Wild Tasmanian coast : photo courtesy O'Neill

O'Neill Cold Water Classic Tasmania

ASP 6 Star Mens WQS event
Tasmania, Australia
23 - 29 March 2009

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O’Neill Cold Water Classic Series day four on Tasmania’s wild west coast.

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 25 March, 2009 : - - Marrawah, Tasmania - After three days of near perfect conditions for the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Tasmania, organisers have been forced to call a lay day as strong onshore winds hit the rugged northwest Tasmanian coast.

“We came to check Lighthouse beach this morning,” said contest director Matt Wilson. “The swell had dropped. It’s still surfable but not as good as when we finished off yesterday,” he said. “The onshore winds are into it already and we expect them to increase during the day. It looks ugly.”

So what to do on a lay day in one of the most wild and spectacular corners of the world?  Most of the surfers indulged in the unfavourable conditions – complete with howling wind and rain - with a proper day off – like Jarrad Howse: “We spent the day making sure the fire had enough wood to keep going, and watching DVDs,” he said.

Meanwhile the contest’s judges were treated to local culture, diving with local Abalone fisherman, Phil Critchlow for an evening snack.  “As soon as the lay day was announced, about half a dozen people asked me what happens round here,” said Phil. “A few went to see Dismal Swamp, or for a walk in the Tarkine rainforest.”

Walkabout Tasmanian coast : photo courtesy O'Neill

“I wanted to show a few guys a bit of modern local heritage, so with my friend Chris Spafford we went down to the Lighthouse – where the comp was yesterday - and got our gear on. We had a 4.3 wetsuit, with hood and boots, flippers, a lead belt, snorkels and masks. And the guys were swimming around watching.

“The abalone like areas where a certain type of weed grows because that’s their favourite food,” he said. “You can only catch 10 a day if you have a recreational license and they have to be a certain size. “

“The really nice factor was that these guys got out of the water buzzing,” he said. “Everyone’s coming back around tonight for a cook up. I gave a few to the surfers on my way back as well and told them how to prepare them –You slice them about a quarter of an inch thick, tenderise them, then quickly fry them with garlic and butter - but everyone has their special way of doing it.”

With conditions forecast to improve tomorrow on the other side of this front, it was a much indulged in and successful rest day. “The winds might not be as good as the last few days but the swell is looking good,” said Matt Wilson.  The next call will take place tomorrow (March 27) at 7.30am

Check the Live Coverage  |  Results  |  ASP Day 3 Excel Sheet

Previous reports:
# 1 : Tasmania will kick off O’Neill Cold Water Classic Series 
# 2 : O'Neill CWC Tasmania WQS kicks off in epic conditions
# 3 : O'Neill CWC: Great surf on Tasmania's northwest coast
# 4 : Coming soon  

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