Jesse Hines 2005 Red Bull Ice Break Champion  : photo Francois Portmann/Red Bull

Red Bull Ice Break Final

5 Qualifier Event Series Final
Undisclosed  point in Nova Scotia
01 March - 31 April 2005

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, Halifax, Nova Scotia - (April 1, 2005)- Despite biting winds, grey skies and frigid air and water temperatures (32 º F, 0 º C), the Red Bull Ice Break had a grand finale today at one of the many Nova Scotian point breaks. A consistent swell brought four to six foot waves reeling perfectly along the cobblestone left-breaking point. After eight hours of competition and a stacked final comprised of the East Coast's finest surfers, North Carolina's Jesse Hines won the event, marking his first professional win.

Despite the fact that each surfer in the final was equally capable of wining the event, Hines biggest opponents were the taxing elements, "If you go under (water) a couple times it's just freezing. It gives you these horrible headaches and your head just spins when you come up," Hines said after his bracing session in the northeast Atlantic.

2004's Red Bull Ice Break champion, Dean Randazzo (Somer's Point, New Jersey), agreed with Hines,"It takes a lot out of you, surfing in cold weather. All that gear on, feels like the air is thinner up here and the cold really gets into your lungs." Randazzo took fourth this year.

Andrew Gesler (Ocean City, New Jersey), who finished sixth at this year's Red Bull Ice Break, stated,"It's the Ironman of surf contests."

Congratulations Jesse from the SCMT!

          Sam Hammer third place finisher : photo Francois Portmann/Red Bull

2005 RED BULL ICE BREAK FINAL STANDINGS

First Place- Jesse Hines- Outer Banks, North Carolina
Second Place- Frank Walsh- Longport, New Jersey
Third Place- Sam Hammer- Lavallette, New Jersey
Fourth Place- Dean Randazzo- Somer's Point, New Jersey
Fifth Place- Matt Keenan- Ocean City, New Jersey
Sixth Place- Andrew Gesler- Ocean City, New Jersey

TIMING IS EVERYTHING

On Thursday, March 31, just one day before the competition, rumors circulated among the surfers- many thought their trek to the northern Atlantic would end without a competition. Upon their arrival to Canada, the ocean was complete flat, the only waves were wind ripples from the strong wind. Nonetheless, event organizer, Jack Fleming, kept insisting the waves were coming, putting his faith in East Coast surf forecaster, Mark Willis of Surfline.com.

“Mark was able to keep me calm yesterday and he basically couldn't have nailed it any better. He had the timing, the wind, the size of the swell, he had everything," Jack said. Mark's surf forecasting expertise was obvious as the finalists were greeted with perfect four to six foot waves providing long rides down the left-breaking point.

"Most contests don't have such good waves for the finals. This one, everyone got great waves," said an exhausted Dean Randazzo after the final horn sounded.

          The Left provided good waves : photo Francois Portmann/Red Bull

ONE COLD CONTEST

The five qualifiers which determined the finalists for the Red Bull Ice Break created a thorough representation of the East Coast surf community; including Maine, New Jersey, Nova Scotia, Florida, New York and more. In addition to the qualified finalists, four wildcards (Billy Hume, Sam Hammer, Scott Posner and Ian Parnell) were included in the final roster along with last year's Ice Break Champion, Dean Randazzo.

Red Bull Ice Break was open to all East Coast surfers. The qualifiers were on call during a swell and weather window from September 7- December 24, 2004. Five surfers from each qualifier advanced to the Red Bull Ice Break final.