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Day One Cold Water Classic |
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Written by Wavelength Staff
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Tuesday, 13 April 2010 16:34 |
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Young Kiwi surfer Billy Stairmand takes poll position today in the initial stages of the O’Neil highland Open. The first eight heats were held in the back up location of Brims Ness where the New Zealander started to dominate the primary leg of the competition.
The morning started well with an assortment of 3-4ft waves and light winds as the high tide threw up excellent conditions. Stairmand put forwards a sterling performance scoring the highest two wave total of 14.66 out of 20. Billy had never surfed Brims Ness before and found himself comfortable in the challenging conditions. “This is the first time I have been to Scotland and the first time I have actually surfed this wave so I’m happy because I got a couple of waves and the scores I needed. We have been surfing down the coast a little at a beach break going right so I was really excited to get out there.”
Nicolaus Rupp based in Ericeira from Portugal also advanced today to the second round. Rupp came out of the water a very pleased surfer with his pass through to round two. “I felt really comfortable out there because I have conditions like this where I live, it’s a little reef break. So the last ten days I have been training hard on the rights and getting barrelled. So I feel comfortable and my boards are going amazing. I love Scotland, it’s a great place.” Anthony Walsh one of the Australian contenders was heat one winner in what was in the end a comfortable victory through to the next round. Walsh enjoyed the 25-minute clash and lead from start to finish. “It’s really fun actually. There’s a little rip bank and when the right one comes through it’s quite hittable but just a lot of wetsuit for me to get used to but if you get the right one it’s really fun.”
With the swell forecast looking quite promising, Walsh is optimistic about the increase in size but not so enthusiastic about the worsening weather conditions. “I prefer the bigger waves but this is good fun. It if stays this size it will be good but there is a swell coming and as well the wind and the rain so just have to see what happens.” The O'Neill Cold Water Classic Scotland will crack on tomorrow with the completion of round one and a possible start to the second round with the event’s top seeded surfers getting an opportunity to test themselves in the trying conditions. Up first tomorrow in heat 9 will be Jeronimo Vargas (BRA), Frederic Robin (REU), Freddie Meadows (SWE) and current Scottish National Championship finalist Mark Boyd
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 13 April 2010 17:32 |
