Gold Coast world surfing event wipe-out ‘not about the money’

Pro surfing bosses have broken their silence over the shock dumping of the world championship event on the Gold Coast.

Pro surfing bosses have broken their silence over the shock dumping of the world championship event on the Gold Coast, denying it was all about money.

The World Surf League has confirmed that the long-running Corona Open Gold Coast has been axed and will be relocated to NSW in another huge blow for the Glitter Strip’s already-battered tourism industry.

Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe claims his government refused to bow to the WSL’s demands to foot the quarantine bill for the surf stars and their entourages, accusing the league of ‘chasing short-term dollars at the expense of surfing tradition’.

2019 Quiksilver Pro mens final winner Italo Ferreira, from Brazil, celebrates his victory. The Snapper Rocks event hasn’t been held since. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

The Corona Open, previously known as the Quiksilver Pro, has kickstarted the world championship tour since 2002 and been won by superstars including Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning and Stephanie Gilmore.

NSW and Western Australia have reportedly created $5 million war chests to poach major events like the Corona Open from rival states.

But WSL Australian chief Andrew Stark told The Courier-Mail: “The decision to cancel this event was not based on financials.”

World Surf League Asia Pacific boss Andrew Stark says requests for a “bubble” and police support for a bubble were denied, with doubts over whether or not a charter plane from LA could land in Queensland. Picture: Mark Cranitch

Mr Stark said NSW was the only state which would agree to receive a charter plane from Los Angeles carrying international surfers and officials, but was not paying their hotel quarantine costs.

He said Queensland could not guarantee a COVID-19 ‘bubble’, which the WSL had requested in case of another border shutdown.

“We requested a pre-approved bubble to operate our event and we requested Queensland Police resource support for this bubble, and both items were knocked back by the government,” he said.

“We absolutely respect their position in this challenging time and we’re obviously disappointed to lose Snapper Rocks this year, given its iconic status and long history on the world tour.

Caroline Marks, from the US, after her WSL Quiksilver Pro 2019 win. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

“But we need to run events, de-risk and deliver our sport. The entire tour was cancelled last year and we need to do whatever it takes to get it moving again.”

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro, who played a key role in poaching the Corona Open and Rip Curl Pro, gloated that the events would bring millions of dollars to his state.

“With a long-running sporting rivalry between NSW and Queensland, once again, NSW has come out on top,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“In 2021 NSW will be known as the surfing state and sporting capital of Australia.”

It’s the latest blow for the WSL after it was also forced to cancel the prestigious Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach over Easter, and its attempts to hold an event at Lennox Head were howled down by locals.

The WSL will unveil its new Australian tour schedule on Tuesday.