Big changes to 2019 surf calendar, as Andrew McKinnon discusses in this week’s Surf Scene

There’s been some big changes on the 2019 contest calendar for Gold Coast events, but locals will still get the chance to see surfing royalty.

THERE’S been some big changes on the 2019 contest calendar for Gold Coast events.

The most noticeable is the World Surf League Tour Opener at Snapper Rocks, now to be held from April 2nd – 13th instead of March.

This week Quiksilver was announced as the men’s sponsor, however the women’s – formerly the Roxy Pro – is still without a sponsor.

The later dates for the Snapper Rocks events have allowed for other WQS (World Qualifying Series) events at Newcastle and Manly to run before the Australian leg of the World Tour. Although WSL planned to start the 2019 WCT at Pipeline in Hawaii but were unable to secure contest permits for both WQS Volcom Pipe Pro in February and a follow-up CT Pipe event in March.

Maybe in 2020 but let’s stick to this year.

World Tour pro and surfers representative, Ace Buchan, says the changes have been welcomed by Tour surfers.

TOPSHOT - US' Kelly Slater surfs off the lip during the qualifying round of the WSL Surf Ranch Pro, at the Kelly Slater Surf Ranch in Lemoore, California on September 8, 2018. - The four-day event brings the worlds top surfers to compete on perfect machine-created waves in a half-mile long (.8kms) wave pool situated 100 miles (160.9kms) inland from the Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Mark RALSTON / AFP)

“In terms of the pacing, the feedback we’ve had from a lot of the surfers is positive on the later start and longer offseason. I think both changes will contribute to the surfers performing at their best.”

Other noticeable changes are the sponsorship of events with only the two big brands, Rip Curl sticking with the Easter Bells Beach Pro and Billabong staying with Pipe Masters Pro.

All the other CT events are without big Surfing Corporation backing signalling a tightening of budgets and a sign of the times.

But the single biggest change is equal prizemoney for mens and womens, a first ever initiative in surfing comps.

For Gold Coast surfing fans, it will be the last time to watch the greatest of all time 11 X Kelly Slater at Snapper Rocks. Slater who turns 47 in February said in 2018 that 2019 would be his last year on the World Tour. He has been given a Wild Card injury spot after a foot injury prevented him from competing. However Slater made the top 8 at his Surf Ranch event and reached the semi-finals at the Pipeline last month.

World champion Stephanie Gilmore. Picture: Kelly Cestari/AFP

As mentioned in last week’s column, Jack Freestone will be the sole Gold Coaster on the Mens Tour, while 7 X Womens World Champion Stephanie Gilmore will be back to create history as the greatest sportswoman ever in surfing events by winning an unprecedented 8th World Title. Going on last year’s form, not only is this achievable but Steph could go on to equal Kelly Slater’s World title haul.

The other notable change is the Burleigh Surf Festival WQS ( World Qualifying Series) event normally held over the Australia Day weekend has now been shifted to May 7th – 12th which will be followed by the prestigious QCC MP Classic on the 18th – 19th May at Kirra Point.

For the immediate action, don’t miss next week’s Woolworth Super Groms on the Gold Coast from 9th – 10th January, and the Hydralyte Pro Junior at North Stradbroke Island 12th – 13th January.