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HIGH DRAMA AT BUSINESS END OF O’NEILL COLD WATER CLASSIC
Clean three-to-five foot (1.5 metre) surf pumped through Santa Cruz’s Steamer Lane for Day 5 of the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 4-Star event, and competition was fierce with valuable ratings points and a $75,000 prize purse on the line. As the final event of the 2007 Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series presented by Jeep, the O’Neill Cold Water Classic presented by Jeep saw a hard-fought battle culminate today, with front-runner Adam Virs (Ventura, CA) clinching the title following his stunning performance and the shock eliminations of all challengers. “I’m so stoked right now, I don’t even have words to express it,” Virs said. “It’s been a long time coming. I’ve made a bunch of finals this year and I’ve been trying to stay consistent. I have to thank Robert Weiner, my shaper, he’s been there for me the whole time and he’s got my boards set and they’re going unreal.” As the Macy’s Trifecta Champion, Virs will receive a $10,000 bonus prize as well as an all-new Jeep Patriot (valued at $26,000). “I’m over the moon,” Virs said. “You have to love Macy’s. You have to love the Trifecta. My sponsors and family and friends have been supporting me all the way and I couldn’t have done it without them either.” While the Macy’s Trifecta race has finished, the battle for the highly-coveted O’Neill Cold Water Classic presented by Jeep Title rages on. With eight surfers remaining, Virs will look to put his impressive forehand power surfing to good use when the ASP WQS 4-Star culminates tomorrow. “There’s still work to be done,” Virs said. “The Trifecta win is fantastic, but I’m also here to gain a good result in the Cold Water and improve my rating on the WQS. We’ll maybe party early, but it’s on tomorrow.” Nathan Yeomans (San Clemente, CA), last season’s Macy’s Trifecta Champion, and Austin Ware (Solana Beach, CA) finished 2nd and 3rd and will receive $3,500 and $1,500 respectively for their efforts. Yeomans suffered a surprise elimination from today’s Cold Water Classic competition at the hands of Jesse Merle-Jones (HI) and Kieran Horn (Santa Cruz, CA). In a wave-starved affair, Merle-Jones stood out with his patented backhand approach, and Horn snuck into a running inside wave to obtain a solid backup score. “It was pretty tough out there for that heat as there weren’t a lot of waves,” Horn said. “That smaller inside wave popped up and I was in position so that was fortunate for me. I’m stoked I’m still in it and hopefully I can bring the Title home to Santa Cruz.” Horn, along with fellow Santa Cruz locals Jason Collins and Josh Loya, are through to the Semifinals in the O’Neill Cold Water Classic and will enjoy an army of local support on the bluff as the event wraps tomorrow. Competition will be steep as Jordy Smith (Durban, ZAF), current No. 1 on the ASP WQS and reigning ASP World Junior Champion, and Brett Simpson (Huntington Beach, CA) were in stunning form this afternoon. The O’Neill Cold Water Classic presented by Jeep is scheduled to recommence tomorrow morning with champions being crowned in both the ASP WQS 4-Star and ASP Grade-3 Pro Junior. All O’Neill Cold Water Classic presented by Jeep as well as Oakley Pro Junior action will be webcast LIVE at www.coldwaterclassic.net An event hotline is available for competitors and spectators at (831) 479-5577. The hotline will provide information on schedule and locations throughout the O’Neill Cold Water Classic presented by Jeep. For more information, log on to www.aspworldtour.com or www.aspnorthamerica.org WAVEWATCH FORECAST: Sun (10/14): Northwest windswell continues at 3.9 ft @ 11 secs. Surf 2.5 to 3 ft. Calm wind in the morning turning northwest 10 kts afternoon adding a little sideshore texture. RESULTS: O’Neill Cold Water Classic pres. by Jeep – ASP WQS 4-Star Quarterfinals: 16 surfers remaining (1st and 2nd advance) Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series presented by Jeep – ASP
North America Specialty Series 1 – Adam Virs (Ventura, CA) $10,000 plus All-New Jeep
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The semifinalists at the O’Neill Cold Water Classic presented by
Jeep have been decided following a stunning day of action in Santa Cruz.