Interstate surfers join Mick Fanning on giant waves at Snapper and Kirra on Gold Coast
Top surfers from around the country have made a beeline for the Gold Coast’s famed southern breaks as Cyclone Alfred stirs up huge swell.
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Surfers around the country are rushing to Gold Coast beaches to catch once-in-a-lifetime swells generated by strong winds from Cyclone Alfred.
Despite beaches being closed from Rainbow Beach to the southern Gold Coast, hundreds of surfers – including visitors from as far as Western Australia – were spotted braving the conditions with waves reaching up to 8ft in some places.
Kirra and Currumbin beaches were pumping, a fleet of thirty strong jet skis supporting the 200-plus mob toughing out the conditions.
Surfer Steel Taylor flew in from Western Australia overnight to catch the rare swell.
“It’s pretty much as good as it gets, definitely get a wave out there that will change your life.
“Not quite sure what it’s gonna be like over the next few days. I think today’s the main day, it’s pretty hectic out there it’s kinda like a battlefield.”
Surfing Australia chief of sport Luke Madden announced at Kirra the surf life saving championships scheduled for the weekend would be postponed until later in the year due to the unsafe surf.
“It’s pumping, absolutely firing. Obviously you want to be an experienced surfer [to be out there].
“There’s a lot of amazing experienced surfers in Australia and they’re making their way out to the Gold Coast, you have a lot of experience [in the water] and I’m sure they’re keeping safe out there.
“The pros are out there now, Saturday and Sunday does not look like this so it’s good for them to get out there now.”
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YouTube surfer Sheldon Simkus has already been through two boards but said he is loving every minute he’s spent out there.
“Two boards in two days, not the best total but trying to leave it at that for now,” he said.
“It’s beautiful, it’s a shame these cyclones can go anywhere and can do anything but at this point in time we have such beautiful conditions. Unbelievable waves, unbelievable floggings, it’s all happening.”
Onlooker Raphael was on his way to work when he received a call from a friend about the pumping conditions.
“I just called my boss and said, ‘I’m really sick, I have a stomach-ache, I can’t come’. I brought my camera, packed everything in my car, drove down an hour and I don’t regret it at all.”
Surf Life Saving Queensland reminded residents that the beaches were closed for good reason.
SLSQ Chief Operations Officer Greg Cahill said this was not the time to go swimming, surfing, or even for a walk along the beach.
“Over the weekend we had 66 rescues, which is 66 rescues too many especially when the beaches are closed,” Cahill said.
Originally published as Interstate surfers join Mick Fanning on giant waves at Snapper and Kirra on Gold Coast
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