Sports
The O'Neill Cold Water Classic Starts Wednesday
One of Northern California's premier surfing competitions returns to Santa Cruz. You can watch it live at the link below.
Summer is coming to a close. Enthusiastic tourists, warm weather and the energy of live music at the Beach Boardwalk has left Santa Cruz. But as winter nears us, a new form of energy will electrify Surf City with solid waves and Northern California’s premier surfing contest, the O'Neill Cold Water Classic.
After making two stops around the world – one in Scotland the other in New Zealand – the Cold Water Classic series will make its unpredictable finale in Santa Cruz Wednesday through Monday.
is the title sponsor of the series and the finale will take place at Steamers Lane on the wast side of Santa Cruz. This is the same surf spot that Jack O’Neill, founder of O’Neill, developed the modern wet suit and surf leash in the early 1960’s.
Find out what's happening in Santa Cruzwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The O'Neill Cold Water Classic, first called "O'Neill Coors Cold Water Classic," began at Steamer Lane in 1987 and had a prize purse of $33,000. Now, 25 years later the prize purse for this World Qualifying Series event is $250,000. It will bring some of the top surfers from around the world.
The winner of the CWC series will be awarded a $50,000 bonus, and if Santa Cruz is as unpredictable as the first two stops, the series will come down to the last wave.
Find out what's happening in Santa Cruzwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
At the previous stop, Brent Dorrington, an Australian surfer, won in less then stellar conditions on April 17 in Scotland. It was Dorrington's first win as a professional, and the result bumped him from ninth place to first.
Trials for the competition start Wednesday morning with 4-5 foot west/north-west swell (according to magicseaweed.com) and the finals will be held over the weekend.
