O’Neill Cold Water Classic – micro gallery

The O’Neill Cold Water Classic is a series of contests run throughout the year at, you guessed it, cold water spots (think New Zealand, Scotland, Canada). Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz is the current stop in the series and today half of round one was completed in smallish waves. But, due to the physical set-up of the spot, there’s plenty of options for quality camera angles. What, more Kolohe? And Jules? Yes, but the shots you see here are all that were on offer, we swear. Plus, is it any surprise that the most photogenic surfers get the coverage? (Photogenic, of course, meaning their mid-flare board and limb placement.) And, these guys are all winners! Except for Miguel, who came second in his heat. But the rest dominated. All photos by Cory Hansen Kolohe’s one-two punch.   Kolohe’s fin-flash, from the back.|   Julian Wilson, flooring his recently-improved tail-power.   Miguel Pupo, booties, fluoro and spray.   Matty Wilkinson was a little scared before his heat, having injured his ankle recently. But once he got out there it felt fine. And he won.   Nate Yeomans, flaring between two giants.   Check out the Cold Water Classic site, here. O’NEILL COLD WATER CLASSIC ROUND 1 RESULTS: Heat 1: Mason Ho (HAW) 12.53, Jason Collins (USA) 12.10, Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 11.87, Alejo Muniz (BRA) 10.03Heat 2: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 12.37, Cory Lopez (USA) 9.20, Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 7.24, Brent Dorrington (AUS) 4.83Heat 3: Kolohe Andino (USA) 16.63, Richard Christie (NZL) 13.90, Michael Dunphy (USA) 9.93, Rudy Palmboom (ZAF) 9.06Heat 4: Nathan Yeomans (USA) 14.90, Miguel Pupo (BRA) 13.23, Adam Robertson (AUS) 12.07, Sunny Garcia (AUS) 11.87Heat 5: Shaun Joubert (ZAF) 13.10, Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 11.77, Gavin Gillette (HAW) 10.86, Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY) 9.37Heat 6: Chris Davidson (AUS) 13.94, Hizunome Bettero (BRA) 12.50, Austin Ware (USA) 11.33, Tim Reyes (USA) 10.90Heat 7: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 15.34, Willian Cardoso (BRA) 9.80, Brian Toth (PRI) 7.17, Roy Powers (HAW) 7.16Heat 8: Luke Davis (USA) 15.37, Joel Centeio (HAW) 10.60, Alain Riou (PYF) 8.03, Nicholas Squires (AUS) 7.40Heat 9: Nat Young (USA) 15.27, Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 13.30, Heath Joske (AUS) 12.24, Kevin Sullivan (HAW) 7.17Heat 10: Dusty Payne (HAW) 15.67, Dion Atkinson (AUS) 13.84, Joan Duru (FRA) 11.73, Dale Staples (ZAF) 8.47Heat 11: Evan Geiselman (USA) 11.50, Thiago Camarao (BRA) 11.07, Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 10.77, Jeronimo Vargas (BRA) 6.66Heat 12: Julian Wilson (AUS) 15.47, Lincoln Taylor (AUS) 13.10, Mitch Crews (AUS) 12.86, Matt Myers (USA) 9.90