Welcome to the O'Neill Cold Water Classic Canada 2010 - October 9-15!
Can Peter Devries make it two years in a row?
We watched as Peter Devries surfed his way through the qualifying sessions and scored a spot in the 2009 Cold Water Classic Canada. We stood together on the beach spell-bound as he paddled into the waves with a free surfer smile on his face and rocked the surf with international surfers who came to Tofino for the prestigious O'Neill event. Then, with the whole town a buzz, we held our breath in excitement as Pete kept his cool and surfed like a, well, like a true Tofino surfer with style and grace, speed and daring, wit and intelligence. Still keeping that laid-back smile and small town charm front and foremost, while the town (and national media) went crazy, Pete took his place amongst some of the best surfers in the world. Can he do it again in 2010? Come on out to Tofino and see.
Update: Peter Devires and Leah Oke win the 2010 Billabong September Storm Surf Classic on fantastic waves courtesy of Hurricane Igor. Both surfers won their respective divisions. CWCC Noah Cohen came in third behind Devries. Both Devries and Cohen will be at CWCC and we're hoping to see Oke in the Queen of The Peak competition. Oke also won the short board division of One Life Surfari held September 15. This is an annual surf competition held in Nova Scotia. Oke placed second to Caralee Murphy in the long board event.
What Surfers are Saying About CWCC 2010
“There is no better place to win a big event than at home in Tofino,” said Peter Devries. “I had so much support on the beach and to have my family and friends there was amazing.”
“This is going to be my first time to Canada,” said former World Tour surfer, Shaun Cansdell. “I’ve heard there are bears and lots of wildlife to see – which will be cool. And I’ve been looking forward to go surf some new waves.”
“To me this is one of the most beautiful surf locations on the planet,” said Peter Devries. “Combine that with the variety in weather and wave conditions we see in October and you've got an event unlike any other.”
This year will see Peter once again surfing his home break, along with over 140 others making the trek through the wilderness of western Canada to one of the most stunning – and of course freezing cold - events in professional surfing.
“I’ve already won the event so I don’t have anything to prove so there’s no pressure,” said the defending CWC Canada champion. “I want to go into it with the same mentality as last year and just have fun.”
He will be up against an international field of talent including the young Hawaiian, John John Florence, Nat Young, Cory Lopez and Dion Atikinson.
Also there will be South African, Royden Bryson, and Australians Stuart Kennedy, Shaun Cansdell and Dion Atkinson. All four surfers are in line for the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Series win – which comes with a $50,000 cheque - following the final event in Santa Cruz, California.
“I’ve been thinking about the series a bit and how good it would be to win it and the 50K,” said Shaun Cansdell. “I think I am sitting in the top 5 at the moment so I would have to do something pretty special in the next few events. But I will give it my 100% best.”
To all the Cold Water Classic Surfers - Welcome!
We loved having you in town last year, you brought great energy and kick ass surfing: we were impressed with your talent and your friendly attitude. Tofino is waiting to cheer you on again this year so pack your bags for Canada's cold surf and we'll see you at the beach!
Tofino Accommodation Specials for the CWCC
We have canvassed our Tofino accommodation clients for accommodation specials for the Cold Water Classic Canada. Find the list of Tofino Specials here and check back as new accommodations and services come onboard.
Queen of The Peak Surfing Contest
O'Neill to support the Western Canada’s First All-Female Surfing Contest Slated for Tofino, BC, October 8, 2010.
Shelter Restaurant and Surf Sister Surf School in Tofino are the organizers and supporters of this grassroots amateur event, scheduled for Friday, October 8. Over 30 surfers will compete for $2,500 in cash prizes in both longboard and shortboard categories. Events surrounding the competition include a wine and cheese reception hosted by Surf Sister the night before the competition and a gala awards dinner at Shelter following the contest. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Pacific Rim Hospice Society.
“This is great and fantastic news for women’s surfing,” said O’Neill’s British Columbia sales representative Harvey Soicher. “Last year I received quite a few comments about why the Cold Water Classic only had men competing. I am pleased that an event like this shows that women’s surfing is an important part of the surf scene here in Canada.” Read More about The Tofino Queen of the Peak Surfing Contest.
Pacific Rim National Park Beaches Considered for CWCC 2010
Rumour has it that beaches within the boundries of the Pacific Rim National Park (Long Beach, Wickanninsh Beach, etc) will be considered for use in the Cold Water Classic Canada. We say Wow! No matter where the surf is this year, the surfing contest will have access to the best possible surf locations on our part of the West Coast. Yeah!
"We are very pleased to have the opportunity to build on the success of last year's Cold Water Classic Canada event with the potential inclusion of the impressive surfing beaches in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve," said O'Neill Global Event Manager, Bernhard Ritzer, in the press release. "A major goal of the competition is to provide challenging experiences in spectacular locations for the world's best surfers. The Tofino area fulfills that goal perfectly."