Taj Burrow defeated Matt Wilkinson to claim the 2012 O'Neill Coldwater Classic. Photo: O'Neill.com/cwc
The O’Neill Coldwater Classic was a special event this year, and not just because it was an ASP World Championship Tour stop. Nor was it because local Nat Young upset Kelly Slater in the first round, nor even because a gliding camera rig followed each surfer on each wave (which was very cool); it wasn’t even because the finals fell on America’s Election Day.
No, this year as I roasted in the 80 degree sun (that’s hot for us on the Monterey Bay) and reflected on the action, what really thrilled me was that we will see the World Title decided at Pipeline. Thanks to Kelly’s resilience, John John’s loss to Wilko, and Jadson Andre besting Mick Fanning, we’ll be treated to a race to the finish between Joel Parkinson and Kelly Slater. John John is out for good this year, but that surely doesn’t put a damper on his accomplishments during his first full year on Tour. As for Mick Fanning, there’s still a chance. It’s just a slim one.
But beyond Pipeline promises, the O’Neill Coldwater Classic has been a great event to watch. Nat Young won the local trials and even beat Kelly and Kolohe Andino in Round One. This was an awesome upset for the locals. Kelly narrowly dismissed local Wildcard Jason “Ratboy” Collins to continue onward, and Nat was eventually ousted by the WCT’s current leader Joel Parkinson. Parkinson would eventually be shown the door by .83 of a point against–dare I call him a dark-horse–Travis Logie.
In the end it was Matt Wilkinson against Taj Burrow. This time, however, Burrow asserted himself, walking home with the CWC Title. Burrow was in first place with over 23 minutes still left on the heat clock all the way until the end of the heat. Normally one would call this pure domination, but Wilko surely didn’t go out without a fight. With seconds on the clock, one last wave wrapped around the point for Wilko, and he took it. He unleashed two good slashes on the wave and then was bucked off his board by backwash. Wilko needed a 5.9, and it definitely was a close call as Taj sat out back waiting the judge’s decisions. When they announced that Wilko’s wave was only a 5.5, Taj’s hands went into the air.
According to the ASP, here are the following World Title Race scenarios:
If Parkinson finishes 13th, 9th or 5th at the Billabong Pipe Masters:
– Slater needs a 5th or higher to take the 2012 ASP World Title.
– Fanning needs to win at Pipeline to take the 2012 ASP World Title.*
*Contingent upon Slater finishing 5th or Lower at Pipeline.
If Parkinson finishes Equal 3rd at the Billabong Pipe Masters:
– Slater needs a 3rd or higher to take the 2012 ASP World Title.
– Fanning needs to win at Pipeline to take the 2012 ASP World Title.*
*Contingent upon Slater finishing 5th or Lower at Pipeline.
If Parkinson finishes 2nd at the Billabong Pipe Masters:
– Slater needs to win at Pipeline to take the 2012 ASP World Title.
– Fanning cannot win the 2012 ASP World Title.
If Parkinson wins the Billabong Pipe Masters, he will take the 2012 ASP World Title.
The ASP World Title Race resumes on December 8th at Pipeline.
