• PRIOR UPDATES BELOW
• Quarterfinalists Locked In at Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM
• Wildcard Wilson Takes Down World No. 1 Ferreira, Advances to Quarterfinals
• Toledo Leads Strong Charge from Brazilian Storm at Burleigh
• Form Surfers Cibilic and Smith Continue Charge on the Gold Coast
• Hometown Favorite O’Brien Embraces the Pressure in Round of 32, Goes Down in Round of 16

The first heat of the day saw former CT competitor and Gold Coast Trials winner Julian Wilson (AUS) take down World No. 1 Italo Ferreira (BRA) in another major upset. It was bound to be a fiery matchup with the pair having won the last two Gold Coast CT events, Wilson in 2018 and Ferreira in 2019, and showing obvious form at Burleigh Heads. From the start of the heat, Ferreira kept busy, darting around the lineup and launching off sections, but seemed to struggle to find connection. Wilson, on the other hand, played a relatively patient game, picking off the medium sets and putting together seamless turns down the line to put up a mid-range heat total. Ferreira had a few opportunities to take the lead, but it slipped through his hands, leaving him to take his second 17th-place finish in as many events.

“The lineup is super tricky this morning, but I feel like I adapted well,” Wilson said. “I’m so excited for the opportunity and feel like I have a ton of energy. I haven’t surfed many heats against Italo [Ferreira], and when I was on Tour, it was always a matchup that I wanted. You always want to match up with those top 10 guys. He has had an incredible first half of the year and is obviously World No. 1, so it was a great opportunity for me to go up against the guy to beat. It just feels special to be a part of this event on its return to the Gold Coast, and to then surf against guys like Jack [Robinson] and Italo is cool because I’ve been watching them surf heats for years and I feel like all my energy has been bottled-up and ready to be delivered on the big stage again.”

Wilson’s bottled-up energy was further released in his afternoon Round of 16 match-up against Marco Mignot (FRA). The 2018 World Title runner-up delivered an 18.00 heat total, the highest of the event, thanks to a masterclass in variety. Wilson earned an 8.50 for a huge straight air with slob grab, but an even more impressive performance followed. The 36-year-old blew the back out of a long wall multiple times, reading it to perfection to exit a rare barrel as he powered down the line and put up the highest single wave score of the event, a 9.50. The former CT veteran left the French Rookie requiring a combination of scores as he moved into the Quarterfinals for the first time since he departed the Tour in 2021.

“This just feels amazing and really is beyond my dreams,” Wilson continued. “I thought I would be manifesting something like this, and it’s come really quickly, but I feel like I’m growing as the event goes on. I’m here with three kids and my wife, and I am just going with the flow, and I think it’s working for me. I’m kind of surprised myself with some of these performances, and it feels good to do it in front of my kids and my family.”

Two-time World Champion Filipe Toledo (BRA) moved into the Quarterfinals for the second time this season, leading a strong charge of his countrymen, who make up half of the remaining eight men’s surfers in the event. A full-rotation air reverse from Toledo changed the momentum in a slow heat for the 2015 Gold Coast Pro winner. Jake Marshall (USA) had maintained a decent lead headed into the final minutes of their Round of 16 heat, continuing his searing form on the rail from Bells Beach, before Toledo launched his lofty rotation to earn an excellent 8.00 and the heat win.

“That was exciting for whoever’s watching, but not for me,” Toledo laughed. “It was tricky today, blessed to get that one little ramp. That wave came out of nowhere. We were paddling over a wave, and then that was like a little double up, like sucking on the reef, on the little sandbank right here. I was like, maybe this is the one, maybe this is what I need. As soon as I took off, I saw the section. I was like, oh, I’m going to have to go for the air again.”

Toledo will next meet Yago Dora (BRA) in the Quarterfinals. Dora narrowly snuck through a tight match against Alan Cleland Jr. (MEX) and now sits as World No. 2 in the live rankings. The pair will be joined on Finals Day by Alejo Muniz (BRA) and Miguel Pupo (BRA). It will be the second Quarterfinal appearance on the Gold Coast for Muniz, who placed fifth as a rookie in 2011, and the third time for Pupo, who made the finals series in back-to-back years in 2014 and 2015, peaking with a third-place finish in 2015.

The day’s results guaranteed a place on Tour in 2026 for both Toledo and M. Pupo, who joined Dora in making the Mid-season Cut. Meanwhile, Muniz has climbed eight places in the live rankings over the course of the event so far to currently sit two places above the Cut.

For the second event in a row, Morgan Cibilic (AUS) moved through to Finals Day with an emphatic Round of 16 heat win. Coming off the back of a Semifinal finish at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, where he won the sponsor trials to appear in the event as a wildcard, Cibilic entered the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro as a last-minute replacement for fellow Novocastrian Ryan Callinan (AUS). Across the two events, the 25-year-old former World No. 5 has not let his foot off the gas, today posting an early 9.00 and late 7.93 for an excellent 16.93 two-wave total, thanks to his exceptionally powerful brand of fluid point break surfing. Cibilic defeated Seth Moniz (HAW) in a battle that started fairly one-sided, until Moniz posted an 8.00 of his own to keep himself within reach, but the Australian finished strong to continue his incredible streak.

“I feel like I haven’t surfed a heat like that in a few years,” Cibilic said. “To put a couple of waves together like how you want is kind of what you’re dreaming of before you paddle out, and what you’re visualizing, and for it to come off then was epic. And yeah, just want to say it was such a great battle with Seth [Moniz]. I love competing against him. He got that 8, and I could just hear the beach commentary just lighting up like how much variety he had, and I was like, didn’t know what he was gonna get. It’s always a good little battle with Seth. And you just got that true Hawaiian Aloha spirit, like after the heat, came up, big hug and congratulations. So cheers, Seth, and yeah, frothing to watch him in the next event, and he’s doing good this year, so I’m stoked.”

Similar to Cibilic, Jordy Smith (RSA) has come into the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro in rare form, having won in El Salvador and finished fifth at Bells. The veteran of nearly two decades on the CT is putting together one of his best seasons to date. Today, at Burleigh Heads, he was put to the test by Brazilian dynamo Joao Chianca (BRA), who had him on the ropes at the halfway mark of the heat until Smith found back-to-back waves, one of which offered him a long tube and three turns sections that he unleashed on to earn a 9.17 single wave score to take the lead and win with a two-wave total of 17.26, the second highest total of the day.

Giant cardboard cutouts featuring the head of Liam O’Brien (AUS) lined the point at Burleigh as the local boy took to the lineup for a marquee Round of 32 match-up against Griffin Colapinto (USA). Having never defeated the Californian after five previous head-to-head heats, O’Brien was fired up to turn the page on home soil. Tapping into his local knowledge, O’Brien stuck to his game plan of sitting near the top of the point, while Colapinto situated himself closer to the beach. After an opening mid-range score, the Australian unleashed his sharp forehand attack on a long, running wall, delivering blow after blow to earn a 9.10 and create a lead that Colapinto was unable to crack.

“That was unreal,” O’Brien said. “Griff [Colapinto]’s a top-tier competitor. He’s one of the guys that you want to try and beat. I think he’s beaten me about 50 times over the last couple of years, so I was pretty keen to try and get one back on him. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy.”

Heading into the event, O’Brien was sitting two places below the Mid-season Cut and in need of solid results in the two remaining events of the GWM Aussie Treble. Rather than feeling the pressure of the Cut and living up to the expectations of competing at home, the 26-year-old has chosen to accept it as a privilege and is feeding off the energy of the highly supportive local crowd.

“Oh, it’s the coolest thing ever, I mean, it’s like a double-edged sword,” O’Brien continued. “I was thinking before my first heats, this is sort of where I started doing little comps in boardriders and getting coached and all that sort of stuff. It’s pretty cool to go from that, all the way back, to being on Tour, but coming back to this same spot where it all started. It’s pretty special. And then to have everyone on the beach that was there all along the way is unreal. I just take it on as an honour to be out there representing the community and yeah, go and throw everything I’ve got at it and just not get too caught up in the result.”

O’Brien then headed to the Round of 16, where he took on Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) in the last heat of the day. As the huge crowds filled in to cheer on their local hero, Igarashi came bursting out of the gates, posting a 17.17 two-wave total on his opening two waves. O’Brien waited for the right wave to counter, and eventually did, finding a long, deep tube to post his own excellent score and get out of combination. Igarashi then sat with priority for the entire second half of the heat while O’Brien never found a wave that offered him the opportunity to go excellent again, leaving him to bow out of his home event in equal 9th place.

“I feel like I had to go big in that heat against Liam,” Igarashi said. “When I paddled out, he just had this look like he was going to be really hard to beat, and I fully felt it. I just told myself I need two waves. I got those two waves, and there was still a lot of time left, so I just had to get tactical. Being able to compete in a CT at your home break must be amazing. It must have been an amazing feeling for him to have that crowd chanting behind him; it made me smile. I just soaked it in, and I could see he was, too.”

For more highlights from today’s competition at the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

All eyes were on Burleigh Heads for Heat 5 of the women’s Round of 16 as reigning WSL World Champion Caity Simmers (USA) came up against eight-time World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), who is competing as a replacement surfer in her first event since 2023. As the waves slowed, it became a tactical chess match between the pair, and Simmers took the first advantage, posting the highest wave of the opening exchange. With everything coming down to the second wave, Gilmore found a runner and executed three seamless turns to take the lead. Simmers then followed and came unstuck, falling on her last turn, just missing the requirement, leaving Gimore to progress into the Quarterfinals. Gilmore will now face young-gun Erin Brooks (CAN) in her next heat and needs to get past her to have a chance at increasing her record with a seventh Gold Coast CT event title.

“Caity’s one of my favorite surfers,” Gilmore said. “She’s the current World Champion, she’s probably everyone’s favorite surfer. She’s so unpredictable and just fluid and really great to watch. It’s nerve-wracking surfing against people like that, but it really brings out the best in you because you have to find ways to win and dig deep and find new strategies and stuff, and I just enjoyed it a lot. Burleigh’s actually been a really excellent place for an event. I haven’t competed here for a long time, and so, to be back here and to have such a crazy set-up on the headland and all of the people on the beach watching is just, it’s a really special place. I’m happy to continue to try and perform again out here, it’s great, thanks for having us, Burleigh Heads.”

Two-time World Champion Filipe Toledo (BRA) continued his bounce back after a stinging Round of 16 loss at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach. An exciting Opening Round heat on day one at Burleigh has now given way to a searing Round of 32 performance that saw the 30-year-old earn the highest single-wave score and heat total of the event for the men. Toledo collected a 9.37 for a huge full rotation air reverse, before backing it up with an 8.50 with his speedy rail game, to deliver an excellent 17.87 two-wave total and defeat an in-form Crosby Colapinto (USA), whose 15.33 heat total would have won any other men’s matchup today. The 2015 Gold Coast Pro winner has experienced a slower-than-expected return to form after taking the 2024 season off, but now finds himself clicking back into gear.

“It felt good actually, first, you know, really good heat of the year,” Toledo said. “I feel like I’m finding my rhythm again. I’m not trying to push, or it’s hard not to push, actually, you know, being a professional surfer and with two World Titles, and coming back, you want to show that you still got it. But telling myself to just chill, relax, you know, you’re still in the mix, you’ve still got a chance to be in the Final Five or whatever. It is my goal, I know I still have a chance to do it. And just surf really. I mean, you gotta keep it up with this new generation coming up, you know, they don’t go easy on you at all, even if you’re a World Champion. I mean I’ve been on Tour for eleven years now, so you’ve got to let them know that you’re still here.”

Current women’s World No. 3 Molly Picklum (AUS) also continued her strong return after an upset in the previous event. Picklum’s solid point-break rail work and strong finishes earned her two scores in the 8-point range, to post an excellent 16.27 heat total, the highest of the day for the women, pushing the 22-year-old into her sixth Quarterfinal of the year. With the exception of her Round of 16 exit at Bells Beach, Picklum has made at least the Semifinals in every event so far this year, and she is now more determined than ever to push through to her first victory of the season.

“I think I just really want it,” Picklum said. “It’s been a couple of years now, I’ve felt it out. I look around and see what I can do and where I can really put in my effort, and now it’s kind of go time, I guess. I always turn up and want to win, but this time it just feels like I really want to win, I don’t know, just a bit more each year.”

2025 CT Rookie Erin Brooks (CAN) continued her love affair with the Gold Coast, putting on her best performance of the year, posting a 9.43 (out of a possible 10), the highest single wave of the event so far, for a series of huge, committed backhand snaps. Brooks, who posted a perfect 10 on the Gold Coast last year, on her way to winning the Challenger Series event at Snapper Rocks, showed that on the Gold Coast she can get it done in the lip as well as under it to take down Lakey Peterson (USA) with a two-wave total of 16.26.

“I haven’t even been on the glass in two events, which is super-frustrating because I have very high expectations for myself,” Brooks said. “So it was really nice to have a good heat like that. I’m so grateful to the Lord for sending me that wave because being out here, and any point break, there’s such a big playing field, so it’s really easy to get lost, but lucky enough, I found that wave.”

Brooks is looking forward to facing eight-time World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) in the Quarterfinals for another highly anticipated inter-generational clash.

“I’m excited to surf against [Stephanie Gilmore],” Brooks said. “I mean, watching her and Caity [Simmers] was just super special. But like, being in the heat, I feel like it’s gonna be even more exciting to surf against her. I’ve looked up to her for so long. She is definitely the GOAT, she’s won eight World Titles. I’m excited to see how she competes.”

Day 3 of competition saw a number of the events’ big names eliminated, alongside the reigning World Champion Caity Simmers (USA). Current men’s World No. 2 Ethan Ewing (AUS) went down to in-form replacement Morgan Cibilic (AUS). Cibilic looked fast and sharp while the usually solid Ewing seemed to struggle with finding his best place in the lineup. Cibilic will move to the Round of 16 while Ewing will leave the Gold Coast with his worst result of the season.

The opening heat of the day saw current World No. 1 Gabriela Bryan (HAW) and reigning World Junior Champion Luana Silva (BRA) go head-to-head at Burleigh Heads as both surfers look to continue their momentum this season. Silva got a good start, finding a long, running set wave and making it count, posting a 7.67 for a seamless connection of frontside gouges. Bryan fought back but was unable to overcome the recent Bells event runner-up, going down to Silva by less than 0.50 of a point. Silva was stoked to book a spot in the Quarterfinals on her birthday.

“That was a pretty stressful heat,” Silva said. “I kind of thought we would both be trading huge scores and getting lost in waves because the conditions are insanely beautiful, but it ended up going a bit slow. I felt like I was surfing well, but I made a few mistakes I need to work on for the next heat. I never felt safe in that heat because Gabby [Bryan] is amazing and the World No. 1 for a reason. It was nice to reset over the last couple of days and then come down today ready for it.”

Two of the women’s Tour’s goofy-foot representatives, Caroline Marks (USA) and Vahine Fierro (FRA), matched up in the second heat of the day, making for a great comparison of approaches here at Burleigh Heads. The 2023 World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist, Marks, showed glimpses of her impressive backhand approach, but it was Fierro who was able to find the better waves and take the win. It is a much-needed Quarterfinal berth for Fierro as she looks to move up the rankings and above the Mid-season Cut.

“That was a super important heat for me,” Fierro said. “I often find myself in heats with strong women like Caroline [Marks], and she always brings the best out of me. I am really happy with my surfing, my use of priority and wave choice in that heat. It’s been fun to surf Burleigh as it has a bit of everything, which is fun to so variation on my backhand. I’m loving it here in Burleigh, it’s my first time here, but it’s a beautiful place.”

The only competitor sitting lower than Fierro on the rankings is CT veteran Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), who put on one of her best performances of the season to overcome Tyler Wright (AUS) and book herself a spot in the Quarterfinals for the second event in a row. Fitzgibbons desperately needs to book a place in the Semifinals if she’s to move up the rankings and avoid a third straight season of falling victim to the Mid-season Cut.

For more highlights from today’s competition at the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

• PRIOR UDATES BELOW…
• Next Call Thursday May 8 at 7:15 AM AEST Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro (Wednesday 11:15am HI time)
• Day 2 of Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM Sees First Eliminations
• Julian Wilson Winds Back the Clock at Burleigh, Knocks Out Jack Robinson
• Lakey Peterson Carries Bells Momentum to Gold Coast
• Griffin Colapinto Posts Top Score of Elimination Round

The opening heat of the men’s Elimination Round looked like a Final on paper as Jack Robinson (AUS) and Julian Wilson (AUS) matched up with replacement Morgan Cibilic (AUS). Wilson, a former CT competitor and Gold Coast Pro winner, is fresh off winning the Trials, while Cibilic recently finished third at Bells Beach, the same event where Robinson won. In a slow heat for waves, it was all about taking what opportunity you could get, and Wilson did exactly that, launching a massive air-reverse to post an 8.17 (out of a possible 10). Cibilic looked ominous but was unable to catch Wilson’s heat total of 15.47 (out of a possible 20) while Robinson finished in third place and was a shock elimination in equal 33rd place.

“I feel like in that heat I was coming up against two of the in-form surfers from Bells,” Wilson said. “I feel like yesterday I was just surfing into feeling my way back into this environment, then by the end, I was looking for opportunity, so I wanted to bring that in my heat today, and I feel like I brought a lot more energy. Those are the heats you want,  but damn they’re hard, so I was really happy to come out on top with that one. I’m loving it, to be honest. It felt nice to land three from three then and throw in some variation with a grab. I was pretty amped up after that. It’s nice to be here again and feel at home in this very uncomfortable environment.”

After a slower-than-usual start to the season, Lakey Peterson (USA) earned a solid result at Bells Beach with an equal 5th-place Quarterfinal finish. Today, Peterson found herself in the Elimination Round here on the Gold  Coast but regained some momentum, taking down 2025 CT Rookie Bella Kenworthy (USA), who progressed in second, while Brisa Hennessy (CRC) was eliminated in equal 17th place. Peterson’s sharp, fast turns were the perfect match for the smaller, cupped-out walls on offer as she now shifts her focus to the Round of 16, where she will take on 2025 CT Rookie Erin Brooks (CAN).

“I was really bummed on my heat yesterday,” Peterson said. “I feel like I just didn’t surf that well and wasn’t on good waves. This is actually my first time surfing at Burleigh, so it felt good to get some more time out there and get to know the bank. It felt good to open up out there and feel like I was clicking in out there. I’m definitely doing my best, and I feel like I’m my old self a bit and out of that fear zone.”

Luana Silva (BRA) also bounced back from her disappointing Opening Round loss yesterday, stringing together a series of decent waves to overcome goofy-footers Sawyer Lindblad (USA) and Nadia Erostrabe (ESP). Silva will move into the Round of 16 and take on World No. 1 Gabriela Bryan (HAW), while Lindblad will match up with Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW). Erostrabe has been eliminated from the event.

Another top performer at Bells who found themself in the Elimination Round was Griffin Colapinto (USA), who is looking to climb the rankings after a less-than-ideal start to 2025. Colapinto came up against CT Rookie Joel Vaughan (AUS) and Imaikalani deVault (HAW) in the last heat of the day. All three surfers came out swinging, but it was Colapinto’s polish, landing two air-reverses on one wave, that earned him an 8.50 and eventually a 15.73 two-wave total that would see him take the win and progress into the Round of 32.

“That was a scary heat for sure,” Colapinto said. “I was a little nervous at the start. The bank was changing where the good waves were, and we ended up way down the point. Joel [Vaughan] got a good score down there, so we all went to follow him down there, and the other was throwing heat, so it was on from the start. I got that good wave, and after my first turn felt good, I thought I could do one more good one and get a decent score or put it to bed with something big. I’ve lost a few heats this year surfing like that, so I’m glad I learned from that.”

Rio Waida (INA) and Connor O’Leary (JPN) were the other two standouts in the Elimination Round, with Waida posting a 15.17 to win his heat and O’Leary a 14.00 to progress into the Round of 32.

For more highlights from today’s competition at the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

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.