Wireplay q2jump server: there are many records done with half beating, so its not only possible, but also probably the fastest strafing.
Just try some of JUMP maps, like ddrace or fly (fly1 fly2). There is a speedometer, so you can see if you are going faster or not. But i can garantee, its not as easy as it may look...
As i noticed, the players start with a full beat strafing, and after they get some speed, half beat strafing is that thing they start using. So you must combine those both strafe ways to succeed
Oasis sucks anyway