Coco Ho of Sunset Beach was not fined, but received "a lengthy counseling session and orientation to the rules and the protocol of expected sportsmanlike behavior" for an incident during the final heat of the Reef Hawaiian Pro last week.

The rules and discipline committee of the Association of Surfing Professionals announced this week that the issue had been resolved.

Robert Gerard, the ASP's rules judge, said in a statement: "Coco is a fine young athlete and person, and as a result of my investigation, notwithstanding the countless opinions being thrown about in the surf media and blogs, I am completely satisfied that this incident was the result of over-zealousness in the dying moments of a final heat by a 17-year-old competitor who was simply trying to get a score and qualify for the ASP Women's World Tour."

The incident occurred in the closing seconds of the final heat of the women's final of the Reef Hawaiian Pro at Hale'iwa Ali'i Beach.

Ho interfered with Australian Layne Beachley's last wave. Beachley needed a score of 6.83 to win the heat, but was not able to complete any maneuvers on the wave because of Ho's interference.

Honolulu's Carissa Moore won the contest. Beachley finished second, and Ho was fourth.

Beachley hinted after the contest that Ho's interference may have been part of a team tactic involving the Hawai'i teens.

The ASP, however, ruled that Moore "had absolutely nothing to do with the incident."

Ho, 17, is a senior at Elite Element Academy. She is in her rookie season on the World Qualifying Series.

The Reef Hawaiian Pro was the first event in the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.

Ho and Moore are in the trials heat for the next contest — the Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach. Beachley is seeded into the first round of the Roxy Pro.