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By Press Release:

ASSOCIATION OF SURFING PROFESSIONALS (ASP) NORTH AMERICA

O’NEILL COLD WATER CLASSIC PRESENTED BY JEEP
Steamer Lane, Santa Cruz, California
October 17-22, 2006

LOCALS SHINE AT O’NEILL COLD WATER CLASSIC PRESENTED BY JEEP DAY FIVE

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (Saturday, October 21, 2006) – The surf increased to well overhead today, but not before adding a slight bump that saw local knowledge prove paramount at day five of the O’Neill Cold Water Classic presented by Jeep.

The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) four-star event kicked off again this morning at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz, Calif. narrowing the men’s field down to the final 16 competitors before moving into the Oakley Pro Junior.

Local standouts Josh Mulcoy (Santa Cruz, Calif.) and Josh Loya (Santa Cruz, Calif.) kept their 2006 O’Neill Cold Water Classic campaigns on track today advancing into tomorrow’s quarterfinals. The two surfers qualified for the event via the Trials and have been favorites amongst the huge hometown turnout.

“I’ve surfed seven heats (this event) out here already which is a few more than everyone else,” Mulcoy said. “Steamer’s is the kind of wave that if you haven’t surfed it much before, you could have a difficult time out there. The guys who surf here a lot have a big advantage and having all your friends and neighbors show up never hurts either.”

Luke Munro (Currumbin, Aus.), current No. 11 on the ASP WQS ratings, netted the day’s highest heat total for the men’s event of a 14.57 out of a possible 20 for a fluid series of full-rail carves on his forehand.

“I think the tide is getting a little lower now, so the lump isn’t as bad as it’s been all morning,” Munro said. “I was able to pick off two pretty good ones and everything came together. My boards feel great.”

With the top 15 finishers on this season’s ASP WQS qualifying for the prestigious Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour in 2007, Munro is in good standing going into the business end of the season.

“I’ve had a pretty good year but I haven’t qualified (for the ASP World Tour) yet,” Munro said. “A result here would be huge and really give me that confidence I need going into the end of the year.”

Nathan Yeomans (San Clemente, Calif.) moved one step closer to clinching the Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series presented by Jeep (an ASP North America specialty series) today advancing on through his Round of 32 heat. Also advancing today was Nathaniel Curran (Ventura, Calif.) – who is also in contention for the title. The two will meet tomorrow morning in the first quarterfinal heat of the O’Neill Cold Water Classic presented by Jeep.

The Oakley Pro Junior ASP North American Championships (an ASP grade two event) got underway this afternoon with the Round of 32. As the final event of the 2006 ASP North America Pro Junior series, the Oakley Pro Junior serves as the ASP North America National Championships, determining who will represent the region in January’s ASP World Junior Championships.

Sterling Spencer (Pensacola, Fla.) and Adam Wickwire (Satellite Beach, Fla.), No. 4 and 5 respectively on the ASP North America Pro Junior ratings going into this event, were surprise eliminations from competition today leaving the door open for a possible ratings shift.

Kilian Garland (Orcutt, Calif.), currently sits in 7th position and will be first to directly benefit from the Floridians eliminations. Should Garland finish 5th or higher, he will overtake Wickwire’s fourth position and qualify for the ASP World Junior Championships.

“I’d be super stoked if I could qualify for the ASP World Juniors but I’m trying not to think about the points,” Garland (who advanced through to tomorrow’s quarterfinals) said. “I’m just focusing on my surfing and taking it one heat at a time.”

Dion Atkinson (Seaford, Aus.), although eliminated from the O’Neill Cold Water Classic this morning, smashed his opponents with the day’s high heat total of an 18.77 out of a possible 20.

“The waves are much better out there this afternoon than they were this morning,” Atkinson said. “I’m pretty disappointed that I didn’t advance in the Cold Water, but it’s good to go out there and try my luck in the Pro Junior.”

The top-four finishers on the ASP North America Pro Junior series, along with Alex Gray (Palos Verdes, Calif.) will be sent to the ASP World Junior Championships held in Narrabeen, New South Wales, Australia. Gray has already secured his entry by being the highest-ranked North America surfer of the WQS who is of junior age – Gray is currently ranked 43rd.

The O’Neill Cold Water Classic presented by Jeep and the Oakley Pro Junior will both finish tomorrow capping off the 2006 ASP North America season as well as the Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series presented by Jeep.

Live webcasting is available at http://www.oneill.com.

For further information, log onto www.aspnorthamerica.org.

TOMORROW’S SCHEDULE:
8:00 am – 9:40 am: Oakley Pro Junior Quarterfinals (16 surfers remaining) Heats 1 – 4
9:40 am – 11:20 pm: O’Neill Cold Water Classic Quarterfinals (16 surfers remaining) Heats 1 – 4
11:20 am – 12:20 pm: Oakley Pro Junior Semifinals (8 surfers remaining) Heats 1 – 2
12:20 pm – 1:20 pm: O’Neill Cold Water Classic Semifinals (8 surfers remaining) Heats 1 – 2
1:20 pm – 1:55 pm: Oakley Pro Junior Finals (4 surfers remaining)
1:55 pm – 2:30 pm: O’Neill Cold Water Classic Finals (4 surfers remaining)

RESULTS – Day 3

Round 5 O’Neill Cold Water Classic pres. by Jeep: 32 surfers remain (1st and 2nd advance)

Heat 1: Tim Reyes (USA) 11.40, Ian Walsh (HAW) 10.34, Brett Simpson (USA) 9.34, Dion Atkinson (AUS) 9.30
Heat 2: Roy Powers (HAW) 12.40, Ryan Helm (USA) 10.33, Dane Reynolds (USA) 10.17, Alex Gray (USA) 9.64
Heat 3: Josh Loya (USA) 12.67, Nathaniel Curran (USA) 11.43, Jason Collins (USA) 11.03, Austin Ware (USA) 10.54
Heat 4: Cory Lopez (USA) 12.84, Nathan Yeomans (USA) 11.73, Kahea Hart (HAW) 6.73, Kellen Ellison (USA) 5.83
Heat 5: Toby Martin (AUS) 11.50, Josh Mulcoy (USA) 9.93, Kyle Knox (USA) 7.87, Nick Rozsa (USA) 5.60
Heat 6: Dusty Payne (HAW) 10.90, Jay Thompson (AUS) 9.34, Nathan Carroll (HAW) 6.43, Dean Randazzo (USA) 3.07
Heat 7: Mike Losness (USA) 13.66, Jesse Merle-Jones (HAW) 10.03, Dane Gudauskas (USA) 9.00, Granger Larsen (HAW) 6.46
Heat 8: Luke Munro (AUS) 14.57, Ben Bourgeois (USA) 14.27, Ola Eleogram (HAW) 7.17, Joel Centeio (HAW) 2.10

Round 2 Oakley Pro Junior: 32 surfers remain (1st and 2nd advance)
Heat 1: Devon Tresher (USA) 14.40, Ricky Whitlock (USA) 13.53, Jake Kirshenbaum (USA) 10.50, Eddie Guilbeau (USA) 7.07
Heat 2: Dion Atkinson (AUS) 18.77, Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 13.67, Andrew Doheny (USA) 11.33, Tommy Bursian (USA) 7.44
Heat 3: Kilian Garland (USA) 13.07, Dylan Graves (PRI) 12.17, Brad Burdick (USA) 9.33, Jesse Heilman (USA) 6.10
Heat 4: Eric Geiselman (USA) 12.43, Eddie Lester (USA) 9.50, Mason Ho (HAW) 8.33, Nat Young (USA) 3.63
Heat 5: Alex Gray (USA) 14.66, Granger Larsen (HAW) 8.67, Cody Thompson (USA) 8.17, Matt Mohagen (USA) 6.00
Heat 6: Alejandro Moreda (PRI) 11.73, Nick Rozsa (USA) 10.84, Colin Schildhauer (USA) 10.73, Kyle Kennelly (USA) 6.00
Heat 7: Brandon Ragenovich (USA) 10.43, Tom Rudd (USA) 9.37, Sterling Spencer (USA) 7.07, Dewey Cunnison (USA) 5.50
Heat 8: Dusty Payne (HAW) 15.60, Drew Ventura (USA) 11.83, Adam Wickwire (USA) 7.40, Zack Humphreys (USA) 6.60

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