| Lighthouse Beach pumps nice waves for the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Tasmania |
| Saturday, 27 March 2010 18:33 |
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In a massive contrast, Tasmania’s wild west coast changed from yesterdays stormy freezing onshore coastline to an idyllic offshore and even cold sunny day with great waves as the quarter finalists were decided at the Association of Surfing Professionals 6-Star rated O’Neill Cold Water Classic. The biggest upset of the day was the defeat of defending event champion Jordy Smith (Sth Africa) who impressed all by easily winning his early heat but then went down to Marco Giorgi (Uruguay) in his round of 26 heat. Giorgi joins internationals Roydon Brysen (Sth Africa), Wigolly Dantas (Brazil) , Richard Christie (NZ) and Maxime Huscenot (France) through to the quarter finals. Veteran Sydney surfer Chris Davidson along with emerging youngsters Stuart Kennedy (Lennox Head) and Jayke Sharpe (Coff’s Harbour) will be Australia’s chances of winning this event in Tasmania. Davidson in particular looks better prepared and focused than he’s ever been when he defeated the World under 18 surfing champion Gabriel Medina from Brazil today. Davidson scored the days highest single wave score of a 9.6 out of a possible 10 in today’s excellent surf and goes into tomorrow’s quarter finals full of confidence. “The cold water is fine with me just as long as we’re getting the quality surf like we are here – that was a good win for me – the world junior champion has a big reputation and it’s good to take down any of the emerging talent – tomorrow should be good and I’m ready for the final day” said Davidson. “The event is a perfect preparation for Bells Beach next week , I’ll be fully acclimatized and Bells will actually feel warm which is good – the whole week has been amazing here though and I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s finals” added Davidson. Kennedy and Sharpe will meet in the quarter finals tomorrow and conditions should be ideal. In what has been an incredible week of weather and surf, tomorrows finals are expected to be held in excellent surf at Lighthouse Beach. The O’Neill Cold Water Classic Series of events is a series of 5 events each year running as part of the ASP World Qualifying Series beginning here in Tasmania and followed by events in Scotland, Sth Africa, Canada and USA. Tomorrow’s quarter finals as follows – 1. Roydon Brysen V Marco Giorgi
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