Malia Manuel, a 14-year-old from Wailua, Kaua'i, defeated Coco Ho, 17, of O'ahu's North Shore, 14.34 to 7.90, in the women's final of the U.S. Open of Surfing at Huntington, Beach, Calif., today.

Manuel is the youngest champion in the event's history.

"I'm so stoked right now," Manuel said in a story at the Association of Surfing Professionals Web site. "My sponsors gave me the wildcard into this event and I was just happy to be here. To get to surf against some of my heroes and to be in the final with my friend Coco is just something I would have never dreamed of."

Manuel won in 2- to 3-foot surf with best judges average scores of 7.67 and 6.67 points, while Ho's best rides were a 6.17 and 1.73.

"There weren't many waves out there this afternoon which was too bad," Manuel said. "I just got lucky that a couple linked up for me and I was able get some scores under my belt."

Manuel and Ho had to pull off amazing upsets to reach the final.

Manuel defeated former ASP women's world champion Sofia Mulanovich of Peru in the quarterfinals and current ASP World Qualifying Series leader Sally Fitzgibbons of Australia in the semifinals.

Ho eliminated women's tour veteran Melanie Bartels of Makaha in the quarterfinals and reigning ASP women's world champion Stephanie Gilmore of Australia in the semifinals.

Bethany Hamilton of Hanalei, Kaua'i was eliminated today in the quarterfinals.

Information from www.usopenofsurfing.com and www.aspworldtour.com was used in this report.