Surfing Vancouver Island 2003 Red Bull Ice Break Surf Comp - Nova Scotia finals |
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the  Nova Scotia Red Bull Ice Break Surf Comp
Below freezing and overhead - The Red Bull Ice Break finishes today Halifax, Nova Scotia - February 8, 2004 - After nearly a year of weather windows, regional qualifiers and waves gone by, the Red Bull Ice Break finished today in true cold weather surfing fashion. Air temperatures hovered at a very cold -9° C (16° F), wind chill was -17° C (1° F) and the ocean water was a balmy 0° C (32° F). The frigid venue for the 24 Northeast surfers to go head-to-head was a long, clean wave typical of Nova Scotia's surfing geography. Wave height was head high to several feet over head for the duration of the day. Dean Randazzo (New Jersey, US) won the event in a stacked final which included quite possibly the best of the Northeast's surfing talent pool. Frank Walsh (New Jersey, US) finished second, Matt Keenan (New Jersey, US) finished third.
Randazzo, who arrived to Nova Scotia for the event via Brazil where he was competing in a QS contest, said after his win, "It was a challenge out there. The cold water and elements really strain your body. I was conserving myself during the earlier heats and then let loose in the final." The decision paid off, but the final heat was still close as back-to-back wave exchanges occurred between all six finalists. "What really sealed the final for Dean was the super long right he got at the beginning of the heat," said Jack Fleming, the event organizer. Randazzo established an early lead by snagging a long wave that granted him plenty of snaps and cutbacks as it wound its way down the cobblestone point. The wave turned out to be the highest scoring wave of the entire event, and 8.2 (out a possible 10). There was only a four point variance between all of the six finalist's scores All 24 competitors surfed in a total of two heats lasting thirty minutes each. The top wave from each heat was combined for each surfer. The top six scorers comprised the six-man final.
Beside the high level of surfing each competitor had to surf against, the below-freezing temperatures in and out of the water was another factor the surfers had to contend with. While some kept their wetsuit on and huddled around heaters set up around the event site or in running cars. Others changed into dry clothes, only later to be forced with putting on a wet and cold wetsuit for their second heat. The extremes were taxing. Staying warm between each heat was an art from. The Nova Scotia surfers had an advantage on this front. "The cold conditions were in our favor, we're used to this type of weather," said local surfer Nico Manos of Nova Scotia, who barely missed the final when he placed seventh in the event. "The event was great. I'm happy to have finished where I did considering the caliber of surfing in this group," he said.
The Red Bull Ice Break showcased the Northeast's surfing talent and commitment to pursue their sport in the harshest and coldest conditions. Four qualifiers took place this fall to determine the finalists for the main event. Only surfers who were residents of the "Northeast," (which was determined as anywhere within the borders, south to Virginia and north to Nova Scotia) were permitted to enter the event. 2003 Qualifiers
More event photos at Dacane Sports
Red Bull Ice Break winter surf event this weekend Halifax, Nova Scotia - February 5, 2004 - Currently it is a crisp -7° C (feels like -16° C), winds are out of the west gusting at 50 km/h, the sky is clear and the forecast is calling for light rain and snow flurries over the next several days. In the midst of these icy conditions twenty-four surfers from the Northeast and Nova Scotia are preparing to brave the elements for the Red Bull Ice Break winter surf event. The contest is scheduled to take place this weekend at one of the myriad point set-ups around the Halifax area. The warm hope at the end of this cold tunnel is a chance to take home a piece of the $10,000 prize purse and stand tall among some of the East Coast's best surfers. In it's third year, the Red Bull Ice Break will showcase the Northeast surfing talent and commitment to pursue their sport in the harshest and coldest conditions. Four qualifiers took place this fall to determine the finalists for the main event. Only surfers who were residents of the "Northeast," (which was determined as anywhere within the borders, south to Virginia and north to Nova Scotia) were permitted to enter the event. 2003 Qualifiers
Josh Kendrick
2003 RED BULL ICE BREAK MAINE QUALIFIER FINISHES, FUELED BY FIRST
NOR'EASTER OF THE SEASON December 8, 2003 - York, Maine - As East Coasters shoveled out driveways and attempted to get back to their daily routines after the East Coast's first blizzard of the season, a benign remnant of the storm's fury was left behind for Northeast surfers - frosty head high waves were cleanly dumping onto the snow-filled beaches of New England. The stage was set for the fourth and final Red Bull Ice Break qualifier which would determine the last five remaining spots of 24 for the Red Bull Ice Break main event to be held in Nova Scotia this upcoming winter.
The event's winner was professional surfing veteran, Dean Randazzo of New Jersey, who warmed up the competition and the waves at Long Sands beach where the water temperature was in the low 40's and the air temperature dipped into the low 20's. "The vibe of the day included fun winter waves, great burritos and some of the top surfers from the Northeast killing it," said Bill Woodward, a local Maine surf legend and fisherman. All participants surfed in two heats with a combination of their top two rides counting as their final score. Randazzo took the day's highest score, further evidence proving why he is regarded as one of the top competitive surfers in the world. Frank Walsh of Long Port, New Jersey, received the second highest score of the day with new school flare and powerful turns.
Nico Evans,a local Mainer, was an obvious crowd favorite. In his last heat he needed just .75 of a point to qualify for the trip to Nova Scotia but unfortunately was unable to close the narrow gap. "Boy that was biter heart break to barely miss it, but I had a blast today," he graciously stated as he exited the chilly water. Also securing a top five spot was Patrick Emery of Long Beach Island, New Jersey, who surfed brilliantly after driving all night through the blizzard. Josh Clements of Cape Cod, Massachusetts and Jamie Risser of Point Judith, Rhode Island (who were both competitors in the first Red Bull Ice Break in 2002) rounded out the remaining top five slots. Today's winners received a place in the Nova Scotia main event taking place this winter and a heavy-duty winter wetsuit from Quiksilver.
THIRD TIME'S A CHARM Back for its third year, Red Bull Ice Break will again challenge the fortitude of New England surfers throughout the 2003/2004 winter. This cold weather surfing event will showcase the Northeast's surfing talent and commitment to pursue their sport in the harshest and coldest conditions. Three qualifiers set to take place this fall will determine the finalists for the main event to be held later this winter in the chilly and under-explored maritime region of Nova Scotia. Entrants must be a resident of the Northeast, which is determined as anywhere within the borders, south to Virginia and north to Nova Scotia.
VIRGINIA SURFER WINS RED BULL ICE BREAK QUALIFIER, NEXT STOP NOVA SCOTIA
Virginia Beach, VA - September 16, 2003 - While most Virginians were preparing for the expected onslaught of Hurricane Isabel, thirty-six Virginia and North Carolina surfers competed in the first of four qualifiers to determine the final roster for the upcoming Red Bull Ice Break surf event, taking place this winter in Nova Scotia. Today's qualifier took place at the First Street Jetty in Virginia Beach. Brad Harrell of Sandbridge, VA won the event by accumulating the most points. All participants surfed in two heats with a combination of their top two rides counting as their final score. Harrell scored 15.58 out of the possible 20 points. The surf was three to four foot and extremely mixed up due to the strong winds caused by approaching Hurricane Isabel. Other finishers rounding out the top five included: Steve Owens (Virginia Beach, VA), Brendan Petticrew (Virginia Beach, VA), Ian Parnell (Virginia Beach, VA) and Jason Borte (Virginia Beach, VA). Today's winners received a place in the Nova Scotia main event, plus a heavy-duty, winter wetsuit from Quiksilver.
The Virginia Beach native, Brad Horrell, is eagerly anticipating the extreme winter surfing conditions likely to be found at this year's Red Bull Ice Break in Nova Scotia, "I'm ready for Nova Scotia. The water here (Virginia) in the winter gets down to 37 or 36 degrees, I hear it gets a least that cold up there. I'm looking forward to all that rubber and some good waves up north." FINAL STANDINGS RED BULL ICE BREAK VIRGINIA QUALIFIER
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