The girls awoke Friday, October 22, to find their 4-star World Qualifying Series contest site had moved 14 miles up the coast to the shark-infested waters of Wadell Creek. With Steamer Lane a unique contest venue, where the takeoff zone is up against the cliff, the locals felt their hometown advantage dissipate. Now faced with beachbreak conditions, the Santa Cruz girls were hopeful that the 50-degree water and recent shark sightings might give them an edge.

Local standouts Anna Garaway and Siri Cota persevered through the break change -- Cota, with a last-minute backside snap, edging out Alison Arviso of Huntington Beach. Twenty-one-year-old Garaway took her heat with a solid 6.0 and a 5.10 in the trying conditions. Garaway -- who had secured her shot at this weekend’s $20,000 purse with a win at the O’Neill Grom Prix a few weeks back at Santa Cruz’s East Side Hook -- expressed some concern with the new venue. "Most of the [out-of-town] girls surf lots of beachbreak," she explained. "We’re used to perfect right -- hand points." As the day progressed the winds kicked up, but the girls handled it well. Australia’s Jesse Miley Dyer pulled off an 8.6 with three strong turns and a 360 tailslide finale. Erica Hosseini brought her Newport beachbreak skills up north, throwing her patented Gumby layback snap to a win in her heat. The Hawaiians also braved the icy waters, Leilani Gryde representing particularly well.

Though the thick wetsuits and cold water may have been a tough adjustment, this remote Nor Cal location offered spectators and surfers more than just a contest site. This is where the redwood -- covered mountains meet the sea. The drive alone is breathtaking, and this change of venue came as a blessing in disguise. Lured up the coast by the competition, attendees got a taste of real Northern California. Gryde, here for her first visit, commented, "I don’t feel like I’m in California. So much better without all the buildings."

This is the first time in history Santa Cruz has had a mobile contest, announcer Mike Morgan commented. The California parks system graciously granted permission to continue the Cold Water Classic at their State Beach. Saturday morning will tell whether the Lane will provide or Hue will send us back up north with our car heaters.

RESULTS
Heat 1
1. Leilani Gryde
2. Linda Fisher
3. Tara-Lantz-Larkins
4. Annie Allegretti

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Heat 2
1. Sarah Hoffert
2. Kim Wooldridge
3. Jodie Nelson
4. Lindsey Brown

Heat 3
1. Erica Hosseini
2. Renee Robertson
3. Aubrey Falk
4. Jenny Useldinger

Heat 4
1. Jesse Miley Dyer
2. Amee Donohoe
3. Kim Mayer
4. Lexi Wilson

Heat 5
1. Anna Garaway
2. Lisa Hurinui
3. Jessica Oswald
4. Eileen O’Conner

Heat 6
1. Sheridan Shields
2. Sarah Beardmore
3. Katherine Van Dyke
4. Katie Coryell

Heat 7
1. Dara Penfold
2. Lauren Sweeney
3. Amy Hart
4. Ryan Wilbon

Heat 8
1. Falina Spires
2. Siri Cota
3. Alison Ariviso
4. Jody Tucker