Nathan Yeoman
Age: 25
From: San Clemente, California
Surfs: Goofy
In 2005, if Nate had made one more heat in the Cold Water Classic,
he would’ve bumped Asher Nolan down to second and taken the Macy’s
Trifecta Points Title himself. Still smarting from that loss, Yeoman’s
2006 campaign ended victoriously, with a win over Nathaniel Curran
in the Point’s Race during his last wave of the contest in Santa
Cruz. With $10,000 in the bank from his win last year, Yeoman’s
has entered 2007 in search of a repeat, clenching the 2007 Oakley Newport
Beach Pro title and attempting to carry that energy to the last stop
of the Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series at Steamer Lane,
Santa Cruz.
Nathaniel Curran
Age: 22
From: Oxnard, California
Surfs: Regular
For the past two years, Nathaniel Curran has been in the running for
the Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series Points Title. Last
year, he finished behind Points winner Nate Yeomans—but just
barely, placing second at the Oakley Newport Beach Pro and the O’Neill
Cold Water Classic. Coming into 2007, the explosive youth from Oxnard
has proved to be a Trifecta contender yet again, making it to the semi-finals
of the Oakley Newport Beach Pro, which put him at number nine on the
2007 WQS Trifecta ratings. Look for Nathaniel to turn heads at the
third and last stop of the Macy’s CA Trifecta Surf Series, the
O’Neill Cold Water Classic.
Roy Powers
Age: 26
From: Hanelei, Kauai
Surfs: Regular
Roy's maiden year on the 2006 WCT did not go as planned, but there
were successes that occurred and lesson learned that will undoubtedly
make him a better competitor. He beat Andy Irons, Bruce Irons, Taylor
Knox, and a host of top WCT surfers during his brief year on the World
tour. He also placed 5th in the Quiksilver Lacanau WCT event. At the
Pipe Masters, he pulled into a huge 10' cavernous Backdoor beast that
had the crowd on their feet. He finished that event in ninth. So far,
in 2007, Powers is sitting in a good position to qualify again for
the WCT, hovering in the top 20 range on the WQS. As the season winds
down, look for Powers to be a strong contender in Santa Cruz.
Pat Gudauskas
Age: 21
Resides: San Clemente, CA
Surfs: Regular
Pat Gudauskas, twin brother of Dane, is the lone regular footer in
the Gudauskas family. His free surfing has caught the attention of
many, but Gudauskas is also an excellent competitive surfer as well.
He had a stellar 2006 WQS run, finishing the year at #22 over all and
chalking up two ASP WQS 4 Star wins in Europe along the way. He has
proven himself to be a serious contender for WCT qualification and
hopes to make the push sooner rather than later. During 2007, Gudauskas
has surfed every WQS event of consequence and is attempting to make
a serious push at qualifying for the WCT in 2008. Pat will be sure
to throw down at Steamer Lane and prove to be a serious contender at
the third stop of the Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series.
Kieran Horn
Age: 33
From: Santa Cruz
Surfs: Regular
As team manager for the Men’s O’Neill Surf Team, and as
a seasoned competitor, Kieran Horn is both a mentor and a proven success
story from the Santa Cruz area. Ranked 23rd on the 2007 WQS Trifecta
Ratings, Horn needs to put together some impressive heats to clench
the coveted title and points. But with an intimate knowledge of the
Lane, and as a former Cold Water champion—he won the event in
2003—he undoubtedly knows what it takes to make it to the top,
and is sure to be a tough competitor when the Trifecta hoard descends
on his home town.
Jason "Ratboy" Collins
Age: 33
Resides: Santa Cruz
Surfs: Regular
Ratboy is a complete surfer. He can throw down a carve that would make
your mamma cry and pull off tailslides snaps that have people on the
cliff at Steamers looking for a chiropractor. His surfing is so precise
and technical that it’s just a matter of time where Ratboy will
have his second coming. His surfing is perhaps more sharp now than
ever because he is more experienced and is increasingly calculated.
Ratty is presently living in Santa Cruz and not slowing down. He made
the semi finals at the Coldwater Classic 05 in epic surf, and he was
the experienced anchor and standout performer for the Santa Cruz Stormriders
in the NSL’s The Game. Jason “Ratboy” Collins still
goes to sleep at night wondering what kind of trick he’ll do
next, and is sure to be a crowd favorite this year during the Cold
Water Classic.
Josh Mulcoy
Age: 37
From: Santa Cruz
Surfs: Regular
A local standout and favorite from last year’s competition, Mulcoy
finished 7th overall in 06 after advancing all the way from the Cold
Water Classic trials. Having grown up under the wing of his father “Harbor
Bill”, who is an underground Santa Cruz legend, Josh is ingrained
in a town that prides itself on producing generations of talent. Always
a standout at the Cold Water Classic and at Steamer Lane, expect to
see Mulcoy’s approach take him far at the Cold Water yet again
in 2007.
Josh Loya
Age: 37
From: Santa Cruz
Surfs: Regular
Coming off of an injury-plagued year, Loya is pumped about this year’s
contest and ready to turn heads and show potential sponsors what they’re
missing on their team. Loya has been at the forefront of high performance
surfing in Santa Cruz, whether it’s ripping a head high day at
the Lane or the legendary day during the El Nino winter when he caught
a wave all the way from outside Swift St. through to Mitchell’s
Cove. What sets him apart from the rest of the field is his style.
While many Mav’s surfers tend to squat stiff-legged and flail
their arms in awkward positions as they struggle for balance during
a late drop, nine times out of 10, Loya will gracefully ease into his
drop like butter. Proving that he is just as talented in the small
stuff, Loya also made it to the finals of last year’s Cold Water
Classic, finishing in 4th after advancing from CWC trials.
