By: Alex Wilson
Waddell Creek was the call this morning for the 2 nd half of the Round of 128 and the entire Round of 96 at the O'Neill Coldwater Classic, the third and final stop of the Macy's California Trifecta Surf Series. At Waddell, peaky and glassy conditions were on offer for the early heats, with waist-to-chest-high beachbreak bumps coming through.
The first heat of the morning was Heat 9 of the Round of 128, and in that heat, Chaz Chidester and Zander Morton managed to shut down local Santa Cruz fixture Josh Loya, who in days prior had been a standout performer at the Lane. Ripping the small conditions, Chidester and Morton advanced in 1 st and 2 nd respectively, while Loya unfortunately failed to secure a birth into the next round.
Torrey Meister threw a big tail blow in Heat 11 in route to his 2 nd place advance behind Tyler Anderson, who was comfortably in control of that match up with a pair of 6's that earned him 1st.
In Heat 12, Jessie Heilman went to work on his backhand on his first wave, wracking up a 7.33. That score was later backed up with an 8.67 that Heilman earned with a vicious series of slashes followed by a big tail slide reverse on the end section. Pulling the reverse despite spinning through a kelp patty during the end of the rotation, Heilman put a very nice finishing touch on one of the highest scoring rides of the competition. “I was freezing out there,” said Jesse after returning to the beach with a 1 st place finish in hand. “I was just trying to get some waves and do as many turns as I could.” Advancing from Heat 12 in 2 nd was Santa Cruz legend Anthony Ruffo, who won the inaugural Coldwater Classic back in 1985.
In a match up full of worldly flavor, it was Venezuelan Magnum Martinez who claimed the win in Heat 13, while local surfer Tyler Smith advanced behind him in the transfer slot.
In heat 14, Canadian Peter Devries was explosive amidst the chilly and challenging conditions, posting two 8.0's to take down the win. “This place is pretty similar to the beachbreak where I grew up,” said Devries, “so I felt really comfortable out there.” Commenting on the chill factor, Peter laughed good-naturedly. “Compared to up north, it's warm down here,” he said with a smile.
Matt Archbold came blazing out of the gates to post a combination of a high 6 and a 7.50 in the first five minutes of his heat, Heat 15. In a performance that strongly contrasted his heat strategy on Thursday, when he sat for nearly 16 minutes without a scoring wave, Archie's advance today was secured immediately on the merits of his opening rides.
After the last heat of the Round of 128, a heat won by Australian Mitchell Coleborn, contest organizers decided to run double contest areas for the Round of 96 at Waddell Creek. With eight surfers in the water competing in two different contest areas it was an action packed but somewhat hectic round. Highlights included performances by Rob Machado, Kyle Knox, Sterling Spencer, Dane Gudauskas and Macy's California Trifecta Surf Series point's leader Asher Nolan.
In his heat, Heat 1, Machado fell behind early and was actually tested by his fellow competitors for the first time in four days of competition. But he handily rose to the challenge, taking apart a speedy little left for a series of off the tops and a frontside slam-to-reverse on the inside that earned a 9.17 and a strangle hold on 1 st place.
Asher Nolan posted a total of 16.13 in his advance from the Round of 96 during Heat 2, while in Heat 7, Kyle Knox threw a collection of gaffs and slams to earn a combined 15.16.
In Heats 8 and 10, Sterling Spencer and Dane Gudauskas each racked up heat scores that exceeded 16 points.
Increasing wind and deteriorating conditions at Waddell, combined with reports that the new NW swell was showing at Steamer Lane , prompted contest organizers to move the venue once more this afternoon back into the heart of Santa Cruz for the opening heats of the Round of 64. Four heats would be run before dark.
In the first heat back at the Lane, WCT rookie and O'Neill team rider Timmy Reyes made his first appearance at the Coldwater Classic, and he looked completely in rhythm at this WQS event. Catching practically every good wave that came through, Reyes left the other competitors searching for solid scoring rides. He posted an 8.17 and a 7.17 to take 1st, while advancing in 2 nd was Rob Machado, who pushed through into the transfer slot on his lowest scores of the contest so far.
Heat 2 saw some nice sets come peeling around the point, a sure sign that the new NW swell was beginning to arrive as promised, and Hawaiian Jesse Merle-Jones made the most of the improving conditions to claim 1 st easily. Squeaking through behind Merle-Jones was Asher Nolan, who, by advancing, maintained his hold on the top slot in the Macy's Trifecta point's race.
Aussie Matt Hoar claimed 1st in Heat 3, while Heat 4, the last heat of the day, saw Santa Cruz local Josh Mulcoy take the win. Mulcoy is one of the few locals left in the competition after a rough two days at Waddell Creek, and he looked both comfortable and loose out at the Lane.
With the evident arrival of a new, very solid NW swell, the O'Neill Coldwater Classic is anticipating excellent waves for the last day of competition tomorrow. With a call time of 7:00am, organizers will push through the final heats of the Round of 64, the entire Round of 32, and ultimately the finals in a day that should prove to be epic. Forecasters are calling for head-high to double overhead conditions.
