Event Wrap Up: Josh Redman clinches O'Neill Cold Water Classic at Crayfish Factory in Cape Town

Josh Redman employed his patented powerful manoeuvres to overcome the double overhead surf and clinch the premier Men's title at the O'Neill Cold Water Classic in a nail-biting final at the challenging Crayfish Factory big wave spot in Cape Town on Sunday.

The strongly built 20 year-old from Umdloti, north of Durban, was awarded the title on a count-back when he and renowned big-wave charger and Crayfish Factory local Ian Armstrong from Kommetjie tied on 12.75 points out of a possible 20 in the 25 minute final.

Redman's highest scoring single ride of 8.0 out of 10 earned him the nod and the R6 000 winner's prize-purse along with 1 000 SSA Pro Surf Tour ratings points in the 3A rated event.

"I'm really happy to win in such challenging surf and against top class opposition," Redman said. "I like coming to Cape Town, I always have fun here, and well done to the organisers for holding the Men's event back until the big surf arrived on the final day."

The four-day event used a mobile format that took the contest to best surf available on each day. Virtually flat conditions saw the organisers postpone the event last Thursday before getting the opening rounds underway at Witsands on Friday and completing the preliminary rounds of the Pro Junior Boys at Misty Cliffs on Saturday.

The top two finished less than a point ahead of third placed Clinton Gravett (East London) with Matthew Bromley (Kommetjie), who only turns 17 next month, taking fourth in the final despite having dominated both his quarterfinal and semifinal heats with great wave selection and radical manoeuvres.

The 1A rated Women's title went to Kirsty Delport (Berea, Durban) who led from start to finish after opening her account with a long ride on a set wave in what was the first women's event ever staged at the Crayfish Factory. Delport finished 3.5 points clear of runner-up Tarryn Chudleigh (Kommetjie) with Melkbosstrand's Chantelle Rautenbach taking third and Tasha Mentasti (Durban) fourth.

O'Neill team rider Casey Grant from Scottburgh demonstrated his class in big surf to secure his second victory on successive weekends with a comfortable 4.0 point win over 14 year-old Davey Brand (Kommetjie) in the 3A rated Pro Junior Boys event. All four finalists displayed a fearless approach in the powerful surf with Chris Leppan (Umhlanga) and Michael February (Kommetjie) ending third and fourth respectively.

The fifth edition of the O'Neill Cold Water Classic was proudly supported by Ocean Minded footwear who performed beach clean ups on each day of the event; Corona Premium Beer and also EMT-Emergency Medical Training services who were on standby at the event for the four-day period.

The event was sanctioned by Surfing South Africa, the national controlling body for the sport, and formed part annual Pro Surf Tour (PST).

Results

Men

• 1. Josh Redman (Umdloti) - R6000
• 2. Ian Armstrong (Kommetjie) - R2400
• 3.Clinton Gravett (East London) - R1500
• 4. Matthew Bromley (Kommetjie) - R1300
• =5. Rob Bain (Australia) - R1000
• =5. Gary van Wieringen (Durban) - R1000
• =7. Dylan Stone (Port Elizabeth) - R800
• =7. Devyn Mattheys (East London) - R800

Women

• 1. Kirsty Delport (Berea, Durban) - R1000
• 2. Tarryn Chudleigh (Kommetjie) - R450
• 3. Chantelle Rautenbach (Melkbos) - R300
• 4. Tasha Mentasti (Durban) - R250

Pro Junior Boys

• 1. Casey Grant (Scottburgh) - R2500
• 2. Davey Brand (Kommetjie) - R1500
• 3. Chris Leppan (Umhlanga) - R1100
• 4. Michael February (Kommetjie) - R900

Day 3 Gallery

Day 2 Wrap Up: Wild and Wooly at Misty Cliffs

With driving rain in the morning and windy conditions, the event was postponed till a 10am start at Misty Cliffs, where the waves were a tricky, shifty 3-4ft and wedging bowls, coming from the left and right.

Only six heats were surfed, the Pro Junior Men's quarter and semi finals, with stand out's Casey Grant tearing his way through the quarter and semi finals. Brendon Gibbons, Chris La -pan and Mikey February all advancing through to the final day of competition, which organizers are looking at a full day of exciting surfing. Organisers are looking at the possibility of 365, The Kom and Crayfish Factory for the final day, as the surf is expected to build over night.

The final day will see the Men's round of 32 being surfed first, followed by the quarters and semi's and the Expression session and then the finals of all divisions.

Stay tuned as it's bound to be an exciting day of surfing.

Day 1 Wrap Up: Witsands produces 3 ft perfect offshore conditions

Standouts in the Junior Division, Davie Brand, Casey Grant, Nick Godfrey and Brendon Gibbons, demonstrated great skill and performance to advance into the next round tomorrow.

The men's divisionstand out's were Ian Armstrong and Rob Bain from Australia, who all surfed well and also advanced.

Tomorrow is looking like a wet and windy day, but they don't call it the Cold Water Classic for nothing. It's going to be a little wet and wild, but there will be waves and the quater finals and possibly the semi-finals of the Junior division, will most likely be held tomorrow.

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Opening function @ 782, Kommetjie - Wednesday 20 August 2008

The function was festive, the competitors were stoked and the Corona was flowing.

Breaking news just released, from O'Neill. The oldest surf brand and the brand repsonsible for teh invention of the wetsuit over fifty years ago is set to launch the Global Cold Water Classic Series. The CWC series will begin in Tasmania at the beginning of 2009, where it will then proceed to Scotland, then Cape Town, Nova Scotia-Canada and then ending in the events origin in Santa Cruz, California to end off the series.

This global series will be a world first, as the O'Neill Cold Water Classic series will boast the most Northern Surf event, the most Southern, the wildest and the most classic.

South Africa's Cold Water Classic will upgrade to a 5 or 6 Star WQS event to align with the all the other's in this unique series.

The global series will boast a huge prize purse, with two new events being added to the series, namely the Cold Water Classic Tasmania and Nova Scotia.

"I am incredibly proud to be part of this great new global series, launched by O'Neill. This series truely demonstrates the brands true passion to stay core to its roots and be involved in innovative, unique events which revolve around Cold Water, the brands world class wetsuits and Jack's passion to just surf that little bit longer."

Please contact the info line for updates on the venue daily - 082 233 4001

	Rating:		3A Rated PST Event
	Venue:		Mobile Event
	Divisions:		SSA PST 3A Rated Men, 3A Rated Pro Junior
	Date:		21- 24 August 2008
	Duration:		4 Day Waiting Period
	Location(s): Kalk Bay, Crayfish Factory, 365, The Kom, Dunes and The Hoek, Misty Cliffs and Witsands Prize money: R20 000 Mens and R10 000 Pro Junior For daily venue confirmation and contest updates phone: 082-2834001 Daily updates on this website Entry details: www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za