O'Neill Cold Water Classic California 2009 Day 1

The ONeill Cold Water Classic kicks off in perfect conditions at Steamer Lane, Santa Cruz.

THE MOST NORTHERN, THE MOST SOUTHERN, THE WILDEST, THE COLDEST &
THE MOST CLASSIC SURF CONTEST ON THE PLANET Santa Cruz, California, November 2, 2009

The final stop on the ONeill Cold Water Classic Series got underway today in perfect conditions clean one meter swell coming in to Steamer Lane, the sun shining and a host of talented surfers putting on an impressive show in Santa Cruz, California.

With local trials kicking off the ONeill Cold Water Classic California, it was Tyler Smith and Bud Freitas who came through top. Unfortunately the fairytale of local wildcard Peter Devries at the ONeill Cold Water Classic Canada just two days ago wont be repeated here. Both Santa Cruz surfers were back in the water for the Round of 128, and both were sadly knocked out.

However there is still a host of local talent with their eyes on victory here in Santa Cruz at the 6 Star Prime ASP WQS event. Among them is the young local and last years winner, Nat Young.

Its nice to be home after Canada, said Nat. The water temperature is still cold here, but you dont have to wear booties or anything like that. Plus the air temperature is a lot warmer so youre not constantly freezing.

Steamer Lane is a spot where it helps to have a bit of local knowledge, he said. Its a tricky wave and you need to know which ones to go on for sure.

One person who wouldnt disagree with him is Hawaiian surfer Gavin Gillette who walked away with the highest heat score of the day after getting some local advice.

Im staying with a local and hes been helping me with where to sit, said Gavin. The original plan was to sit in the middle, so I ended going with my plan and jamming down to the middle peak and got some great waves.

With four of five ONeill Cold Water Classic events completed, the race for the US$50,000 prize money is now officially on.

Sitting in the lead is ONeill CWC Scotland winner Blake Thornton. But in second place with only 313 points separating them is fellow Australian Jarrad Howse.

Also in with a chance are Adam Melling and Glenn Hall setting up the next few days for quite a competition.

I am trying not to think about it too much, said Jarrad Howse. But its hard to block out the fact that if I do well I could win 50grand and be in a position to qualify for the World Tour.

People are mentioning it to me. I think there are a lot more people following my progress now they know I am in the running for US$50,000!
It would be a fairytale, he said. But you can get too obsessed with it. Your heads not in the right spot and you lose. You just need to concentrate on surfing and see what happens.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• surf
• extreme
• cold
• water
• santa cruz
• california
• o'neill

[breadeater5]

Song name?

[IndieBraah]

Right on Bro ! See what you're saying, you northerners have cajones, that's for sure ! Guess I've been too spolied in So.Cal all of my life.

[RyanSimonovich]

@IndieBraah there arent many sharks in santa cruz...there's been a few sighting over the past few years but no deadly attacks recently.

[IndieBraah]

People are nuts to go in Northern California waters. Freezing cold, merky water and full of great white sharks :)

[Kohlehydrat]

the perfect country would be that one which has to offer mountains on the one side and on the other side the ocean. With sunny summers and snowy winters!

[GxCxOTheGoodLife]

Holy crap i was just there at the end of october and missed the comp cause had to come back home on Nov.1 ...crap