O’Neill Cold Water Classic Prize: Kickstart

If you’re gonna do an event in this post-Hurley Pro Video Trials world we’re living in, then it better swing with some extra jazz in its hips. The O’Neill Cold Water Classic, which enjoyed brief stint in the sun as a world tour event last year (to mark 60 years of O’Neill), has this year pulled the reins back to being an invitational. With a little twist, just the way we dig.

For three days in November, Steamer Lane will light up. The format? A men’s specialty event for unsponsored surfers. Winner takes all. And that “all” is a 12-month sponsorship from O’Neill, with $50k in travel incentives and contest fees. #RealLifeKickstarter.

The 16-man field will consist of 10 invited unsponsored surfers, two wildcards and four surfers determined by you, the people, via an online vote. Wildcard submissions are now open right here – all that’s required is a completed form, headshot and, of course, dat action footage (before September 18). Public votes run for a week starting September 30.

Oh, and, there’ll also be an amateur field of 80 under 18 locals jamming out in the Ratboy Rampage.

Here’s the finer deets of the sponsorship package, as told by O’Neill: “One surfer will earn a complete year of sponsor support from the first American surf brand, O’Neill. With an estimated value of $50,000 USD, the grand prize winner will receive a travel, event and expenses budget to compete in at least seven of the ASP World Qualifying Series events in pursuit of qualifying for the World Championship Tour and a personal videographer, at specific events and locations, to document the thrill of victory (or agony of defeat) with a minimum of six video segments during the 2014 competition year. O’Neill, the originator of the wetsuit, will also throw in a hefty arsenal of the best wetsuits through an O’Neill Wetsuits sponsorship, as well as boardshorts and apparel.”

Dig on that.