2007 O'Neill Cold Water Classic

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

Perfect climax to O'Neill Cold Water Classic as Devyn Mattheys, Tarryn Chudleigh take the titles

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 25 August, 2007 : - - The final day of competition in the 2007 O'Neill Cold Water Classic was held at a new contest venue called Shipwreck  a beautiful beach break situated between Misty Cliffs and Scarborough in the Southern Peninsula. In a fitting climax to three days of unbelievably good surf at three totally different venues, Shipwreck produced seven hours of perfect 6 foot rights and lefts under sunny skies.

There were plenty of fine performances over the three days from a variety of different surfers. Some enjoyed the challenging Outer Kom lefts while others found the right breaking 365 waves to their liking.

On the final day though it was Devyn Mattheys of East London who made the best impression in the Men's Final to take the title, a cheque for R6000 and 1000 Surfing South Africa Pro Surf Tour ratings points. Mattheys is now three for three having won the O'Neill SA Open in May, the SA Championships in June and now the 3A Rated O'Neill Cold Water Classic.

Newly crowned SA Senior Men's Champion and previous O'Neill Cold Water Classic Champion Quintin Jones of Cape Town was second with Frankie Oberholzer of Warner Beach third and another former Cold Water Classic winner, Ryan Payne of Jeffreys Bay, fourth.

Current PST Pro Junior ratings leader Tarryn Chudleigh of Kommetjie beat the current Womens PST champion Sarah Maritz of Amanzimtoti to take the Women's crown and R2000 while Penny Robarts of Somerset West was third and 2003 Cold Water Classic winner Tasha Mentasti of Durban North was fourth.

The Vans Expression Session was won by Brad Mommsen of Berea, the Vans Retro Expression session cheque which featured surfers riding surfboards from previous decades was shared by Ian Armstrong and Wesley Grey (both Kommetjie) and 11 year old Benji Brand of Kommetjie won the Raw Courage Award for his tenacity in the grueling Outer Kom surf on Day One.

His prize was a special edition O'Neill Swatch watch, one of just 100 that were commissioned for the O'Neill Highland Pro in Scotland earlier this year. The Zig Zag Blowing Up Award for which comprises a unique replica hand grenade trophy and R1000, went to Sean Holmes.

An ecstatic Chris Bertish of O'Neill said that O'Neill could not have been more stoked with what the Peninsula had provided over the three days of competition. "It all went according to plan. Challenging, hard core, serious surf, tough conditions, three very special venues, top rate surfing from the contestants and a great final day. Next year will be even bigger and even better".

The O'Neill Cold Water Classic carries a PST rating of 3A for the Men and  2A for the Women and  was sanctioned by Surfing South Africa, the national governing body for surfing. The Cold Water Classic was supported by Vans and Crocs with medical support from Netcare 911.  

Previous reports:
# 1 : 2007 O'Neill Cold Water Classic set for Cape Peninsula
# 2 : Outer Kom delivers for O'Neill Cold Water Classic day #1
# 3 : The O'Neill Cold Water Classic hits Soetwater on Friday

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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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