Virs’ late push edges out Nate Yeomans to spoil bid for repeat championship

The North Shore has the Triple Crown and California has the Macy’s Trifecta. Only in its third year, the Macy’s California Trifecta lacks the prestige and history of its older, more significant Hawaiin counterpart, but provides the west coast an unprecedented competitive series linking three ASP North American events. The three events are held at the state’s best, high performance venues -- the Body Glove Surf Bout at Lower Trestles, the Newport Beach Pro presented by Oakley in Newport Beach and the O’Neill Coldwater Classis at Steamer Lane – and features California’s best in competitive surfing. This year, the Trifecta series sweetened the winner’s purse, doubling last year’s championship check to award a $10,000 bonus to the series winner. 
This year’s Macy’s California Trifecta was a close race between Ventura’s Adam Virs and San Clemente’s Nate Yeomans. Early on it was Yeomans, the 2006 series champion, who was on a tear and appeared to be focused and in form to repeat his championship. With a successful defense of his ’06 Newport Beach Pro championship, Yeomans launched himself into the driver’s seat entering the series’ finale at the Cold Water Classic. But it would be the coliseum atmosphere of the Lane, a wave where local knowledge and experience is key, where the ‘06 champ would be derailed in his campaign for back-to-back series titles.
Yeomans and Virs not only had to out do one another to grab the Trifecta victory, but also needed to keep Shaun Ward, Austin Ware and Micah Byrne, ranked 3rd, 4th and 5th respectively, at bay all of whom were nipping at their heels on the series point chart leading into the finale at the Coldwater. Unfortunately for Yeomans, he fell victim to the Lane’s irritable nature and went down in the round of 32 as Virs pressed on, logging an equal 7th, enough to clinch victory. A new father, Virs was ecstatic about the series win, the $10,000 check, a new Jeep Patriot, and life in general.
With another year of competition in the books, 2008 promises to be another exciting showcase of the west coast’s premier surfing talent in the Macy’s California Trifecta Series.

O’Neill Cold Water Classic pres. by Jeep – ASP WQS 4-Star

Semifinals: 8 surfers remaining (1st and 2nd advance)

SF 1: Brett Simpson (USA) 13.33, Kieran Horn (USA) 11.64, Jesse Merle-Jones (HAW) 10.83, Adam Virs (USA) 10.13

SF 2: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 16.60, Josh Loya (USA) 13.97, Jason Collins (USA) 12.47, Dusty Payne (HAW) 7.74

Final: 4 surfers
1 – Jordy Smith (ZAF) 16.43
2 – Kieran Horn (USA) 14.90
3 – Brett Simpson (USA) 9.90
4 – Josh Loya (USA) 6.90


Oakley Newport Beach Pro presented by Jeep – ASP WQS 2-Star

Semifinals: 8 surfers remaining (1st and 2nd advance)
SF 1: Nathan Yeomans (USA) 17.25, Shaun Burrell (USA) 12.65, Kilian Garland (USA) 11.45, Nathaniel Curran (USA) 10.00

SF 2: Austin Ware (USA) 15.65, Adam Virs (USA) 14.00, Daniel Jones (HAW) 8.35, Micah Byrne (USA) 7.60
Final: 4 surfers

1 – Nathan Yeomans (USA) 15.25

2 – Adam Virs (USA) 13.95

3 – Austin Ware (USA) 12.60

4 – Shaun Burrell (USA) 8.85


Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series presented by Jeep – ASP North America Specialty Series
Final Standings
1 – Adam Virs (Ventura, CA) $10,000 plus All-New Jeep Patriot
2 – Nathan Yeomans (San Clemente, CA) $3,500
3 – Austin Ware (Solana Beach, CA) $1,500