O’Neill Cold Water Classic California09 Final Day

NATHAN YEOMANS WINS THE O’NEILL COLD WATER CLASSIC CALIFORNIA. BLAKE THORNTON WINS US$50,000 AS THE OVERALL O'NEILL COLD WATER CLASSIC SERIES WINNER THE MOST NORTHERN, THE MOST SOUTHERN, THE WILDEST, THE COLDEST & THE MOST CLASSIC SURF CONTEST ON THE PLANET Californian surfer Nathan Yeomans won the O'Neill Cold Water Classic California on a perfect final day of competition at Steamer Lane, Santa Cruz. "I'm so stoked. I can't even talk," said Nathan after his victory. "To win in my home state, and to win a 6 Star Prime event in such an iconic location, and to be up there with the guys who have won this event in its history is incredible," he said. "I am just so stoked." It was a final of epic proportions – not just because of the surfing on display. Some of the biggest sets of the week came as if on cue into the final heat. "There were a lot of waves coming at me with about 10 minutes to go," said the O'Neill CWC California runner up, Australian, Heath Joske. "When those sets came through, about 30 of them hit me in the head one after the other. I got battered," he said. "But it's the way of the ocean." With yesterday's swell still sticking around it provided the perfect arena in the amphitheatre-like setting of Steamer Lane in which to hold the quarters through to the finals of this 6 Star Prime ASP World Qualifying Series event. One of the favourites for the competition – world number three Adriano De Souza – was knocked out in the first heat of the day by fellow Brazilian surfer Alejo Muniz. "I was so nervous," said Alejo. "I have looked up to Adriano for years. I was so nervous to surf a heat against him I couldn't sleep at all last night. I can't believe it. It's like a dream come true," he said after getting through to the semifinals, where his run was cut short by Nathan Yeomans. Local favourite Kieran Horn was stopped in the quarterfinals by Luke Munro, but despite the fact that the Santa Cruz surfer was out, the crowds lining the cliff above the su...

Channel: Voxant Newsroom Video Length: 0s Date Found: Sat, Apr 24 2010 9:26 AM Category: Sports Date Produced: Sat, Apr 24 2010 6:14 AM View Count: 0