The O’Neill Cold Water Classic started today in Tofino, BC, and at least one confirmed surfer from Canada’s East Coast is competing.
Halifax-area surfer Logan Landry competed in Round 1 of the contest today and came in third in his four-person heat.
Landry finished second in last week’s Shut Up and Surf Classic contest held at the Cow Bay Moose. Landry was also a member of the Canadian team that competed at the 2007 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships in Costa de Caparica, Portugal.
According to O’Neill Canada, Halifax-area surfer Steve Foley is also at the contest, however, he is not listed in the heats for Round 1 on the CWC website. (ScotiaSurfer.com is attempting to contact Foley.)
A total of 12 surfers from the East Coast were invited to participate in a wildcard contest for Canadians that was supposed to be held on Friday and Saturday in Tofino.
The winner of the wildcard would then participate in the main event of the Cold Water Classic, the first professional surf contest ever held in Canada.
However, it appears the wildcard contest was cancelled, perhaps due to lack of participants. Instead, all invited participates will compete in the main event, beginning with today’s Round 1 (also referred to as the Round of 144).
A total of 23 Canadian surfers are expected to participate in the contest, including Noah Cohen, who is the Canadian ambassador of the event, Peter Devries, and brothers Sepp and Raph Bruhwiler.
According to a spokesperson from O’Neill Canada, Devries and Sepp Bruhwiler have advanced to the second round of the event.
The lack of East Coast participation in the CWC is largely due to the high costs associated with making the long trip to Tofino, suggests Canadian Surfing Association president John Fluke.
The Round of 144 began at 9 a.m. PT at Cox Bay, Tofino. ScotiaSurfer.com is keeping track of heats at the CWC website.
Below is a complete list of the Canadian competitors:
O’Neill CWC Canadian Competitors 1. Peter Devries Tofino 2. Sepp Bruhwiler Tofino 3. Raph Bruhwiler Tofino 4. Mike Stupka Tofino 5. Eric Frang Sooke 6. Janek Peladeau Tofino 7. Reid Jackson Tofino 8. CC Unger-Mayor Tofino 9. Issac Raddish Tofino 10. Kye Peladeau Tofino 11. Simon Bauer Tofino 12. Frazer Mayor Tofino 13. Ryan Cameron Ucluelet 14. Isaiah Oke Port Renfrew 15. Arran Jackson Victoria 16. Matt Currie Ucluelet 17. Malcolm Daly Ucluelet 18. RB Fisher Ucluelet 19. Kane Edwards Ucluelet 20. Jens Kalwa Tofino 21. Steve Foley Nova Scotia 22. Logan Landry Nova Scotia 23. Noah Cohen Tofino (Event Ambassador)
