Competition returned to Cox Bay for the fourth day of the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6-Star O’Neill Cold Water Classic Canada and surfers took to the water in good four-to-five foot (1.5 metre) waves at the nation’s first professional surfing event. The improved conditions allowed for an exciting day of action with some big scores on the fourth day of competition.
Nat Young (Santa Cruz, CA), 18, grabbed the highest single wave score of the event, a 9.77 out of 10, with jaw-ping backside surfing on a long Tofino righthander. Despite posting the near perfect score, the Santa Cruz talent was nearly eliminated from the action packed heat with all surfers blasting amazing scores throughout the hard-fought battle and Young eventually advanced in second behind Kevin Sullivan (Lahaina, HI), 22.
“That was a pretty gnarly heat,” Young said. “I got that one (the 9.77) and I thought I had it wrapped up, I thought ‘alright, I made that heat.’ Then Kevin (Sullivan) and Dion (Atkinson) both got two good waves. I couldn’t see their waves, but I heard the scores were nines and that I had been pushed to third, I was so frustrated. I couldn’t believe that I could get that good of a score and not make the heat.”
