Cold Water Classic comes to New Zealand in 2011

The O'Neill CWC Series will bring a 6 Star ASP World Tour event to Gisborne, on the North Island of New Zealand for the first time ever.

The O'Neill Cold Water Classic Series 2011 continues with its promise to push boundaries to find new remote waves around the world in which to host a world-class surfing competition series.

"We launched the Series in 2009 with the aim of discovering and exploring new locations around the world," said O'Neill Global Sportsmarketing Director, Bernhard Ritzer. "We are continually looking for new and exciting surf spots where we can bring this innovative series. In Gisborne we found all that the CWC Series represents; world-class remote waves, in the cold water of course. We also feel privileged to be able to highlight the strong Maori culture to bring further meaning to the event."

Gisborne is one place in the world that is all too familiar with "firsts". It is the first city in the world to greet the sun every morning. And it was the first area of New Zealand sighted by the crew of Captain James Cook's ship, the Endeavour.

And now, between March 23 and March 29, 2011, it will be the first stop on the O'Neill Cold Water Classic Series 2011.

For more info check out surf.co.nz.