San Clemente's Nate Yeomans may have just made a reservation for next year's ASP World Tour. By winning the 6-Star Prime O'Neill Cold Water Classic in huge surf at Steamer Lane the dynamic goofyfooter has jumped all the way up to 8th in the WQS rankings from the No. 27 slot. He now stands a great chance of jumping up into the major leagues along with fellow Californians Patrick Gudauskas and Brett Simpson in 2010.

Lord knows Yeomans was due to cash in on some of the good karma he'd racked up over the years. The 27-year-old has been battling on the WQS for what seems like forever. He's won several smaller events at home in California, but none that have carried much weight. "I've been winning 2-Stars for too long and it was time for a big 6-Star win," he said. "To have my name up there with all of the great surfers who have won this event over the years is amazing. This is the biggest result of my career and I'm speechless. "

Thanks to brands like Nike, Hurley and O'Neill, all of whom have stepped up their support of the WQS in North America this year, there has been far more points and prize money available to American surfers. The added opportunity has proven to be a productive launching pad guys like Yeomans, the Gudauskas brothers and Brett Simpson who are taking advantage of the added opportunities. Yeomans earned $20,000 for his win.

The Cold Water Classic in Santa Cruz was only a 4-Star last year when 17-year-old local boy Nat Young took the victory. While Young wasn't able to defend his title in the WQS event this week, he managed to redeem his early exit with another win in the Oakley Pro Junior division (a title he took back in 2007). He thrilled his home town crowd in the final where he edged Hawaiian Tonino Benson, who was also very impressive all week.

"I was the only kid from Santa Cruz in the junior, so I'm stoked," Young said. "It's great to build momentum up for Worlds, even though it's far away, it's good to win this event at home with so many good guys in the draw."

The completion of the Santa Cruz event marks the end of the historic Cold Water Classic Series that was comprised of five events this year, including the first ever WQS event in Canada just last week. A very stoked Aussie Blake Thornton is taking home an extra $50,000 for taking the Series title.

O'Neill Cold Water Classic California Final:
1 - Nathan Yeomans (USA) 15.33
2 - Heath Joske (AUS) 8.60


O'Neill Cold Water Classic California Semifinals Results:
Heat 1: Nathan Yeomans (USA) 12.50 def. Alejo Muniz (BRA) 8.00
Heat 2: Heath Joske (AUS) 11.43 def. Luke Munro (AUS) 8.86

O'Neill Cold Water Classic California Quarterfinals Results:
Heat 1: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 12.50 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 8.00
Heat 2: Nathan Yeomans (USA) 15.00 def. Cory Lopez (USA) 12.53
Heat 3:
Heath Joske (AUS) 13.17 def. Damien Fahrenfort (ZAF) 9.10
Heat 4: Luke Munro (AUS) 9.67 def. Kieran Horn (USA) 8.46

Oakley Pro Junior ASP North America Championships Final Results:
1 - Nat Young (USA) 15.07
2 - Tonino Benson (HAW) 7.76
3 - Cody Thompson (USA) 7.73
4 - Dylan Goodale (HAW) 7.10