World Surf League’s Gold Coast leg shifts from Snapper Rocks to Burleigh Heads
The Gold Coast leg of the global pro surfing tour is saying see ya’ Snapper Rocks in a forced move. Find out why
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The globe’s best surfers will still compete on the Gold Coast next month despite a shock call to relocate the World Surf League’s glamour tour stop away from famed Snapper Rocks.
The world-famous Snapper super bank which suffered significant impacts during the post-tropical Cyclone Alfred weather emergency has been deemed unsuitable for the Championship Tour event scheduled for May 3 to 13.
But in news to thrill Gold Coast surf fans and Burleigh retaiilers, organisers are sticking with the tourism capital for the world tour leg’s Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro by shifting it to Burleigh Heads.
Burleigh will serve as the primary event site, with Greenmount, Kirra, and Snapper Rocks remaining under active consideration as mobile options should conditions allow during the event window.
The World Surf League will officially announce the change on Thursday.
In an exclusive statement, WSL Asia Pacific (APAC) president Andrew Stark said: “Snapper Rocks is one of the most perfect waves in the world, and this was an extremely difficult decision.
“Our priority is to ensure world-class conditions for our athletes and fans, and given the state of the bank at Snapper Rocks and the lack of time to replenish the sand, we are confident this is the right decision to ensure the success of the 2025 Gold Coast CT.
“We are fortunate on the Gold Coast to have another world-class righthand point break just up the coast that has a rich history of running elite surfing events, so we will relocate this year’s event to the iconic Burleigh Heads.
“We look forward to celebrating this event in a community steeped in surfing history.”
The WSL said in a statement extensive assessment of the super bank had confirmed Snapper was extremely unlikely to recover in time for the first two weeks of May.
The stretch of sand from Snapper Rocks to the Kirra groyne - known as the “Super Bank” - is famed for producing long, flawless waves and remains one of the favourite places of tour surfers including icons such as 11-time world champion Kelly Slater.
It is the home break where Gold Coast world champions Stephanie Gilmore, Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson have made their names.
But the WSL added ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred in March left a deep trough where the famed waves typically break and the iconic super bank and beach are without the sand needed to host the upcoming CT event.
The WSL noted while the Tweed Sand Bypass System usually helped restore the sandbanks at Snapper quicker than other beaches, widespread erosion along the Tweed Coast had limited the sand available.
Mr Stark credited event partners at Experience Gold Coast and Tourism and Events Queensland for supporting the move.
Experience Gold Coast CEO John Warn said: “We absolutely look forward to returning to Snapper Rocks in 2026. While we are of course disappointed Snapper Rocks won’t be hosting the highly anticipated return of the Championship Tour this May, we know Burleigh is a world-class point break which will challenge the globe’s very best surfers.
“For surfing fans, the relocation of the Gold Coast Pro to Burleigh provides a unique and very special opportunity to watch the world’s leading surfers do battle at one of the world’s most iconic surfing destinations.”
“There is no doubt our famous Super Bank at Snapper will return better than ever, planning for this in 2026 is underway, and we look forward to seeing the Gold Coast Pro back to its rightful home for the 2026 event and beyond.”
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Originally published as World Surf League’s Gold Coast leg shifts from Snapper Rocks to Burleigh Heads
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