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BLAKE THORNTON WINS O'NEILL COLDWATER CLASSIC SOUTH AFRICA
Aussie takes down local favorite Royden Bryson in freezing Cape Town barrels
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June 24, 2009
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CONDITIONS:
Frigid but pumping offshore conditions came together on the final day with a solid six-foot swell on tap, while just the day prior, nasty storm conditions had forced a lay day. Luckily, the groomed conditions for the finals allowed the venue, Kalk Bay, to pass out some reeling lefthand barrels.
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Blake Thorton, who ended up ousting Royden in the final, mentioned that the cold was affecting their surfing. Big, heaving surf at Cape Town in the middle of winter = gnarly. Or just way too much neoprene. Perhaps more of a lowlight than a highlight, but it's worth noting that World Tour surfer Jordy Smith went down to Glenn Hall in the Round of 16. OUTSTANDING PERFORMERS: With the two-man heat format in play, the boys of the WQS were able to surf to their full potential. Twenty four-year-old Blake nabbed a nearly perfect score of 9.6 on a round one. QUOTES: "From the water I could hear everyone supporting me - shouting and honking their horns on the beach. I don't think I've ever had support like that in a contest. It was amazing. I wish I hadn't folded on that last wave, but what can you do? I will kick myself for about half an hour and then it will be good." - Royden Bryson "It was a good decision to have man-on-man heats out there. There would have been too much hassling if you had four man heats." -- Jarrad Howse "My first heat was a shocker, I just wasn't understanding the wave. I think in the next heat I was a bit more relaxed and just pulled into that wave and it worked out. I am so excited to win this. Royden fell on his wave at the end. I think maybe the cold was getting to us. I am sorry for him, but so glad I won." - Blake Thorton O'Neill Cold Water Classic South Africa Results Final 1. Blake Thornton (AUS) 1 500 points $12 000 2. Royden Bryson (ZAF) 1 313 Points $6 000 Semifinals (Winner to final, 2nd = 3rd place, 1 125 pts + $3 500) SF1: Royden Bryson (ZAF) def. Glenn Hall (AUS) SF2: Blake Thornton (AUS) def. Jarrad Howse (AUS) Quarterfinals (Winner to semis, 2nd = 5th place, 975 pts, $2 000) QF1: Royden Bryson (ZAF) def. Kyle Lane (ZAF) QF2: Glen Hall (AUS) def. Damien Fahrenfort (ZAF) QF3: Jarrad Howse def. Alejo Muniz (BRA) QF4: Blake Thornton (AUS) def. Jean de Silva (BRA) MORE SURF NEWS SURFLINE HOME PAGE |