It takes one hell of a storm to make the reef at Kalk Bay work. Tucked inside the large protected zone of False Bay, so named by sailors who mistakenly entered it thinking they'd rounded South Africa's famous Cape, the reef manages to produce a high quality wave amidst the chaos of a severe Roaring Forties storm. Fortunately, that's exactly what bore down on Cape Town during the final days of the 4-Star Cold Water Classic, the latest in Oneill's unique six contest series.

While the outer waters were ravaged by the storm remnants left over by the 40-foot swells that had washed through the day before, Kalk Bay's hollow lefthander held up nicely, producing consistent shacks for the final 16 competitors left standing. Jordy Smith, who was on hand more as an ambassador than a serious competitor since he's currently ranked in number six in the world, wasn't too distraught by his loss to Australia's Glenn Hall. He was actually laughing about the wipeout he took attempting a late takeoff on a hollow little slab.

Hawaiian grom John John Florence was also on hand, surfing well on his way into the man-on-man round of 16, but fell to South Africa's Royden Bryson, who looked strong all day at Kalk Bay while advancing into the final Yet by the time Bryson got into the Semifinals, he was the only South African left standing, with three Aussies standing in his way. Glenn Hall, Jarrad Howse and Maroubra's Blake Thornton, a relative unknown who obviously knows a thing or two about slabs, decimated the local contingent.

In the end, Thornton, 24, and the Bryson, a former ASP World Tour star, squared off in the final in what amounted to a very cool little tube duel, with Thornton hoisting the the faux shark jaws and the check for $12,000. The result is another solid one for Thornton, who was rated 9th on the WQS entering the event. The win should move him up a couple slots, just above Pat Gudauskas.

The next stop on the O'Neill ColdWater Classic Series will be in Canada, for the first ever 6-Star to be held in the Maple Leaf country.