O'Neill Cold Water Classic
Presented by Jeep

ASP 4 Star WQS Mens Event
Steamer Lane, Santa Cruz, Calif.
17 - 22 October 2006

Live Coverage  |  Results/Photos/Videos etc

BIG GUNS FIRE AT DAY THREE OF O’NEILL COLD WATER CLASSIC PRESENTED BY JEEP

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 19 October, 2006 : - - SANTA CRUZ, Calif.  – The surf kicked up a notch and the top-seeded competitors raised the level of competition today at day three of the O’Neill Cold Water Classic presented by Jeep. The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) four-star event opened up in clean 3-4 foot waves this morning at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz, California.

Dane Reynolds (Ventura, Calif.) showed the hundreds in attendance why he one of the most dangerous surfers in the world this afternoon by decimating his opponents in his round four heat.  The 21 year-old wunderkind secured the event high single-wave score of a 9.93 out of a possible 10 for a combination of sizzling cutbacks punctuated by a phenomenal 360-degree sliding reverse on the end section.

“I was sitting super wide and everyone was a bit too deep,” Reynolds said.  “I got caught in the kelp and barely made the drop.  When I stood up, it was just this perfect wall.  It was the best wave I’ve ever got at the Lane.  There was a really good bowl to it and that must have something to do with that little south that’s coming through.”

Reynolds, who has recently returned to WQS competition after a brief sabbatical, is looking for a big result at the O’Neill Cold Water Classic presented by Jeep to boost his ratings for a full assault in 2007.

“If I got a result here, it would help me a lot,” Reynolds said.  “As of now, I’m really really low on the ratings and I need to be in the top 200 to get into all the events next year.  I need to do really well in a couple of four stars because that’s all I can do right now.  It’d be really good for my next year’s WQS tour if I got a good result here and at Sunset.”

Tim Reyes (Huntington Beach, Calif.), current No. 11 on the Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour, has been in searing form all season overpowering competitors at both elite tour events and on the WQS.  “It’s definitely just coming together a lot more for me this season,” Reyes said.  “I think that I’m surfing the same but things are just happening for me.  I don’t know what it is really.  I’m getting the right waves and I’m feeling good.”

Reyes, who recently returned from elite tour competition in Europe, opted to surf the Cold Water Classic before heading down to Brazil for the next World Tour event.

“It’s the O’Neill Cold Water Classic – it’s one of the biggest events in America,” Reyes said of his decision to compete in the WQS event.  “I’ve been coming up here a lot – practically living up here because my girlfriend lives up here with her family.  I just stay up here during all the breaks I have from the ASP World Tour.  It’d be cool to do well in the contest up here.  Last year I got fourth and I feel like I can win this event – I just need some good waves and I think I’ll do well.”

Reyes caused a huge upset in the Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series presented by Jeep (an ASP specialty series) by eliminating current ratings-leader Dustin Cuizon (Ewa Beach, Haw.) in his Round of 64 heat.  Cuizon now has to look on while challengers Nate Yeomans (San Clemente, Calif.), Nathaniel Curran (Ventura, Calif.) and Alex Gray (Palos Verdes, Calif.) aim to dethrone the young Hawaiian from the top of the ratings. 

As the final event in the Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series presented by Jeep, the O’Neill Cold Water Classic will crown the 2006 champion and award the $10,000 bonus prize.  The ratings race may be decided as early as tomorrow depending on how things pan out.

The Oakley Pro Junior (an ASP grade-two event), running in conjunction with the O’Neill Cold Water Classic presented by Jeep, will kick off tomorrow afternoon conditions permitting.  The event will serve as the ASP North America national championships as it will be the final event of the 2006 season. 

The Oakley Pro Junior will feature some of the best junior competitors (aged 20 and under) in world vying for their last opportunity at qualifying for the prestigious ASP World Junior Championships.

The top-four finishers on the ASP North America Pro Junior series, along with Alex Gray (Palos Verdes, Calif.) will be sent to the ASP World Junior Championships held in Narrabeen, New South Wales, Australia. Gray has already secured his entry by being the highest-ranked North America surfer of the WQS who is of junior age – Gray is currently ranked 43rd.

Event organizers and surfers will meet tomorrow morning to assess a possible 8:00 am start at Steamer Lane or a 9:00 am start at backup location Waddell Creek – depending on conditions.


TOMORROW’S SCHEDULE:
8:00 am – 1:00 pm: O’Neill Cold Water Classic Round 4 (68 surfers remaining) Heats 5 – 16
1:00 pm – 4:20 pm: Oakley Pro Junior Round 1 (48 surfers remaining) Heats 1 – 8

RESULTS – Day 3

Round 3: 96 surfers remain (1st and 2nd advance)
Heat 1: Omar Etcheverry (USA) 11.83, Josh Montgomery (USA) 9.26, Tyler Fox (USA) 8.90, Darryl Goodrum (USA) 5.53
Heat 2: Dion Atkinson (AUS) 17.73, Ryan Helm (USA) 8.83, Wesley de Souza (USA) 8.60, Matt Keenan (USA) 5.83
Heat 3: Dane Reynolds (USA) 13.50, Chris Drummy (USA) 10.00, Tappei Tajima (JPN) 8.13, Dede Suryana (IND) 5.77
Heat 4: Matt Hoar (AUS) 10.13, Noi Kaulukukui (USA) 8.50, Matt King (USA) 8.20, Sean Hayes (USA) 7.60
Heat 5: Kellen Ellison (USA) 11.57, Evan Valiere (HAW) 11.26, Shaun Burrell (USA) 7.64, Ryan Peterson (USA) 5.84
Heat 6: Josh Loya (USA) 13.84, Austin Ware (USA) 8.83, Marcus Hickman (HAW) 7.24, Bron Heusenstamm (USA) 6.33
Heat 7: Kahea Hart (HAW) 14.93, Cheyne Cottrell (USA) 6.87, Che Stang (USA) 6.83, Michel Flores (BRA) 5.76
Heat 8: Eric McHenry (USA) 12.34, Sean Marceron (USA) 9.03, Makua Rothman (HAW) 7.53, Brad Ettinger (USA) 7.26
Heat 9: Dusty Payne (HAW) 17.33, Raymond Reichle (HAW) 10.87, Kai Ellison (USA) 10.50, Bobby Morris (USA) 10.43
Heat 10: Kyle Knox (USA) 12.66, Anthony Petruso (USA) 12.26, Drew Ventura (USA) 10.40, Zach Plopper (USA) 7.57
Heat 11: Daniel Jones (HAW) 15.10, Dillon Perillo (USA) 9.67, Tonino Benson (HAW) 9.50, Eric Geiselman (USA) 7.67
Heat 12: Josh Mulcoy (USA) 13.27, Dean Randazzo (USA) 12.43, Dylan Graves (PRI) 11.50, Sterling Spencer (USA) 11.43
Heat 13: Adam Virs (USA) 11.17, Peter Mel (USA) 9.83, Dane Johnson (USA) 6.76, Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 5.73
Heat 14: Micah Byrne (USA) 18.23, Hank Gaskell (HAW) 13.24, Peter Garaway (USA) 9.33, Andrew Bennett (USA) 4.67
Heat 15: Kieran Horn (USA) 14.23, Mark Matthews (AUS0 12.93, Randy Bonds (USA) 11.17, Kyle Garson (USA) 8.47
Heat 16: Mike Losness (USA) 12.16, Granger Larsen (HAW) 9.47, Love Hodel (HAW) 8.87, Brandon Roberts (ZAF) 4.17

Round 4: 64 surfers remain (1st and 2nd advance)
Heat 1: Tim Reyes (USA) 15.83, Ryan Helm (USA) 9.70, Omar Etcheverry (USA) 9.03, Dustin Cuizon (HAW) 4.60
Heat 2: Dion Atkinson (AUS) 14.50, Alex Gray (USA) 10.60, Shaun Ward (USA) 7.03, Josh Montgomery (USA) 6.37
Heat 3: Dane Reynolds (USA) 18.60, Brett Simpson (USA) 10.93, Sean Moody (HAW) 9.90, Noi Kaulukukui (USA) 7.93
Heat 4: Roy Powers (HAW) 14.00, Ian Walsh (HAW) 10.77, Chris Drummy (USA) 9.23, Matt Hoar (AUS) 6.40

Previous reports: # 1 : O'Neill Cold Water Classic contest attracting top surfers # 2 : The O'Neill Cold Water Classic holds SC local trial round # 3 : Locals dominate Day 1 of the O'Neill Coldwater Classic # 4 : Competition intensifies at the O'Neill Coldwater Classic

About O'Neill
O'Neill is the world's original surf brand.  The family-owned and operated company distributes its products to 85 countries, including more than 2,000 specialty wetsuit and clothing retailers in the U.S.  Consumer information is available at www.oneill.com.

About the Jeep Brand
The Jeep brand's 65-year history of legendary capability has made it synonymous with freedom, adventure, mastery and authenticity. In 2006, the Jeep brand continues to deliver on its promise to provide rugged, versatile, innovative four-wheel drive vehicles with the recently introduced Jeep Wrangler, four-door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot.

This expansion of the Jeep brand grows its showroom from three to seven sport-utility vehicles following last year's introduction of the Jeep Commander. The other two Jeep vehicles are the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Liberty.

About PRIMEDIA'S Action Sports Group
Reaching more than two million enthusiasts, PRIMEDIA's ASG is the dominant force in the action sports and adventure sports arenas. In addition to SURFER, the ASG publishes leading lifestyle publications such as Surfing, Snowboarder, Skateboarder, Bike, Powder, Climbing and Canoe & Kayak. PRIMEDIA's ASG delivers a cutting-edge network of online properties, events and television programming.  Learn more online at: www.actionsportsgroup.net About Macy's West Macy's West, a division of Federated headquartered in San Francisco, operates 174 stores in  seven states and Guam, with annual sales of more than four billion. At Macy's we are committed to supporting the communities where we live and work.  In 2005, we raised and donated nearly $14 million in community support through our fundraising efforts.

About Oakley Inc.
Oakley, Inc. designs, manufactures and distributes high-performance sunglasses, prescription lenses and frames, goggles and technology-enabled eyewear that utilize the company's High Definition Optics(R) (HDO(R)), a collective platform of patented technologies that offer unbeatable optical performance. The company also produces technical and active apparel, footwear and accessories. Trailing-12-month net sales through December 31, 2005 totaled US $648.1 million. Oakley, Inc. press releases, SEC filings and the company's annual report are available at investor.oakley.com.

About the Association of Surfing Professionals The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the governing body of professional surfing.  Crowning surfing's undisputed world champions since 1976, the ASP sanctions the following tours: the Foster's ASP Men's World Tour (WCT), the ASP Women's World Tour, the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and the World Longboarding, Junior and Masters Championships. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world's best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.  These regions manage all their respective domestic affairs under the guidance of ASP International, which is located on the Gold Coast of Australia.  ASP International and ASP North America are committed to the progression of surfing and are dedicated to continuing excellent relationships with their surfers, event operators, sponsors and media.  For more information log onto www.aspworldtour.com or www.aspnorthamerica.org

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