Gold Coast surfers to be given unprecedented chance at making first stop of WSL at Snapper Rocks

GOLD Coast surfers will have an unprecedented opportunity to feature in the first stop of this year’s World Surf League in front of home fans at Snapper Rocks with a record number of locals to feature in the upcoming trials.

GOLD Coast surfers will have an unprecedented opportunity to feature in the first stop of this year’s World Surf League in front of home fans at Snapper Rocks.

For the first time in history, the trials for the Quiksilver and Boost Mobile Pro will comprise of a minimum of nine Gold Coast or Queensland men from a field of 16 and seven of 12 women.

The group will consist of a mix of state champions, local boardrider club competitors, highly ranked Queenslanders from the 2019 Qualifying Series along with regional QS and Junior QS winners from 2018 before one male and female are granted wildcards into the main event.

GET FULL DIGITAL ACCESS FOR 50C A DAY

Gold Coast surfing legend and 1978 world champion Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew said it was a defining moment for the region with potential stars of the future aiming to replace recently retired legends Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Bede Durbidge and Josh Kerr.

“This revamped trials creates a phenomenal opportunity for local surfers from Kirra,

Snapper Rocks and D-Bah to have a shot at gold,” Bartholomew said.

“Cooly has developed so many world class surfers and to have a legitimate homegrown trials

offers a potential pathway to glory for the qualifiers.

Ethan Ewing in action in Round 1 of the 2018 Quiksliver Pro at Snapper. Picture: Jerad Williams.

“With local legends Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Bede Durbidge and Josh Kerr retired from the CT, this could be the defining moment when new stars emerge to represent a town that has produced more World Champions then anywhere on earth.”

Gold Coasters Ethan Ewing and Kobie Enright are among the surfers already locked in for the trials while members from Snapper Rocks Surfboard Club, Kirra Boardriders and D-Bah Boardriders will also feature.

“Engaging with local surfers in the areas we run events is extremely important to the

WSL,” World Surf League Oceania general manager Andrew Stark said.

“We see opportunities like this as a way to give back to the communities that share

their waves.

“This reconfiguration of the trials on the Gold Coast is an awesome way to involve the local surfers and shine a light on the talent pool in that area, particularly in a place like Queensland which is well regarded for perpetually producing world class surfers.”

The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast and Boost Mobile Women’s Pro Gold Coast Trials will

run on April 2, 2019, and will comprise of 16 Men and 12 women.

The main event will then run from April 3 — 13 and open the 2019 WSL Championship

Tour.