Oakley’s Nate Yeomans won the 6 star WQS Cold Water Classic last weekend in solid overhead North-west swell at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz. Never recognized as “The Next Big Thing” when he was a grom, Nate defies the predictions and proves the power of perseverance. With this win, Nate shoots from 27th to 8th on the World Qualifying Series, which gives him a great opportunity to make the 2010 ASP World Tour. We caught up with him before he jumps a plane to Hawaii for the last two deciding contests.

Congratulations on winning the 6 star Cold Water Classic. In your quarter final heat you decided to sit on the lefts which no one else had done yet. Did you stick with a strategy for most of your heats or did you make last minute decisions?

History was made today at the conclusion of the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6-Star PRIME O’Neill Cold Water Classic California and Oakley Pro Junior ASP North America Championships. The newly upgraded event offering more points and a larger prize purse than ever also saw record numbers of spectators and the biggest conditions this competition has seen in its storied history that dates back to 1985.

The action packed day culminated with Oakley’s Nathan Yeomans (San Clemente, CA), 28, claiming the main event over Heath Joske (AUS), 20, and Oakley’s Nat Young (Santa Cruz, CA), 19, winning the Oakley Pro Junior ASP North America Championships and the ASP North America Pro Junior Series Title.

Oakley’s Nate Yeomans, Adriano De Souza, Nat Young and Seabass were on fire at the (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6-Star PRIME 6.0 Lowers Pro…

Nathan Yeomans (San Clemente, CA), 27, has claimed his third consecutive event title with a big win at the 2008 Oakley Newport Beach Pro over fellow finalists Dillon Perillo (Malibu, CA), 18, Travis Mellem (San Clemente, CA), 23, and Micah Byrne (Huntington Beach, CA), 26, in clean two-to-three foot waves at Newport Beach’s 56th Street.