Derek Ho | |
Birth Date: | 26 September 1964 |
Birth Place: | Kailua, Hawaii, U.S. |
Death Place: | Hawaii, U.S. |
Height: | 5 ft 5 in |
Weight: | 133 lb |
Years Active: | 1986–2020 |
Major Achievements: | 1993 World Champion Vans Triple Crown 1986/1988/1990/1992 |
Stance: | Goofy foot |
Sponsors: | Volcom |
Derek Ho (September 26, 1964 – July 17, 2020) was a Hawaiian Chinese surfer who won the world surfing championship in 1993. Ho was born in Kailua, Honolulu County, Hawaii. He began surfing at the age of three, and won the world title at age 29, making him the first Native Hawaiian world champion. Derek Ho was the brother of Michael Ho, another champion surfer, and the first cousin of Don Ho, the Hawaiian singer. He was the uncle of professional surfers Mason Ho and Coco Ho.[1] [2]
On July 17, 2020, Ho was hospitalized after suffering a heart attack; he subsequently fell into a coma and died late that afternoon.[3]