Gold Coast’s Jack Freestone wins trial to seal spot in Quiksilver Pro as World Surf League season opens at Snapper Rocks

THE 2015 Quiksilver and Roxy Pros are scheduled to start on the weekend and our local stars are looking to be in good form after today’s trials.

GOLD Coast’s Jack Freestone has sealed a spot in the Quiksilver Pro after winning the wildcard trials final today.

The Coolangatta surfer, a former world junior champion, was impressive in the final, finishing with a final score of 18 out of a possible 20 to defeat fellow Gold Coaster Nathan Hedge, Byron Bay’s Garrett Parkes and Brazilian Jesse Mendes.

RELATED: SURFING THE SUPERBANK

RELATED: BARELY THERE BIKINIS SET TREND

Earlier, West Australian Bronte Macaulay won the Roxy Pro wildcard spot after winning the women’s trial.

She will face Tweed Coast world champion Stephanie Gilmore in the opening round of competition which could start tomorrow.

One of the highlight’s of the men’s trial final was Freestone’s reverse aerial which earned accolades from the Snapper Rocks crowd and scored 9.50 from the judges.

As a wildcard, the 22-year-old will face either world champion Gabriel Medina, or former champ Mick Fanning in the first round.

Mitch Parkinson, cousin of world champ Joel Parkinson, was bundled out of the trial finals in dramatic fashion after being penalised for dropping in on a fellow surfer.

Jack Freestone with some aerial antics during the Quiksilver Pro Trials at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast. Picture Glenn Hampson

Mitch Parkinson. Photo: Corey Roberts/Surfing Queensland.

The Coolangatta talent was leading before the penalty came into effect.

Meanwhile Western Australia’s Bronte Macaulay has won a wildcard spot in the Roxy Pro after winning the women’s trials today.

She is expected to face Gold Coast’s world champion Stephanie Gilmore in round 1 of the Roxy Pro.

The opening rounds of the Roxy Pro are due to take place tomorrow.

Snapper Rocks, site of the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro surfing event for 2015. Kelly Slater gets in some practise before the event gets underway. Picture: Scott Fletcher

At the launch of the event today champion surfer Kelly Slater said storm-damaged sandbanks would not stop him from taking out this year’s Quiksilver Pro.

The 11-time World Champion said experienced surfers would adapt to the conditions at Snapper Rocks.

“Everyone will change their strategy and the experienced surfers will look for those waves in front of the rock that grow and turn into a barrel,” he said at this morning’s Quiksilver Pro launch.

Mick Fanning after a surf on his supposed day off surfing. Pics Tim Marsden

“It would be great to surf behind the rock but there will still be amazing surfing. I think there will also be more waves surfed because people will take more chances rather than waiting for the perfect set.”

Slater joined three-time world champion Mick Fanning and six-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore at the Quiksilver and Roxy Pros’ launch in Coolangatta today.

The event officially starts tomorrow, but trials have already begun today with a Gold Coast surfers just scraping through to the finals.