22-year old Matt Wilkinson (AUS) wins the O’Neill Cold Water Classic California ahead of Tonino Benson (HAW) in an action packed day. This is Matt’s first ever victory at a QS event! Matt had earlier disappointed local crowds who were braving the afternoon rain to support their local hero, Nat Young, by defeating him in the semi finals. Nat Young has three titles in a row here at this event: once CWC winner, and twice junior winner. But this year it was not to be. In an emotional morning, Shaun Cansdell came down to watch the heat of Dion Atkinson – the one man standing in the way of him and his biggest victory. Surrounded by friends Shaun watched anxiously as Dion Atkinson was beaten by eventual winner Matt Wilkinson. After the most southern surf event in Tasmania, the most northern in Scotland, the wildest in South Africa, the coldest in Canada and the most classic in California, 27-year old Shaun Cansdell (AUS) takes home this year’s O’Neill Cold Water Classic Series title and the $50.000 that comes with it!

The swell rolled into Steamer Lane, Santa Cruz today for the O’Neill Cold Water Classic California. The top names in surfing got into the water and put on a spectacular show for the gathering crowds. Jordy Smith (ZAF) and Nat Young (USA) – both previous winners at this competition – were battling it out at first light. In the first heat of the day local boy Nat took the victory. Jordy Smith, current ASP World Number Two, finished second. The standout of the day was Australian Dayyan Neve scoring an 8.23 and a 9.33 – and thus the highest heat score of the day. The battle for the $50.000 has commenced! Currently leading the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Series, Shaun Cansdell, was first in the water, coming out top of his heat. Fellow Australian and series runner up Stuart Kennedy didn’t have a problem to pass his heat either.

The 2nd day of competition was cancelled due to heavy fog and small swell. The contest took advantage of an unexpected small push in swell this morning to finish off the Round of 128 in clean 2-to-3 foot conditions at Steamer Lane. And it was once again the local brigade that stole the show. Big wave surfer and Santa Cruz local, Peter Mel, posted the highest heat score of the competition so far with a 14.80. With the Round of 128 completed, the contest went on hold until midday when it was decided to postpone the Round of 96 until the morning.

26-year old Australian Josh Kerr wins the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Canada 2010 – the coldest surf competition in the world!! The final heat was between Josh Kerr (AUS) and Eric Geiselman (USA), with Josh claiming the victory and winning the legendary paddle! Unfortunately last year’s surprise winner and local hero Peter Devries couldn’t repeat his victory and was defeated in the Round of 16 by eventual winner Josh Kerr. After the most southern, the most northern, the wildest and the coldest event the Cold Water Classic Series now moves to its final event of the year – the most classic in Santa Cruz, California. From October 18th – 24 the Overall Series Winner will be decided! It’s going to be a dramatic final with Shaun Cansdell reaching the semis here in Canada he now sits top of the rankings ahead of Stuart Kennedy (AUS)! Who’s going to win the toughest and most challenging surf series of the world and the $ 50.000 cheque that comes with the overall victory?

The two local boys put on an impressive show today. Sepp Bruhwiler made it into the round of the round of 24 as well as Peter Devries, his form today being reminiscent of his victory last year. But former World Tour competitor Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) as well as CWC Tasmania winner and current frontrunner in the CWC Series rankings, Stuart Kennedy (AUS) are already out of the competition! Joining them was another former World Tour surfer, Tim Reyes (USA), as well as Yadin Nicol (AUS), Dion Atkinson (NZL), Tim Curren (USA) and 2009 CWC California runner up Heath Joske (AUS)! Tomorrow all eyes will be on Shaun Cansdell (AUS). Shaun is the only surfer in the top 5 of the CWC Series rankings left in this competition and will be looking to make his mark and move towards that $50,000 prize money.

26-year old Australian Josh Kerr wins the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Canada 2010 – the coldest surf competition in the world!! The final heat was between Josh Kerr (AUS) and Eric Geiselman (USA). Eric pulled out the wave of the event with a spectacular aerial, scoring a 9.10 and passed Shaun Cansdell (AUS) into the final. But Josh took the victory and wins the legendary Paddle. The Cold Water Classic Series now moves to its final event of the year in Santa Cruz, California. It’s going to be a dramatic final with Shaun Cansdell reaching the semis here in Canada he now sits top of the rankings ahead of Stuart Kennedy (AUS)! Who’s going to win the prestigious Cold Water Classic Series 2010 and the hefty $ 50.000 cheque? Watch the big final stop live from October 18th ? 24th 2010: oneill.com/​cwc/​california/​live

The ocean has done a lot for the O’Neill family and they wanted to give something back. So Jack O’Neill set up the Sea Odyssey Program. This program connects kids to the ocean, a lot of them have never been on a boat or on the ocean before. It teaches them how essential and important the ocean is. If they don’t understand it, they won’t be motivated to protect it. For example, one of their units is marine science, so the kids gather plankton and learn about the bottom of the food chain. And how things work at the bottom of the food chain, move up the food chain and affect through dolphins, fishes and humans. They learn about the natural system and the circle of life. How pollutants concentrate, how one form of life consumes another form of life and make them aware of how the eco system is interconnected. The Sea Odyssey Program is a fun, interesting and instructive way of introducing kids to ocean and environmental conservation.

South African Greg Emslie wins the O’Neill Cold Water Classic South Africa 2010 ahead of Australian Dion Atkinson. In 4 ft, sunny and windy conditions at Longbeach.

Day 3 of the O’Neill CWC South Africa 2010 brought again some Great footage. At Long Beach we finished Round of 64, 32 and 16

Day 2 of the O’Neill CWC South Africa in 8-9 foot waves at Outer Kom the wild conditions forced competition off at the end of heat 9 in the Round of 64.

Next week from July 26 to July 30th the O’Neill – Cold Water Classic – South Africa 2010 starts. O’Neill team rider Jordy Smith Winner of the Billabong Pro JBay and currently leading the ASP ranking is going to be there as well. Will he win 3 out of 3 South African events?

Even a snow storm can’t stop the O’Neill Cold Water Classic competitors in their quest for the legendary highland sword!! Actually all the surfers are thrilled and excited about the snow. They will remember that dav for the rest of their lives and will tell stories about that experience in Thurso. Many of the surfers have never ever seen snow before, let alone surf while it’s snowing. For all the surfers it is a beautiful and memorable day at the 6th day of the O’Neill Cold Water Classic tour stop in Thurso, Scotland.

Jarrad tells us about Day 6: full with drama, blizzards and pumping surf at Thurso East.
Today is the day that embodies the spirit about what this series is all about. There is awesome backend surfing today, Capetown goofy-footer Royden Bryson moves through to the semi finale, one step closer to the sword. Royden Bryson is super thrilled, in his 18 years of surfing he never ever surfed in snow before. In the quarterfinal 2 good friends surf against each other. But there can only be one winner, today it is Shaun Cansdell (AUS) over Glenn Hall (AUS), moving Shaun into the semi final. In a high scoring heat Yuri Sodre (BRA) defeats Marc Lacomaire (FRA). And in a dramatic battle for the last place in the semi finale Raoni Monteiro (BRA) defeats Cold Water Classic Champion Tasmania Stuart Kennedy (AUS). Jarrad shows us the legendary trophy – the highland sword.!! Who’s going to win it??

Despite howling winds, pouring rain and freezing cold temperatures, it is the surf that takes center stage on this fifth day of competition at the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Scotland. Jarrad Howse tells us about the wild weather in Thurso East, but the swell increases to 4-5 foot and they manage to get through 22 Heats.
In Heat 2 of Round 48 we see Blake Thornton (AUS), last year’s CWC series champ, and Shaun Joubert (ZAF) progress through in these freezing conditions. With solid and stylish surfing O’Neill team rider Shaun Cansdell (AUS) makes it through to the Round of 24 with Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY), continuing their quest for the sword! In Heat 9 we see the highest performance surfing by Jay Quinn (NZL), he tears the windy waves to pieces and moves through to the Round of 24.

Following an unexpected lay-day yesterday at the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Scotland, the surfers are back in the water today as the competition moves to the famed Thurso East in windy, 4 foot but absolutely freezing cold surf.
In stark contrast to yesterday’s designated sightseeing day – whiskey distillery tour and castle dinner included – it as an early wake-up call for a 7.30am start as the round of 96 at this 6 Star ASP event gets underway.
Jarrad tells us that in Heat 1 Blake Thornton (AUS), the 2009 CWC event champion, progresses through to with TJ Barron (HAW).
With impressive performances from Nathaniel Curran (USA) and Shaun Joubert (ZAF), both make it to the Round of 48. In Heat 12 Corey Lopez (USA) dominates, leaving Shaun Cansdell (AUS) and Parrish Byrne (AUS) fight for the 2nd place. Cansdell ends up making it through with a single highest wave score.

Sam Lamiroy is in his hotel room and feels a bit peckish. The contest is put on hold because of insufficient waves. He wants to grab a bite and shows us Thurso on his way to the Tempest Café. On his way he runs into lots of familiar faces.

Jarrad Howse tells us about the highlight of day 2 in Thurso. After a sunny warm start yesterday, the morning was a little bit more crisp as the skies clouded over and the temperature significantly dropped They finish completing the final 8 Heats of Round 1. O’Neill Team Rider Sam Lamiroy (GBR) has a slow start to his heat, but claiming a wave in the dying stages, he progresses through to the next round. Sam only needs a 2.5 with 1:30 to go. Scottish surfer Chris Noble GBR) makes history as the first local competitor to ever come through this first round of the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Scotland in the freezing waters of the most northerly event in professional surfing. Jay Quinn (NZL) nails the highest score today and goes on playing in the Annual Surfer Soccer Match in Thurso and is of course also in the winning team.

Three meter swell, strong offshore winds and right handers peeling almost all the way to the beach from way out to sea provides the perfect platform for some of the most talented young surfers in the world to showcase their skills. In some of the best conditions this competition has seen so far, Stuart Kennedy takes out the 2010 O’Neill Cold Water Classic Tasmania in emphatic style with the highest combined heat total of the event. The 20 year old from Lennox Head, Australia scores 18 points in the final heat and beats Wiggolly Dantas (BRA). Stuart Kennedy takes home the Tasmanian tiger trophy!! The O’Neill Cold Water Classic Series now heads to the most northern event in professional surfing, to Thurso (Scotland) from April 13-19. And just off the back of one of the coldest and longest winters in Europe there is every possibility that this will be the coldest event in professional surfing as well…

Check out the action for day 5 of highlights.
Jordy Smith snapping his board and a lot of more to see …

Check out day 4 action highlights of the 2010 O’Neill Cold Water Classic Tasmania.
Extreme Weather and some big waves – Round of 48 action.

Watch more at:
http://www.oneill.com/cwc