. Normally I'd only ride a 9'2" in 20 foot-surf but you gotta do what you can. Stoked to see Allen Johnson here. He was geting some good barrels as well, he was so happy to be here, and it's always good to see him. Remember him in 94 on that big swell? He charges!
— Coco

Coco checks in from Playa Zicatela

Hola, friends. Here's a short report from Puerto this season. Man, from late March we start to have some good swells. It's been a good year so far.

From mid April to mid May we hade back to back 8 to 10 foot swells, making the sandbars really good. Also the swell direction has been right: SSW and also helping make the waves perfect.

During the swine flu panic, there was nobody here like never before. Plus, we had some of the best 12-foot swells with just a couple of guys in the water.

Now!!! Last week's swells were so good for a couple of days. La Punta, the left-point was incredible. It looked like Indo with south winds making offshore all day. That was last Thursday and Friday, then Saturday the 13 of June was the biggest day and we had incredible offshore winds in the afternoon.

Me and two other guys went out and got some of the biggest bombs! Surfing for at least four days with non-stop waves. Puerto rules! — Coco