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Posted on Friday January 28th 2011 at 11:52 a.m.
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Jay Quinn scoring a 9.67 wave at Thurso O'Neill Cold Water Classic Scotland. Image ASP.
The O'Neill Cold Water Classic Series 2011 continues with its promise to push boundaries to find new remote waves around the world in which to host a world-class surfing competition series.
For 2011, the O'Neill CWC Series will bring a 6 Star ASP World Tour event to Gisborne, on the North Island of New Zealand for the first time ever.
"We launched the Series in 2009 with the aim of discovering and exploring new locations around the world," said O'Neill Global Sportsmarketing Director, Bernhard Ritzer. "We are continually looking for new and exciting surf spots where we can bring this innovative series. In Gisborne we found all that the CWC Series represents; world-class remote waves, in the cold water of course. We also feel privileged to be able to highlight the strong Maori culture to bring further meaning to the event."
Gisborne is one place in the world that is all too familiar with "firsts". It is the first city in the world to greet the sun every morning. And it was the first area of New Zealand sighted by the crew of Captain James Cook's ship, the Endeavour.
And now, between March 23 and March 29, 2011, it will be the first stop on the O'Neill Cold Water Classic Series 2011.
"To have an event of this stature come to New Zealand is absolutely awesome,"
Says Clint Daley, President of the Gisborne Boardriders. "Not only will we get to view the best surfers in the world but we have a great opportunity to put our best local and national surfing talent in the event."
"This is also a great opportunity for the people of Turanga Nui A Kiwa (Gisborne) to showcase our traditional Maori culture and give the world an insight into our Maori heritage," Clint added.
The Cold Water Classic Channel on SurfTV
Sitting on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand, Turanga Nui A Kiwa, is known for its high quality surf based on the coast's exposure to a 180-degree swell window. Add to this an assortment of reefs, beaches, points and bars all facing different directions, as well as a lack of crowds due to its remote location, and this is guaranteed to be an epic kick-off for the O'Neill Cold Water Classic Series 2011.
It is also the riders who are very much looking forward to this new stop on the Tour: "It is amazing to have New Zealand in this year's Cold Water Classic Series lineup," said last year's O'Neill CWC Series $50,000 winner Shaun Cansdell. "The locations we have been to the last two years have been spectacular in terms of both scenery, surf, and the local reception to us being there. I know Gisborne will add to this and I can't wait to go," he said.
To have the CWC event here in New Zealand is perfectly aligned and in synergy with O'Neill's spirit of innovation and adventure.
This contest being a 6 star sanctioned event within the ASP world tour will set new boundaries of it being the biggest richest surf contest ever to hit our shores.
With the dates scheduled this will attract the highest caliber of surfers worldwide all vying for prestige points. This will also give opportunities for some of New Zealand's top surfers to compete against the elite.
To see the likes of O'Neill's Jordy Smith no 2 in the world adapting his repertoire of aerials, power carves will be highly anticipated nationwide. He is the inspiration for the new age surfing generation in addition to other world class athletes from around the globe that will also participate.
Gisborne as the immediate venue will be the perfect plat form to show case world class surf as well as breath taking scenery. This will also be of benefit to the localized community at large.
To encompass and highlight our strong Maori culture will also give true meaning as well as respect to the event.
We look forward to hosting such a prestigious contest come March 2011,
Jason Falconridge O'Neill New Zealand.
Following the launch in New Zealand, the O'Neill Cold Water Classic Series will travel to its northernmost destination - Thurso, Scotland, for the 6 Star ASP World Tour event from April 13 until April 19, before culminating once again at the 6 Star Prime ASP World Tour event, the O'Neill Cold Water Classic Series, California, in Santa Cruz, October 24-30, 2011.
Further details about the full O'Neill Cold Water Classic Series will be revealed early in 2011.
Contacts
Matt Wilson
CWC Series Director
Mattwilson75@bigpond.com
+61 418 157 145
Jason Falconridge
General Manager O'Neill NZ
Jason@oneillnz.co.nz
021 948 554