Official Event Site

February 28 - March 11, 2009
Snapper Rocks: Coolangatta, Queensland, Australia

TIME DIFFERENCE: GMT + 10

COORDINATES: 28.10 S, 153.33 E

BAGGAGE CLAIM: Gold Coast Airport, Coolangatta (OOL)

TRANSPORTATION: Public transport is pretty good on the Goldy and they don't really mind you bringing boards on the buses. It can be a bit frustrating though when you're stuck at D'Bah and have to wait 40 minutes before you're pulling in at Burleigh - if you crave mobility, rent a car or buy a junker.

ATTITUDE: Serving as the kickoff event to the ASP World Tour season, the Quiksilver Pro on Australia's Gold Coast is responsible for emitting certain electricity into the air around "Cooly" come contest time. When the best surfers in the world descend on the wave-laden beaches of the "Goldy", all proverbial hell breaks loose. Clubs and casinos overflow with an influx of surf stars and their cohorts while fans and media flock the beaches to froth over the talent.

THE WAVE(S): The Quiksilver Pro is a mobile beast boasting a ridiculous number of world-class waves all within a stone's throw of one another… precisely the reason that half of the world's best reside there. The Quiksilver Pro sets up shop at Snapper Rocks but can relocate to Burleigh or Duranbah should the Superbank not behave.

PERKS: If Huey is a frothing, party-going surfer, then the Gold Coast is surely heaven. Wind no good at Duranbah? Simply head to one of the several world-class protected points within arm's reach. Not big enough at the points? A quick drive and a paddle to South Straddie should set you up nicely. The possibilities are endless, and performance barriers are being shattered here every minute.

PERILS: Best watch whom you're dropping in on. There's a good chance you could be snaking Dean "Dingo" Morrison, Joel "Parko" Parkinson, Mick "Eugene" Fanning or Josh "Kersey" Kerr, and really, is that something you want to do?

APRES SURF: More than enough mayhem to engage in. There are pubs, casinos and clubs galore. Conrad Jupiter's up at Broadbeach is usually the venue of choice to go spending all your prize money, but if you're not in the mood for gambling, go get your swerve on at one of the many classy clubs in Surfer's Paradise, or just go have a pint down at the local club.

ASP WORLD TOUR HISTORY: The Gold Coast has been home to world-class professional surfing for decades, but only recently have the fabled pointbreaks been called into ASP World Tour duty. Formerly an ASP WQS 6-Star venue, Quiksilver staged their inaugural Quiksilver Pro ASP World Tour event at Snapper in 2002. Since then, it's been one barrier-breaking event after another.

NOTABLE: Kelly Slater and Mick Fanning have kicked off their most recent ASP World Title campaigns with wins at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, meaning the winner of the ASP World Tour season opener eventually went on to claim the ASP World Title over the past three years. Slater's win last year came in dramatic fashion, with most competitors and spectators alike wondering if he'd even enter the event. The win at Snapper helped him commit to the eventual-full time status on the 2008 ASP World Tour which led to his legendary ninth ASP World Title while Fanning claimed his second Quiksilver Pro title in an all out barrel-fest on the way to his first ASP World Title. Mick Fanning's victory at the 2005 Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast completed the "Cooly Kids'" competitive domination of the venue. With fellow Coolangatta stable mates Joel Parkinson and Dean Morrison winning the event in 2002 and 2003 respectively, Fanning's win rounded off the hometown trio's trifecta. To make the victory even sweeter, it was Mick's first event back since his near career-ending injury the previous season.

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