Jack Robinson (AUS) and Isabella Nichols (AUS) are fresh off claiming coveted Bells Beach titles less than a week ago and are shifting their attention to the next event on the schedule. Both residents of the Gold Coast are feeling right at home. Robinson will tap into his love of the history of surfing to get in tune with Burleigh, and Nichols will lean into her previous success as a QS event winner at this location only a few years ago.

“I’m looking forward to this event, especially seeing Steph [Gilmore] back in a jersey,” Nichols said. “I haven’t surfed at Burleigh for a while, so it’s nice to be back. To be competing on the CT and sleeping in my own bed is amazing. It’s just good to be home and be in familiar surroundings. Burleigh Heads is such an amazing place to run an event., The hill is so good for fans to park up and watch the contest. It’s got so much history, so it’s going to be incredible for everyone, the community, the surfers, it’s going to be great.”

“It’s cool to be competing here for the first time,” Robinson said. “It’s new for everyone, so no one has a real advantage. It’s a dream though to be surfing a CT on the Gold Coast, I always wondered what it would be like as a kid, so this feels cool, I’m happy to be here and keep it going.”

Liam O’Brien (AUS) couldn’t believe his luck when he heard the Gold Coast event was moving to his home break of Burleigh. O’Brien undoubtedly has more experience at this wave than anyone on the CT. He hopes to use that experience and the hometown support to his advantage as he searches for a big result ahead of the Mid-season Cut.

“I never thought I’d surf a CT at home like this,” O’Brien said. “To come down here and see all of the infrastructure and everyone down here is pretty crazy. Hopefully, the swell rocks up, and everyone can have a good time and see what it’s all about here at Burleigh. I think for the local young surfers to see all the pros here at Burleigh would be huge. Just to see the approach of the world’s best would be so cool for them.”

Eight-time World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) may be from just down the road in Coolangatta, but her experience at Burleigh isn’t what you might think. Having won the Gold Coast CT six times at her home break of Snapper Rocks, Gilmore’s affinity to the event is stronger than most, and although she hasn’t competed at this spot since her juniors, she sees enough similarity between Burleigh and Snapper to make her a serious threat this week.

“This is the big event close to home and something I loved to be involved with,” Gilmore said. “I love competing on the Gold Coast and feeling those competitive feelings again, and whether it’s Snapper or Burleigh, it doesn’t matter, they’re both perfect rights, so I’m looking forward to it. I really haven’t surfed here a bunch, so I’m excited for the challenge and see how I go. I’m looking forward to taking on Caity [Simmers] in my first heat and seeing if I’m up to the level and the challenge that this new generation brings with it.”

Gilmore won’t just be pulling on the jersey this week at Burleigh as she also plans to join Aussie rock band ‘Spiderbait’ on stage for a few songs on guitar this Sunday as part of the live music offering at this year’s Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro.

“I’m almost more nervous about playing live music than competing,” Gilmore continued. “It will be super fun, though. I’ve played with them [Spiderbait] a few times now, and it’s such a blast, and we have a few songs down now, so it should be fun. Hopefully, all their fans can get down to Burleigh on Sunday afternoon and check it out.”

The last time the elite-level CT ran on the Gold Coast, a fresh-faced Italo Ferreira (BRA) took the win, and it would set up a year that would see him go on to claim the World Title in an incredible showdown with Gabriel Medina (BRA) at Pipeline. This year, Ferreira finds himself back on the Gold Coast and at World No. 1 once again. It would be fair to ask if this is history repeating itself as the Brazilian superstar eyes a second Title and a second Gold Coast victory.

“This is my first time in Burleigh, so I’m excited,” Ferreira said. “It’s a cool place and lots of fans around, which is cool. It seems like the type of wave where you can do everything, barrels, turns, airs, you can do it all. I’m super focused this year and have had a good start. I’m happy with my surfing, and this wave looks like it will suit me with lots of opportunities to keep busy and move quickly. This looks like it will be a fun week.”

Gabriela Bryan (HAW) is having her breakout season with a victory in El Salvador less than a month ago. She holds a Quarterfinal as her worst result in the last four events. This hot streak has seen Bryan fly to No. 1 on the rankings, and she will wear the Yellow Leaders Jersey for the first time in her career.

“It’s crazy to come into this event as No. 1,” Bryan said. “I was thinking you only get your first yellow jersey once, and I couldn’t think of a better event than the Gold Coast, it’s an event that I always watched as a kid, so it’s pretty special to be here. I’ve only surfed here a couple of times, so I’m figuring it out, but it looks like it will get good this event.”

Julian Wilson and Sophie McCulloch Win Gold Coast Trials  

Queenslanders Julian Wilson (AUS) and Sophie McCulloch (AUS) have claimed victory at the Gold Coast Trials today, overcoming a talent-filled draw to book spots in the main event. Both former CT surfers, the pair will likely pose a major challenge when they hit the water in the Opening Round.

McCulloch, who since recovering from a broken back and returned to competition only a few months ago, has won Qualifying Series events at Phillip Island and right here at Burleigh Heads. The Sunshine Coaster is looking forward to testing herself against the world’s best once again.

“I’ve had a few wins recently, but this one definitely takes the cake,” McCulloch said. “I’m just so excited to test myself against the world’s best once again, as I don’t feel I was truly surfing my best when I got my first opportunity on the CT. Hopefully, I can get going this week and do some damage.”

Wilson comes into this year’s Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro as a former winner and runner-up to the event. The former CT star has marked 2025 as a year to come back to competition and has already had success winning a QS in Newcastle and now the Trials for the CT.

“I love this event,” Wilson said. “I have had the privilege of winning this event and surfing in another Final, it’s in my home state, so this is really special. This is the most special event to me, and I was actually getting quite emotional out there at the thought of getting another opportunity to surf at this level at this event. Competing against the best surfers is what I want, and I can’t believe it’s come around this quickly to get this opportunity. I’m really taken aback, to be honest, this means a lot to me.”

When the competition gets underway, McCulloch will take on Gabriela Bryan (HAW) and Bella Kenworthy (USA) in Heat 3 of the women’s Opening Round, while Wilson will do battle with Italo Ferreira (BRA) and Liam O’Brien (AUS) in Heat 6 of the men’s Opening Round.

Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro to Host Two Surfing Icons 

Mick Fanning (AUS) and Joel Parkinson (AUS), two Aussie sporting icons and legends of Gold Coast surfing will face off at Burleigh Heads during the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM holding period for a one-heat, winner battle. The judged heat will pit the two World Champions together once again at an event each of them has won twice in their careers. Having only retired from full-time competition just over five years ago, both Fanning and Parkinson are surfing as well as they ever have, and this head-to-head matchup between two good mates is bound to see fireworks at Burleigh Heads.

Gold Coast Continues Professional Surfing Tradition in 2025 

The Gold Coast, and in particular, Burleigh Heads, have been holding professional surfing competitions in some way, shape, or form since the 1960s. The last two decades have seen it become one of the hotbeds of world surfing, and this week, for the first time since 2019, the world’s elite will be back, and the entire surfing world will be tuned in to watch competition get underway at Burleigh Heads.

“It doesn’t get any bigger than World Surf League Championship Tour action off Burleigh Heads,’’ said Acting Gold Coast Mayor, Mark Hammel. “I know that behind the scenes, organizers, sponsors, and Experience Gold Coast teams have worked tirelessly to get this stop of the WSL Championship Tour back where it belongs. The good news is that it’s back, and I’m sure the crowds will be as pumped as the surfers when heat one kicks off as early as tomorrow. It’s showtime.’’

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM Men’s Opening Round Matchups:
Heat 1: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Marco Mignot (FRA) vs. Ryan Callinan (AUS)
Heat 2: Jordy Smith (RSA) vs. George Pittar (AUS) vs. Imaikalani deVault (HAW)
Heat 3: Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Jackson Bunch (HAW) vs. Edgard Groggia (BRA)
Heat 4: Jack Robinson (AUS) vs. Alan Cleland (MEX) vs. Callum Robson (AUS)
Heat 5: Ethan Ewing (AUS) vs. Joao Chianca (BRA) vs. Jordan Lawler (AUS)
Heat 6: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Liam O’Brien (AUS) vs. Julian Wilson (AUS)
Heat 7: Barron Mamiya (HAW) vs. Seth Moniz (HAW) vs. Deivid Silva (BRA)
Heat 8: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) vs. Connor O’Leary (JPN) vs. lan Gentil (HAW)
Heat 9: Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Matthew McGillivray (RSA) vs. Alejo Muniz (BRA)
Heat 10: Rio Waida (INA) vs. Cole Houshmand (USA) vs. Samuel Pupo (BRA)
Heat11: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Griffin Colapinto (USA) vs. lan Gouveia (BRA)
Heat 12: Joel Vaughan (AUS) vs. Jake Marshall (USA) vs. Crosby Colapinto (USA)