Oakley Sports

The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6-Star PRIME O’Neill Cold Water Classic California saw the event’s top performers march through the Round of 16 today. The chilly waters at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz, California offered solid eight-foot surf to decide the event’s Quarterfinalists.

Kieran Horn (Santa Cruz, CA), 35, who won the O’Neill Cold Water Classic in 2003 when the event was an ASP 4-Star, battled through three heats in the day’s wild conditions to earn a Quarterfinals berth at his home break of Steamer Lane while posting the highest heat total of 16.83 out of 20. Horn nearly fell in the Round of 24 to Australian standout Adam Melling (Lennox Head, AUS), 23, but blasted a 9.50 out of 10 to carry him through the heat, eventually allowing him to eliminate Dylan Graves (PRI), 23, in the Round of 16.

The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Grade-3 Oakley Pro Junior ASP North America Championships, which runs in conjunction with the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6-Star PRIME O’Neill Cold Water Classic California, moved through Rounds 1 and 2 today in testing two-foot waves at the backup site of Waddell Creek in Santa Cruz, California, deciding the event’s Quarterfinalists.

The Oakley Pro Junior ASP North America Championships’ ASP Grade-3 status plays a crucial role in all surfers’ quests towards qualification for the ASP World Junior Championships held in Narrabeen, Australia each January, with all top campaigners looking to compile their best four results on the regional series to finish within the top three on the ratings to qualify for the prestigious event.

Wildcards have been named for the $145,000 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6-Star Prime O’Neill Cold Water Classic and $15,000 Grade-3 Oakley Pro Junior ASP North America Championships which return to Steamer Lane, Santa Cruz, Calif. Nov. 2-8, 2009. The two events offer crucial ASP ratings points to professional surfers looking to qualify for the World Tour or the World Junior Championships. With major points and prize money on the line, a wildcard is a coveted asset to receive.