2007 O'Neill Cold Water Classic

SSA 3A Men's & 2A Women's Event
Cape Peninsula South Africa
23 - 26 August 2007

Awesome Outer Kom produces the goods on Day One of the 2007 O'Neill Cold Water Classic

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 23 August, 2007 : - - The 2007 O'Neill Cold Water Classic got under way in style Thursday in awesome 6 - 10 foot surf at Outer Kom near the lighthouse in Kommetjie and despite intermittent rain squalls which had officials and spectators diving for cover the first day's surfing in this year's Cold Water Classic will be remembered for the challenging surf and not the weather.

Outer Kom is a left breaking point wave near the lighthouse in Kommetjie and is notorious for its hard core take off and size. Power and speed  make it an unforgiving wave and mistakes almost always result in tough wipeouts and the long paddle through big walls of whitewater in the kelp bed to calmer water requires plenty of stamina.

The early round heats were 25 minute long and each surfer's top two waves counted towards a final score. Only the top two surfers advanced in each of the rounds and some of these qualifiers had to compete in three exhausting heats. Due to the size of the waves and tough conditions  a rescue craft was on hand throughout the day while Netcare 911 were on duty at the site to assist with any medical emergency.

There were a number of fine performances throughout the day but the standout surfers were former two time SA Champion Sean Holmes of the Wilderness and 2007 SA Junior Team member Matthew Bromley of Kommetjie, who regards Outer Kom as one of his local surf spots. Both surfers dominated their first and second round heats and easily advanced to Round three.

Other surfers who advanced to Round Three were Stephen Friedman of Durban,Andrew Lange of Scottburgh, Miles Masterson, Graeme Fields and Neil Zietsman of Hout Bay, Ryan Koch, Thomas King Kleynhans, Davey Brand, Josh Salie, Ian Armstrong and Luke Christie Smith of Kommetjie, Callan Batham of Tableview, John Micheletti of Camps Bay, Philip Nel of Somerset West and East London surfer Simon Fish.

Only two of the Round Three heats could be completed and unfortunately 14 year old Davey Brand of Kommetjie was eliminated when he lost out to Brandon Jackson of Durban North and O'Neill SA Open champion Devyn Mattheys of East London. Ryan Koch and fellow Kommetjie surfer Brett Shearer will join Jackson and Mattheys in the next round after they eliminated Rory Beach of Durban and Neil Zietsman.

Organisers are "cautiously optimistic" that the demanding surf will be around for at least the next day or so and will make a call on the venue for the second day of this unique event at 7.30am Friday (August 24).

According to Chris Bertish of O'Neill the event is going according to the script. " We are stoked that the Kom was the venue for Day One and so impressed with the level of surfing. The conditions were exactly what we wanted - big, demanding, extreme and really hard core and we are hoping for more of the same over the next few days."

The O'Neill Cold Water Classic carries a PST rating of 3A for the Men and  2A for the Women and  is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa, the national governing body for surfing. The Cold Water Classic is supported by Vans and Crocs with medical support from Netcare 911. Contestants and officials must meet at Long Beach Kommetjie on Friday August 24 at 7.30 am for a venue decision.

Venue details of the O'Neill Cold Water Classic as well as heat results will be listed on surfingsouthafrica.co.za daily and  the status of the contest during the four day window period will be available from the WP Surfing info line on 0822334001 after 8am each day. pictures of the previous day's surfing will be available from oneillsa.com each morning.

Previous reports:
# 1 : 2007 O'Neill Cold Water Classic set for Cape Peninsula
# 2 : Coming soon
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon  

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Surfing South Africa
Robin de Kock
surfingsouthafrica@gmail.com

O'Neill South Africa
Chris Bertish
chrisb@fifthelement.co.za

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