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The worlds northernmost and coldest surf competition wrapped up this weekend. According to , Gold Coast surfer Brent Dorrington took home top honors at the O'Neill 2011 Cold Water Classic surf competition in Thurso East, Scotland, winning $50,000, a Highland sword, and the honorary title: Lord Brent Dorrington.
“I decided to man up and come try to surf in the cold,” Dorrington said, to “I’m so glad that I did. “Plus, this week were the best waves I have ever surfed in a competition,” he said.
New Zealander Lord Jay Quinn came in second, taking home $20,000 but no sword. “I’m not happy with second place right now but I am also not unhappy,” Quinn said, in . “It’s been an amazing week. “I love coming to Scotland the conditions have been amazing.”
The week long competition tipped in Dorrington's favor during the semis, where water temperatures hovered around 47 degrees and clean 4-foot waves gave him a semi-final heat score 18.5 points out of 20.
“My friends who I travel with – Lord Adam Melling and Lord Royden Bryson – both have a Highland sword each, so it’s great I have one, too, now,” said Brent. “I’m going to hang that sword on my wall in the pool room above the pool table.”
Thurso was the second stop in the O'Neill Cold Water Classic that holds events in some of the most remote surf locations in New Zealand, Scotland, Canada, and the US. Following his weekend victory, Dorrington leads the overall , finishing just ahead of Adam Melling, Joan Duru, and Quinn. The third round will be battled out in Tofino, Canada later this year.
Check out more footage of the frigid, awesome week of surf at.
–Ali Taylor Lange