After a few weeks of discussions between local surfers, politicians, surf associations and O'Neill, the 2011 O'Neill Coldwater Classic Canada has officially been called off.

"O'Neill regrets to announce the cancellation of the O'Neill CWC Canada for 2011," the company said in a statement. "Extensive consultation and discussion with key event stakeholders, along with a short period to properly prepare for the event, has led to this decision. During preliminary planning it became clear a shorter than usual planning window jeopardized the success of a 2011 CWC in Nova Scotia."

The event had been scheduled for Sept. 19-25 in Cow Bay and would have marked the third year of the Canadian Cold Water Classic -- 2009 and 2010 were held in Tofino, British Columbia.

The move eastward to Nova Scotia was not entirely a smooth one. According to the Chronicle Herald, the "Halifax regional council approved a $145,000 grant to O'Neill and the Canadian Surfing Association for the international competition, but the Surfing Association of Nova Scotia wanted councilors to hold off until the association could find out more about the competition, saying it had only found out about it a week earlier."

Local surfers had also pointed out the difficulty of hosting a WQS six-star event with 144 surfers requiring five days of competition to an area known in equal parts for its beauty and fickleness.

But there may be a next year. "After establishing the Cold Water Classic series and professional surfing the last two years in Tofino, British Columbia, O'Neill explored the idea of bringing the 2011 CWC to Halifax, Nova Scotia," O'Neill's press release continued. "The beautiful and unique location would serve as an exciting new chapter to the CWC series. O'Neill intends to review Nova Scotia as a possible CWC location for 2012."

Also in a release, Councilwoman Sue Uteck, chairwoman of Halifax Regional Municipality's special events advisory committee, said the decision to postpone was understandable under the circumstances. "While we are disappointed, we understand O'Neill's decision." she said. "We are all interested in promoting a world-class event and the decision is prudent in light of the tight time frame."

The loss of this event shrinks the O'Neill Coldwater Classic Series to three contests -- Thurso (won by Brett Dorrignton, who also leads the CWC ratings), New Zealand (won by Adam Melling) and Santa Cruz, which is scheduled for October 26th-30th, and will determine the overall series winner.