O’Neill
End Of The Reel Episode 4 – Cruising with Corey
Dec 10th
O’Neill rider and native Floridian Corey Lopez lets the camera follow him on a Sunday in Hawaii for yet another look at life on The Rock.
Team O’Neill Going Berzerk In Puerto Rico
Nov 10th
Team O’Neill surfers Jordy Smith, Roy Powers and Bobby Martinez going for broke at the Rip Curl Pro Search Somewhere In Puerto Rico. When the dust had settled and Kelly had walked away with his crown it was Jordy in 2nd place, Bobby Martinez in 17th, and Roy Powers in 33rd.
Jordy was surfing fast and tight in Puerto Rico © cestari/ASP
This is a highlights clip from their stay in Puerto Rico for the contest. They were killing it at the wave known as Middles
Jordy’s Winning Streak Continues – Round 1, Puerto Rico
Oct 31st
There are, as previously mentioned, only two surfers left in the running for the 2010 world title. Kelly Slater and O’Neill’s Jordy Smith. “He has to lose pretty badly for me to have a chance,” said Jordy in Puerto Rico on the race. This obviously means that the pressure is off Jordy, not that it ever really was on. “I’m back to just having fun out there,” said Jordy after winning his heat against Brett Simpson and Dylan Graves. Jordy managed a few big hits, as well as a nice and clean tube ride to win the heat and advance into round three.
Jordy, in a comfortable place in Puerto Rico - © Kirstin/ASP
The heat video
O’Neill Cold Water Classic Santa Cruz Photo Essay
Oct 30th
Winners - Shaun Cansdell (AUS), Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Tonino Benson (HAW)
Shaun Cansdell (AUS), Winner of the O'Neill CWC Series 2010
Nat Young (USA)
Nate Yeomans (USA)
Shaun Cansdell (AUS), Winner of the O'Neill CWC Series 2010
Steamer Lane, Santa Cruz
Nat Young (USA)
Jonny Craft (USA)
Adam Robertson (AUS)
Event winner Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
A very stoked Shaun Cansdell (AUS), Winner of the O'Neill CWC Series 2010
Santa Cruz Final Day Highlights
Oct 29th
Congrats To Matt Wilkinson who took out the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Santa Cruz 2010
Matt Wilkinson (Aus)
It’s Always Summer On The Inside
Oct 25th
Photos from the official launch of It’s Always Summer on the Inside, the book about Jack O’Neill’s life – written by Drew Kampion.
Jack O'Neill and author and former Surfer Magazine editor Drew Kampion share a moment.
Jack O'Neill and Peter Townsend
Jack and Drew
Jack O'Neill and the O'Neill golden child Jordy Smith
The inimitable Jack O'Neill
O’Neill Cold Water Classic Santa Cruz Day 3
Oct 21st
O’Neill Cold Water Classic California Wraps Up Round 1
The Steamer Lane Set Up
SANTA CRUZ, California/USA (Wednesday, October 20, 2010) – The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) PRIME O’Neill Cold Water Classic California completed the last four heats of Round 1 today due to a small unexpected south swell which delivered crisp two-to-three foot (.5 metre) right-handers to Steamer Lane.
Surfers competing in the ASP PRIME O’Neill Cold Water Classic California are out to capitalize on the crucial ratings points towards their ASP World Ranking in an attempt to qualify for the prestigious ASP World Tour.
High action on the south swell and high tide conditions
Peter Mel (Santa Cruz, CA), 40, battled his way through the high-tide conditions while slaying the day’s highest scores of 7.60 out of 10 only to follow up with a 7.20 to earn the highest heat total of Round 1 with classic
power surfing on Steamer Lane’s righthand walls.
“I looked at the buoys so I knew that we’d be on,” Mel said. “When you’re surfing high-tide south-swell at The Lane, it’s a full battle. I hit the cliff, there were interferences, but it’s the lane. It’s just nice to see
that they still score rail work.”
Mel, who is renowned for charging big waves, displayed his versatility in smaller conditions today while capitalizing on his local knowledge to advance through to the Round of 96.
“It’s a big time advantage being a local out here,” Mel said. “At the high-tide with a south-swell, there are certain waves that don’t look like much off of the cliff, but they have an angle, but you know. That was how my first wave was. No one else even looked at it and I knew it was going to have the inside part of it.”
Cory Arrambide (Ventura, CA), 21, former ASP North America Pro Junior Series Champion, stayed busy in his heat despite often long lulls to take out his Round of 128 heat victory over former ASP World Junior Champion Kai Barger (Haiku, HI), 20, who advanced in second.
“It seemed inconsistent when I was watching the first heat from the cliff,” Arrambide said. “I just decided to sit inside of everyone on the first waves and caught a couple off of the bat and I’m stoked to get through.”
Arrambide, who is fresh off of an impressive equal 9th place finish at the ASP 6-Star O’Neill Cold Water Classic Canada, entered the ASP PRIME event with a newfound confidence after his impressive Canadian run.
“Before Canada, I hadn’t really done many contests this year,” Arrambide said. “I had been a little nervous and getting a good result up there gave me a little confidence again.”
The O’Neill Cold Water Classic California is the last of five stops on the O’Neill Cold Water Classic series, with the series’ winner taking an additional $50,000.
O’Neill Cold Water Classic Santa Cruz – day 2
Oct 20th
Santa Cruz, California– October 19, 2010 – The O’Neill Cold Water Classic California today woke up to a thick blanket of fog and a small swell, forcing contest directors to call a Lay Day on this second day of competition.
“We woke up this morning and couldn’t even tell if there was any surf, it was so foggy,” said contest director Matt Wilson.
“When we could finally see the sea, it revealed itself to be a smaller version of yesterday,” he said. “We gave it every chance, delaying the call until 11am but for a Prime event it wasn’t what we were after and we have the waiting period to play with.”
Official forecasters of the event, Magic Seaweed, have predicted a further decrease in the swell tomorrow, but with a new northwest swell due in towards the end of the day or Thursday morning.
The O’Neill Cold Water Classic California is looking start back up with Heat 13 in the round of 128 before the likes of Jordy Smith, Dusty Payne, Julian Wilson, Bobby Martinez and Damien Hobgood get in the water for the round of 96.
And that’s not to forget the battle ahead of us for the CWC Series win and the $50,000 prize money.
O’Neill Cold Water Classic Santa Cruz – day 1
Oct 20th
Santa Cruz, California– October 18, 2010 – The O’Neill Cold Water Classic California got off to a cracking start under clear blue skies, with a mellow 2 to 3 foot wave peeling off Steamer Lane.
Ratboy flying at Steamer Lane
“I love this event,” said Jason Collins – aka Ratboy – who posted the highest heat total of the day with a 14.33 out of a possible 20.
“I was stoked with my heat,” he said. “It’s hard when it’s small but the Lane has enough power so that you can get a score. I grew up surfing here before school, after school, and when I was ditching school, so I know how to deal with it sometimes.”
“I came here when I was 11 and watched the first ever contest here,” said Ratboy. “Two locals were in the final. It was amazing. I’ve surfed this event about 10 times. Every time I do it’s so much fun.”
With the swell looking to decrease from today’s 2-3 foot conditions, before picking up again towards the end of the week, contest organizers stormed through the local trials early in the morning and straight into the round of 128.
Heading for the launch spot past a grumpy local
While the spectators were reveling in the action, it was slightly harder for trials winner Jonny Craft.
“It was kind of hard to have to do all of the trials and not even get out of the water before the last trial heat and my first heat in the Round of 128,” said Jonny. “It felt like surfing almost an hour heat, but I’m super stoked to make it through to the Round of 96. It’s great to compete in an event of the caliber in Santa Cruz,” he said.
Another highlight of the day featured the Geiselman brothers up against each other in the round of 128 with Evan finishing top ahead of his brother Eric, the runner up at the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Canada last week.
“I’m really happy to make it through with my brother,” Evan said. “I think I just got the best waves. I just wanted to go out there and be aggressive and get the best waves. I wanted my brother and I to be first and second, so I’m really happy.”
The Lane
O’NEILL COLD WATER CLASSIC SERIES RANKINGS (following four events)
1. Shaun Cansdell (AUS) 5591
2. Stuart Kennedy (AUS) 5378
3. Royden Bryson (ZAF) 4844
4. Dion Atkinson (AUS) 3984
5. Glenn Hall (IRE) 3110
