Cold Water Classic Canada 2009

2010 Cold Water Classic Canada is coming...Here's a recap of 2009!

Tofino Welcomes You to the 2009 Cold Water Classic Canada

We were excited - very excited to see top surfers in our village of Tofino, BC. We've surfed the waves and want to watch to the big boys do it (ahh if only they had a womens comp too —would that ever be sweet). Billed as The Coldest of The O'Neill Cold Water Classic Surf Events, Tofino welcomed the contest to our beaches October 25-31, 2009.

Thank you O'Neill for bringing your Cold Water Classic to Tofino.
Thank you surfers for making the trip to our part of the world.
Welcome everyone to watch world class surfing and get inspired!

Oh Canada! King Pete Wins O'Neill Cold Water Classic in Tofino, BC!

In front of a huge home town crowd, Pete Devries took top honours today at the Cold Water Classic Canada. Sunny and warm-ish at North Chesterman the day began at 9:30 am when the first heat of the quarter finals was announced: Cory Lopez bested Dusty Payne in that heat. Pete was up next with Glenn Hall who rode like a surfer possessed yesterday and a favourite of many because of his Irish status. But Pete kept true to his free surfing form and won the heat. Both cheers and a collective 'Whew!' went through the crowd - one down. Next was Mark Mathews and Brandon Johnson with Mathews upset by Johnson. And finally strong surfer Jay Thompson won over Nathan Hedge.

Peter Devries sprays a big tail behind him in the finals of The O'Neill Cold Water Classic Canada!

Next was the semi-finals - four surfers left. It was Cory Lopez and Pete Devries in the first round. Lopez was hot and the crowd sensed a show-down. Hopeful but realizing that Lopez was a contender we were riveted to the action. Pete was sensational, selecting waves that gave him great opportunities and making the most of those with big moves. The crowd loved it and so did the judges. At the end of the heat it was Devries 10.23 and Lopez 6.50. Thompson surfed a great heat against Jackson and the die was cast - it would be Devries vs Thompson in the final. The excitement was palpable throughout the crowd, everyone started smiling and looking at each other. Could this be happening? It was.

Peter Devries sticks to his board in The Final Heat of The O'Neill Cold Water Classic Canada, Tofino Surf Event, Tofino, BC

The finals and it was just Devries and Thompson. The waves had broken down from the morning and were pretty, well not so pretty: Lots of wind and white. Here comes Pete on a small wave (score of 1.0). That gives priority to Thompson. Will he take advantage of it? Thompson takes a wave (3.33 score). Pete again (1.3) and Thompson (0.6). Then Pete sees an opportunity and takes it - it's big and he's riding it! (7.0) The crowd goes wild! But wait, he's caught another wave and it's big, he lands everything, the crowd is beside itself - a 7.43 - Massive cheers. Thompson is having difficulty finding a wave. He needs to score big but it's just not happening he gets 4.17, 0.77, 0.90, 1.60 and 0.43 scores on waves he rides. Pete keeps looking around and taking waves. He finds the better ones and scores 0.37, 1.50, 5.00, 4.20 1.27 and then it comes, the wave of the heat for him and he takes it. The beach is exploding by this time watching him dance his board throughout this wave - a 9.00. How does he do it? Thompson takes ones last wave and scores a respectable 5.30. But it's Devries all the way and the crowd, who has been hopeful is now overjoyed - everyone's yelling, smiling, hugging, laughing. It's even more than he's a local boy, he's such a great surfer and such a great guy, we're just so happy for him!

Jay Thompson getting his best, and last, wave of the final heat in the O'Neill Cold Water Classic Canada to finish second.

Cut to people running into the water with the Canadian flag and champagne. Not just surfers, but ordinary town folk who just run right in not caring about the frigid temperatures. It's a joyous scene and we are so proud of Pete, Thompson and all the surfers who came to Tofino for this event. See you all next year!

Tofino's Peter Devries: Winning Surfer, Great Guy!