Big surf, big purse and big ratings points, what's not to love about the 'QS stop in Santa Cruz?
November 8, 2009, 8:22 PM
By: Jake Howard
Kenworthy
"I'm just floating right now," said Nate Yeomans. Launch Gallery »
In 2005 Bobby Martinez won the O'Neill Cold Water Classic to solidify his spot on the ASP World Tour. He'd been slogging away on the WQS for some years and had reached a point where it was all or nothing. He was either going to qualify for the tour in 2006, or he was over it. His win in Santa Cruz came at a critical juncture in his career.
Nate Yeomans' win today shared similar tones. "It's a long season, and if I can string together a few results I'm going to give it a go," said Nate earlier in the year.
While he's had a pretty stellar year by his standards, by the time he rolled into Surf City North, Nate was sitting 27th on the WQS, 12 slots away from qualifying for the tour. Like Bobby, this contest was it: Post a massive result or spend the off season staring at the drawing board.
With unruly six- to eight- to occassional ten-foot surf on tap over the course of the weekend, Nate found a way to turn it on, making it through heat after heat. During the quarterfinals this morning, commentators had it figured that even if Nate's run ended there he would still move up about 10 slots on the rating's list. Well, proving to be the in-form surfer of the Cold Water Classic, Nate breezed through the quarters, semis, and lit up Aussie Heath Joske in the final.
"Nate just smoked it out there," said Heath in his post-final interview. "I couldn't even buy a wave. I was just getting flogged by eight-foot sets. I'm stoked for him and pretty happy."
"I can't believe it," added Nate. "This is the biggest result of my career and I'm speechless. I've been winning 2-Stars for too long and it was time for a big 6-Star win. To have my name up there with all of the great surfers who have won this event over the years is amazing."
With his big win Nate now scoots from 27th to 8th on the WQS, and while there remains two more events (in Hawaii) left on the WQS schedule, the man from San Clemente is certainly looking a whole lot better than he was at the start of the week. Should things fall Nate's way, and should he make the tour, hopefully he'll enjoy the same kind of goofy-foot success that Bobby Martinez has had...Lord knows he's earned it.
Kenworthy
Nat Young, in route to the Oakley Pro Junior title. Launch Gallery »
Also worthy of note, in its inaugural campaign, the five-stop O'Neill Cold Water Classic series—a frigid tour within a tour—came to a successful conclusion with journeyman Blake Thornton taking the title. Surfing in cold water ain't fun, and for the effort and enduring the agony of frozen fingers and toes, Blake is now $50,000 richer.
And then there was Nat Young, last year's defending Cold Water champ. The young Santa Cruz lcoal may not have enjoyed quite the success he did last year, but he did sweep through the Oakley Pro Junior and earn himself another trophy and oversized check for the mantel.
"I was the only kid from Santa Cruz in the junior, so I'm stoked," said Nat. "It's great to build momentum up for Worlds, even though it's far away. It's good to win this event at home with so many good guys in the draw."
Next stop's the Triple Crown. We've got a World Title race to keep tabs on, and yes, there's the question of who's in and who's out on the WQS.
O'Neill Cold Water Classic California Final:
1. Nathan Yeomans (USA) 15.33
2. Heath Joske (AUS) 8.60
Oakley Pro Junior ASP North America Championships Final Results:
1. Nat Young (USA) 15.07
2. Tonino Benson (HAW) 7.76
3. Cody Thompson (USA) 7.73
4. Dylan Goodale (HAW) 7.10
O'Neill Cold Water Classic Series Champion:
1. Blake Thornton: 6,688 points
2. Jarred Howse: 6,625 points
3. Adam Melling: 6,125 points
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Contributors
Jon Coen
Jon is from New Jersey and continues to reside there with his wife and dog—which means occasional empty barrels and the occasional session in the snow.The state isn't as dirty as people might think, but he'll let them keep believing that.
Jake Howard
Jake lives, writes, and surfs in San Clemente, California. He spent his formative gremlin years surfing points north of San Francisco, and for the last 10 years has been contently surviving behind the Orange Curtain.
Kimball Taylor
Author of Return by Water, as well as books on Jeffreys Bay and Pipeline, Kimball drives a red hot Camero, and back in the '70s, he used to party with your Dad.
Daniel Ikaika Ito
Daniel surfs like a hippie, but dresses like a homie. The Native Hawaiian originally hails from Hilo, but now resides in Honolulu. He enjoys twin-fins, new sneakers and being ESPN's "Cuz On The Scene" in the 50th State.
Jason Kenworthy
About as majestic as a turkey vulture, when he's not shlepping his lens around the world or looking for road kill, Jason can be found at home in Dana Point tending to his growing brood.
