Day 3 Cold Water Classic California

It was a heat of Hollywood script proportions on this third day of competition at the O’Neill Cold Water Classic South Africa. The legend – Tom Curren, the South African surfing star of the moment – Jordy Smith, the young up-and-coming kid from Hawaii – John John Florence, and the outsider from Huntington Beach - Shaun Ward.
It was the ending most probably would not have predicted.

Finishing top, with a heat score of 15.77 was Shaun Ward who has been fighting hard on the tour since loosing his sponsors at the beginning of the season. And it was an impressive fight to win.
“It’s funny because everyone’s been talking about that heat,” said Shaun. “Jordy is one of the best surfers in the world, hands down, and Tom is one of the best surfers of all time, and John John is kind of the prodigy, and I was kind of the underdog, but I like it,” he said.
Sitting just behind him in second place with a heat score of 15.57 was the South African surfing phenomenon Jordy Smith.

“I had been looking forward to the fact that I was in a heat with Tom Curren,” said Jordy. “I don’t know how many 21 year olds can say that they surfed against him in their career. So that was really cool.
“Unfortunately he didn’t get the best waves but I am just stoked that I won my first heat against Tom Curren… or got second,” he said.

After two days of the 6 Star ASP WQS event on hold due to a lack of swell, the third day of action in the water produced some epic 2 meter swell conditions at Steamer Lane.

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