Snapper Rocks replaced by Burleigh Heads for Gold Coast Pro.
Snapper out, Burleigh in, says Smokey Joe Turpel.

Snapper Rocks loses surfing grand slam to arch rival Burleigh Heads

"Burleigh is a super high-performance righthand point which, on its day, offers freight-train, stand-up barrels."

Biggish news, I suppose, from the World League of Surfing this morning with the announcement that Snapper has been benched for the Gold Coast Pro and replaced with arch rival Burleigh Heads.

Snapper Rocks has been a vastly superior wave to Burleigh ever since the Tweed River Entrance Sand Bypassing Project began in 2001. This followed years of planning and initial dredging efforts that started in the late 1990s to address sand buildup at the Tweed River mouth and erosion on the southern Gold Coast beaches. By pumping sand from the Tweed River to outlets like Snapper Rocks East, it transformed the area into the world-class surf break known as the Superbank, connecting Snapper Rocks through to Kirra with a consistent, ruler-edge sandbar.

A recent tropical cyclone, however, bulldozed those government-created banks resulting in the shock move to Burleigh Heads nine miles north.

From the League,

 

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The Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM, originally planned for Snapper Rocks will relocate to Burleigh Heads.

ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred has left a deep trough where Snapper typically breaks, leaving the iconic super bank and beach without the sand needed to host the upcoming CT event.

The sand may return in the coming months, but it is extremely unlikely to recover in time.

While we were all looking forward to seeing the World’s Best at Snapper, Burleigh Heads, part of the Gold Coast World Surfing Reserve, is steeped in competitive surfing history – hosting international surfing events for around 50 years.

Birthplace to some of surfing’s biggest names and most impressive talents, Burleigh is a super high-performance right-hand point which, on its day, offers freight-train, stand-up barrels.

The relocation will not affect the CT schedule, and the WSL is committed to showcasing elite performance across the Gold Coast.

While Burleigh will serve as the primary event site, Greenmount, Kirra, and Snapper Rocks will remain as mobile options should conditions allow throughout the event window.

As Mikey Ciaramella wrote a lil while back, “What Burleigh lacks in vertical height it makes up for with the length and girth of its member. The tube is brown and thick and everything a girl (or boy) could want. Watch and be amazed!”

No word yet from Burleigh Heads’ wild ol locals, many of whom would view the incursion by non-locals as an unforgivable attack on their sovereignty.

Stay tuned, as they say.

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deeks
deeks
1 year ago

https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
That’s right. Bindi Irwin and I will be married at the crocodile farm on the weekend. Everyone is welcome

Against the Grain
Against the Grain
1 year ago

My body just convulsed when I saw the Hazza Twins in the comments.

I know the WSL is heading to the GC but please no more of these flogs.

Flavour Country
Flavour Country
1 year ago

Sure head high dbah would have provided some highlights but the Gold Coast tourism board would not like that.

Noncompetitor
Noncompetitor
1 year ago

Straddie would be all time

tim_nelsen
tim_nelsen
1 year ago

we all went bust…
bloody mary…
power out
power on~
SoCal programmers and
typists and telephone operators…riot!

tim_nelsen
tim_nelsen
1 year ago

show me your cleevage into a an high school equation~

tim_nelsen
tim_nelsen
1 year ago

Joe Scarborugh says they aren’t demented, yet? and his espossa ain’t funny…save the octogenrians…not here! we’re still neil young

Mason’s Hoe
Mason’s Hoe
1 year ago

Maybe I’ll actually watch this event. Hopefully there is some swell

Barnycle
Barnycle
1 year ago
Reply to  Mason’s Hoe

Burleigh is unwatchable when there’s poor swell. Much worse than Punta Roca.

Mason’s Hoe
Mason’s Hoe
1 year ago
Reply to  Barnycle

Such a bummer, I was actually looking forward to snapper being back on tour this year too. I guess all we can hope for is some cranking surf.

tim_nelsen
tim_nelsen
1 year ago
Reply to  Mason’s Hoe

donde estas?

Low wide stinkbug stance
Low wide stinkbug stance
1 year ago

Last time the tour was there was 1990 I think. IIRC, some gunman started shooting people while the comp was on and Gary Elkerton saved someone who was cowering behind a car door.

Of course there were a few famous stubbies comps there in the early 80s. I used to have a big poster of Martin potter doing an air on his green and yellow board taken in that comp.

tim_nelsen
tim_nelsen
1 year ago

need a forty day survival packet or a custom board?

Low wide stinkbug stance
Low wide stinkbug stance
1 year ago
Reply to  tim_nelsen

In Queensland they use bananas like boomerangs, that’s why they put the bend in them. You’ll be safe mate.

tim_nelsen
tim_nelsen
1 year ago

slip&trip&rip&quit. need a bigger boat for Burleigh’s…need redwoods?

Chad Lebrone
Chad Lebrone
1 year ago

Last time they held a CT comp there was when Kelly Slater came out of retirement in 2002. Maybe he’ll try the same thing again?

Barrelled
Barrelled
1 year ago

Luck needs to factor in. Burleigh ain’t the “everyday is good” spot.

c4
c4
1 year ago
Reply to  Barrelled

Pretty much all I’ve seen is pics in the mag, what’s wrong with it?

The Bitchy Crab
The Bitchy Crab
1 year ago
Reply to  c4

Not in the same ballpark as sand-pumped Snapper. Holes in the bank here and there. Bit of Ulus about it.

Twinnie
Twinnie
1 year ago

The unpredictability of it makes it fun I reckon. My last surf there (a long time ago) I definitely wasn’t expecting to be very badly dropped in on by Hoyo but I guess he enjoyed it.

John Wayne
John Wayne
1 year ago
Reply to  c4

It’s a glorified beachie most days but can turn it on if the swell is of optimal direction. What it does provide though is a really entertaining paddle out. Let’s hope we see some good spills!

c4
c4
1 year ago
Reply to  John Wayne

Sounds like it will be fun to watch.

Chief Hot stuff
Chief Hot stuff
1 year ago
Reply to  c4

Lottsa closeouts

c4
c4
1 year ago

I guess the mags can make anywhere look perfect. Kong doing a handstand on the railing of his twelve floor hotel balcony there is another memory.

tim_nelsen
tim_nelsen
1 year ago

needs more or less coral sand~

JohnsKnees
JohnsKnees
1 year ago

Confirmed: WSL hates goofy footers

The Bitchy Crab
The Bitchy Crab
1 year ago
Reply to  JohnsKnees

Who don’t!

channelbottom
channelbottom
1 year ago

I’m goofy!
Do you hate me?

tim_nelsen
tim_nelsen
1 year ago
Reply to  JohnsKnees

and glittering and over-expansive generalities…fuck that boob-job, honey. need a typists or three….forieghn not domestic

Ramathorn
Ramathorn
1 year ago

Was hoping to see mudslide hill as an alternate venue. The bank’s looking good after being reamed by Alfie.

The Bitchy Crab
The Bitchy Crab
1 year ago
Reply to  Ramathorn

Beware the former world champ turned citizen cop.

tim_nelsen
tim_nelsen
1 year ago

the farm fishers are scared. we want ocean fresh.

Ramathorn
Ramathorn
1 year ago

Doing step-offs from Raimana’s rickshaw.

PacificNorthPest
PacificNorthPest
1 year ago

Basically no clue about the relative qualities of these two Oz righthand point breaks.

if I did a lot of ayahuasca, which would I prefer?

astro
astro
1 year ago

Do you love surfing with other people ?
You have to love surfing with many people to surf them, like I mean really love … ayahuasca will help I’m sure.

tim_nelsen
tim_nelsen
1 year ago
Reply to  astro

money, guns, and mo money…old tickets for sale. memorabilia and no surf shit~

The Bitchy Crab
The Bitchy Crab
1 year ago

Burleigh, less crowded, more broken up, more chance of a wave.

tim_nelsen
tim_nelsen
1 year ago

where’s the massage tent?

Chad Lebrone
Chad Lebrone
1 year ago

Less crowded, more chance of a wave, but still a higher chance of getting burned. Most likely by the Harris brothers.


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