COOLANGATTA, Queensland/Australia (Saturday, March 7, 2015) – The Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast presented by BOQ, the opening stop on the Samsung Galaxy World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour, has been called OFF for the day with small surf and a declining swell at Snapper Rocks. With minimal swell on offer through the original competition window of the 11th, the WSL has extended the window two days to the 13th to capitalize on a significant swell coming in.
“We’ve been monitoring things all morning and we have deteriorating conditions and a declining swell,” said WSL Commissioner, Kieren Perrow. “We are off for the day and we’ll come back tomorrow and reassess conditions.”
“After a lot of discussion with the athletes, our on-site staff, our executive team in Los Angeles, our event partners and the local government, we have extended the competition window two days to take advantage of a swell system moving in,” continued Perrow. “The WSL is the world’s best surfers in the world’s best waves and the extension is an illustration of our commitment to that philosophy. It’s a significant financial, personnel and energy expenditure for the league, but we’re passionate about the world’s best surfing and we’re excited to see what this swell brings.”
Three-time World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS) will face wildcard Dane Reynolds (USA) in the opening heat of Round 2 when competition resumes, while 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) will take on trials winner Jack Freestone (AUS) in Heat 2, both battling for a place in Round 3.
The Roxy Pro Quarterfinalists are set and reigning six-time WSL Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) will take on Silvana Lima (BRA) for the third time this competition.
Surfline, official forecaster for the World Surf League, are calling for:
Modest, steep angled S swell will impact the region today. This swell gradually eases throughMonday as the direction shifts more SSE. Small easterly trade swell is expected on Tuesday as SSE swell eases further. A gradual increase in E trade swell is expected for the mid to second part of next week. Our team will be closely monitoring the progress of the tropical disturbance currently developing approximately 750nm NW of Nadi, Fiji. While this could enhance E/NE swell for the region mid and especially late in the week, the details are highly uncertain at this time. We’ll also be watching another front to bring a surge of S winds up the Tasman Sea late in the week as well.
The Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast will be webcast LIVE at WorldSurfLeague.com.
The world’s best surfing will also be broadcast LIVE on Fox Sports in Australia, MCS Extreme in France, EDGE Sports in China, South Korea Malaysia and other territories and the WSL’s new partner in Brazil, Globo TV.
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Round 2 Match-Ups (1st to R3, 2nd = 25th):
Heat 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Dane Reynolds (USA)
Heat 2: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Jack Freestone (AUS)
Heat 3: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Glenn Hall (IRL)
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. C.J. Hobgood (USA)
Heat 5: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Ricardo Christie (NZL)
Heat 6: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 7: Kolohe Andino (USA) vs. Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Heat 8: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. Keanu Asing (HAW)
Heat 9: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Italo Ferreira (BRA)
Heat 10: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 11: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Wiggolly Dantas (BRA)
Heat 12: Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA)
Roxy Pro Gold Coast Quarterfinal Match-Ups (1st to SF, 2nd=5th):
Heat 1: Malia Manuel (HAW) vs. Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW)
Heat 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs. Silvana Lima (BRA)
Heat 3: Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Courtney Conlogue (USA)
Heat 4: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Lakey Peterson (USA)
