Inaugural O'Neill Cold Water Classic Canada Lands at Tofino

TOFINO, British Columbia (Friday, October 16, 2009) – The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6-Star O’Neill Cold Water Classic Canada represents the fourth of five events on O’Neill’s 2009 Cold Water Series, and the inaugural event at Tofino on Vancouver Island will see the finest up-and-coming surfers battle for valuable ratings points towards next year’s ASP World Tour at Canada’s first professional surf contest from October 25 through 31, 2009.
With the ASP WQS season coming to a close, the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Canada’s ASP 6-Star status will offer crucial points towards surfers’ campaigns towards qualification for a spot on the 2010 ASP World Tour.
Brett Simpson (Huntington Beach, CA), 24, is fresh off of a third-place result at an ASP 6-Star event in Brazil and is currently rated sixth overall on the ASP WQS. Now the dedicated regular-footer is setting his sights to the frigid waters of Canada’s coast to solidify his spot on next year’s ASP World Tour.
“I’m definitely looking to seal the deal in Canada,” Simpson said. “I don’t know if I’m on next year’s tour yet, but if I go over there and better one of my results that will take care of everything.”
Simpson’s last result at the premier Brazilian event is giving him a relaxed approach entering the O’Neill Cold Water Classic and he’s out to use the confidence built throughout the season to carry him to another impressive result in the Pacific Northwest.
“The result in Brazil gives me confidence going over the Canada for sure,” Simpson said.” My main goal going over to Brazil was to get a 3rd or better and I ended up doing that in the second event over in Rio! It definitely gives me a little more breathing room to go out and surf a bit more relaxed now in the up-and-coming Cold Water events.”
Nathan Yeomans (San Clemente, CA), 28, is currently sitting in the No. 19 position overall on the ASP WQS and is just outside of the qualification bubble for a spot on next year’s ASP World Tour. The San Clemente goofy-footer knows that a win at the upcoming O’Neill Cold Water Classic Canada will play a vital role in his cause towards qualification for next year’s ASP Dream Tour.
“This is obviously a big event for me,” Yeomans said. “It’s also nice to be back competing in the North America region. A win here will solidify me for the 2010 ASP World Tour. I’m not worrying about the outcome though, I’m just concentrating on pushing my surfing and focusing on one heat at a time. I’m really looking forward to these last couple events. It’s going to be exciting to push myself and meet the goals I have set for myself.”
Yeomans is also excited to tackle the adventurous terrain and surf that lies ahead on Canada’s wild coastline.
“I’m really looking forward to this event,” Yeomans said. “It’s going to be damn cold but I just got my new wetsuits, so I’m ready. I’ve never been to Canada before so I’m not sure what to expect. It’s going to be an adventure to say the least.”
For event information log on to www.coldwaterclassic.net
For additional ASP information log on to www.aspworldtour.com or www.aspnorthamerica.org