Quick Facts
Biography
Cory Lopez is an elite professional surfer born on March 21, 1977 in Dunedin, Florida, USA. Lopey is his preferred nickname. Cory has been a top ranked contender on the ASP World Surfing circuit (ASP World Tour) for multiple years and is considered by many to be one of the best 'Free Surfers' on the planet.
Career
Cory Lopez is a prodigious goofy-footer known for his fearless tube riding at venues like Teahupoo and Pipeline, as well as his innovative, high-flying aerials above the wave. Cory’s major wins include: three-time X Games Gold Medalist; U.S. Open of Surfing Champion; Billabong Pro Tahiti Champion; Globe SI Pro Champion; Gold & Silver Medalist at the Olympic (IOC) recognized ISA World Championships (Costa Rica 2010; China 2012) and numerous top finishes around the world.
A two time Surfer Mag ‘Guts for Glory’ winner for his exploits at Teahupoo, Tahiti; Cory has been ranked as high as #1 on the ASP World Tour, with a final season best of #3. An entrepreneur, Lopez is owner of Nekton Surf Shop in his home town of Indian Rocks Beach, Florida. When not chasing contest points or extreme barrels, he can be found at his Florida home with wife Jenn and two children, Alana and Luke.
Cory and older brother Shea grew up surfing the Gulf Coast of Florida. With the inspiration of their dedicated, surfing father (Pete Lopez), Cory recalls; “We learned how to surf before we can even remember. We were two-years-old and standing on boards". As the boys matured, there was more than "one occasion" when their dad would "get them out of school" to go surf a building "Hurricane Swell".
The Lopez brothers began competing in the ESA Menehune Division and once they caught the competitive fire, there was no stopping them.
Cory travelled for many years on the ASP World Tour with brother Shea and best friend, Andy Irons. Andy and Cory shared the podium on more than one occasion, including the legendary "All Star" 2006 Pipeline Masters Final, when Andy bested Slater for the win and Cory placed 3rd ahead of Rob Machado.
Cory stunned the surfing World in 1999 and again in 2003; winning two Surfer Mag 'Guts for Glory Awards' by pushing the limits and "defining" what was possible at Teahupoo Tahiti. A perennial Top 10 presence in the Transworld Surf Media 'Exposure Meter' Rankings; Mr. Lopez won Surfer Magazine's Tube of the Year award in 2009, for the discovery of the "mile long" left point at Skeleton Bay, Africa. Cory placed #10 for over-all editorial exposure in the 2010 Transworld Surf Media Exposure Rankings; besting 2X World Champ, Mick Fanning, at #11.
In December 2011, Mr. Lopez received yet another 'Top 5' Nomination for Surfer Magazine's 'Barrel of the Year'; for his 'no straps' death defying tube ride at Teahupoo Tahiti, during the 2011 Billabong Pro (infamous 'Code Red' Day). Once again demonstrating Cory's tube riding skills are as relevant today, as they were when he first made history at the same venue in 1999.
Cory's sponsors include: O'Neill; Rockstar Energy Drink; Anarchy Eyewear; Freestyle/Shark Watches; Placebo/Mayhem Surfboards, WaveJet and Nekton Surf Shop.
Cory Lopez World Travel Blog: http://www.gulfster.com/corylopez/ Official Lopez Website: http://www.lopezbrothers.com/ Cory Lopez Bio/Profile: http://www.lopezbrothers.com/cory/ Cory Lopez Nekton Surf Shop: http://www.nektonsurf.com/
History of Major Contest Wins 2001 thru 2012
- Billabong Pro (Teahupoo, Tahiti)
- U.S. Open of Surfing
- Globe SI Pro
- ESPN X Games 3X Gold Medalist
- IOC (Olympic recognized) ISA World Surfing Games (Costa Rica & China); Gold & Silver Medalist
- Numerous Runner-up and Top 5 Finishes
- Highest ASP Ranking #1
- Highest ASP Final Season Ranking #3