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Perfect Right-Hand Sand Point Takes Its Place Back on CT, Event Confirmed Through 2028
COOLANGATTA, Queensland, Australia (Friday, April 26, 2024) – The World Surf League (WSL) is excited to announce the return of Snapper Rocks to the WSL Championship Tour (CT) schedule in 2025 through 2028.
The event’s return is thanks to a new partnership between the WSL, Experience Gold Coast, and Tourism and Events Queensland that will see the event locked in from 2025 to 2028 on the CT.
Eight-time World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) has won the CT at Snapper Rocks an unprecedented six times and can’t wait to paddle out at her local break to compete for CT points when she returns to the CT in 2025.
“I’m so excited to see Snapper come back onto the CT schedule in 2025,” said Gilmore. “It’s obviously my home break and one of my favourite waves on the planet, but it’s incredibly high performance and offers a bit of everything which is fun for both the surfers and the fans. There’s really nothing like having that perfect canvas in front of you with a huge crowd cheering from the beach just metres away. It’s a true spectacle and has such a rich history. It belongs on the Championship Tour and I can’t wait to compete there again next year.”
Hosting a CT event since 2002, Snapper Rocks is home to some of the most famous victories in surfing history. Past winners include World Champions Kelly Slater (USA), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Mick Fanning (AUS), Carissa Moore (AUS), Gabriel Medina (BRA), Tyler Wright (AUS), Caroline Marks (USA), Filipe Toledo (BRA), and Italo Ferreira (BRA), amongst others. The endless stretch of sand that runs from behind the rock all the way to Kirra offers technical tube rides, high-performance walls, and perfect air sections, testing a competitor’s full repertoire just meters from the hordes of fans that line the shore.
“The WSL is absolutely thrilled to see Snapper Rocks once again become a stop on the elite Championship Tour,” said WSL APAC President Andrew Stark. “It’s an event with a fantastic history, held in a location that has professional surfing in its DNA. The long, perfect reeling walls of the ‘Super Bank’ are one of the wonders of the surfing world, and we can’t wait to see the world’s best competing for Championship Tour points on one of the planet’s most high-performance waves. The event returning to the CT wouldn’t be possible without the support of the City of Gold Coast through Experience Gold Coast and the Queensland Government through TEQ. We sincerely thank them for the support and for partnering with WSL to return the CT to one of its favourite stops for both fans and competitors alike.”
“We are thrilled to have secured the rights to bring the Championship Tour event back to the Gold Coast,” said Mayor Tom Tate. “Snapper Rocks is an iconic point break that holds a special place in the hearts of surfers here and worldwide, and we’re proud to bring this elite series back to our famous shores. We look forward to showcasing not only the Gold Coast’s renowned surf breaks but all that the southern Gold Coast has to offer, and I encourage all Gold Coasters and visitors to come down and enjoy the action!”
“It’s terrific that after five long years, we’re able to welcome back this iconic leg of the World Surf League Championship Tour to its spiritual home on the Gold Coast in 2025,” said Queensland’s Minister for Tourism and Sport, Michael Healy. “The Goldie is world-renowned for its sublime beaches, and the legendary Snapper Rocks, one of only three World Surfing Reserves in the country, known for its rich surf culture, is the perfect host. Not only will this event bring a wave of excitement and lift community spirits on the Gold Coast, but it will also deliver a boost for local accommodation, hospitality and event providers, supporting good Queensland tourism jobs.”
“The World Surf League Championship Tour making its return to the Gold Coast is so significant for the local community. Surfing is at the heart of this incredible part of Queensland, and this news will certainly be met with so much excitement,” said Tourism and Events Queensland CEO Patricia O’Callaghan. “We predict that almost 14,000 people will flock to Snapper Rocks, which is famous for being one of the longest and best waves in the world, to enjoy the event, and we know that while they’re here, they’ll be sure to make the most of the diverse experiences the Gold Coast has to offer, which will be welcomed by our visitor economy, injecting a whopping $2.9million in direct and incremental spend.”
Dates for the Snapper Rocks event and the full 2025 WSL Championship Tour schedule will be released later this year following the WSL Finals.
