By: Alex Wilson

Day 6 dawned windy and overcast but clearer than yesterday, and good visibility at the Lane allowed contest organizers to kick things off around 8:30am in the stormy, head-to-overhead conditions. After fog put the contest on delay yesterday, it was decided that an unscheduled Day 6 would be held today to finish the O'Neill Coldwater Classic presented by Jeep, the third and final stop of the Macy's California Trifecta Surf Series.

The first heat of the day was Heat 3 of the Quarter Finals, and in that heat, defending O'Neill Coldwater Classic champion Kieran Horn looked comfortable and likely to push through into the next round. Sitting in an advancing position until the final few moments, Horn made use of local knowledge to post a pair of good scores, but was edged out by Bobby Martinez and Matt Archbold. With just minutes remaining, both Martinez and Archbold came on strong. Going to work on his backhand, Martinez posted a 7.15 and a 9.0 to take 1st, while Archie tore into a slot wave on his forehand for an 8.5 to advance in 2 nd .

In Heat 4, Alex Gray managed to connect a long and bumpy ride to the inside. Slashing his final turn right on top of the rocks, Alex scurried up the cliff for the run out to the point just as the judges announced his score. That ride, a 5.35, would briefly allow Gray to take the lead, but he was soon ousted by Dylan Graves who posted a 7.0 with a series of gouges and top-turns. Late in the heat, Graves would also be nudged from 1 st by an inform Nate Yeomans. Yeomans would go on to win in 1 st , with Graves advancing behind him in 2 nd .

Cory Lopez threw a trio of big slams in the opening seconds of the first heat of the Semifinals. That wave earned a 7.0, a score that put him out to an early lead and established his pace for the remainder of the heat. Comfortably retaining 1 st throughout, Lopez caught nearly every good wave that came through. “They all just came right to me,” he said of his wave magnet-like 1 st place finish. Advancing behind Lopez into the Finals was fellow CTer Timmy Reyes who dropped into his last wave needing a 4.01. With a vicious tail blow and a pair of swooping cutbacks, Reyes managed a 6.25 to secure 2 nd .

Heat 2 of the Semis saw WCTer Bobby Martinez, Puerto Rico 's Dylan Graves, the legendary Matt Archbold and Trifecta point's race contender Nate Yeomans battle it out. In a heat that was very closely contested for the first 15 minutes, it was Archbold and Martinez finally who broke things wide open. Catching a gem on the outside, Martinez demolished the lip repeatedly to work his way past the judges and down into the Indicator bowl to post the second, and last, perfect 10 of the contest. “That wave was a 10 when I caught it,” said a smiling Martinez , “and I just went along for the ride.” Nearly as devastating was Archie, who savagely tore through his own Indicator wall for an 8.0, a score that cemented him in the 2 nd place transition slot for advancement into the Finals.

Yeomans, who needed a 2 nd place finish over all at the Coldwater Classic to claim the $5,000 Trifecta point's title, failed to advance from the Semis, effectively making Asher Nolan this year's Macy's champ.

After the second Semifinal, the Classic went on break as everyone prepared for the Finals, a 35-minute main event. Matched up were WCT surfers and fellow O'Neill team riders Cory Lopez and Timmy Reyes, future WCTer Bobby Martinez, and former Coldwater Classic champion Matt Archbold. With waves continuing to regularly pump in around the point, the stage was set for an epic clash between four insanely talented surfers.

Sitting wide on the middle peak at the opening of the heat was Timmy Reyes, who nabbed a big reeling lefthander. Going vertical for a huge backside slam, Reyes fell, broke his leash and was washed through the spin cycle on the inside. Finally grabbing his board before it washed up on the rocks, Timmy was left leash-less after paddling back out to the lineup. Coming unglued after finding a good score on his second wave, a 6.25, Timmy eventually lost his board near the cliffs, and, as he swam in, watched as it was pummeled on the rocks. After a board exchange, Reyes jumped off the point and back into the line up, but after a drama filled few minutes he was left without any momentum. Lopez also looked to be out of rhythm and he was effectively left comboed and in need of two good scores by the end of the heat.

With both Lopez and Reyes working to get things going, Archie and Martinez went on a tear in a blazing exchange that left them separated by only a half a point. With 8.5's under each surfer's belt, it was Martinez 's 7.0 backup score that would hand him the win. $5,000 richer, an ecstatic Martinez was crowned the 2005 O'Neill Coldwater Classic champ. “It hasn't really sunk in yet,” he said of his win, “but I'm so happy I was able to stick around and surf.” Martinez nearly left yesterday because of other obligations, but after the remaining heats were officially postponed he made arrangements to remain in Santa Cruz . “My girlfriend had to go back home so she could work today,” he said, “but we found another ride for her so I was able to stick around. I'm really glad I did!”

Results :
1st - Bobby Martinez: $10,000
2nd – Matt Archbold: $5,000
3rd – Cory Lopez: $3,000
4th – Tim Reyes: $2,400

Macy's California Trifecta Points Champion:
Asher Nolan: $5,000