Over in the land of Oz there lies a magical region called the Gold Coast, where over 35 kilometres of coastline creates fantastical surf breaks for all to play in... Amazingly we are not dreaming, this place really does exists and it is the site for the Quiksilver Gold Coast Pro 2010 surf competition that starts on Saturday Feb 26th .



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Australia is blessed with some of the best waves in the world, and one of the better known regions is the Gold Coast found in the state of Queensland.  Home to a pumping break, Quiksilver is holding its competition for the first time in over 12 years at Snapper Rocks,Coolangatta- just south of the central Gold Coast city.


In 1996 the first Gold Coast Pro was held, it was sponsored by Billabong and was won by Hawaiian pro-surfer Kaipo Jaquias.  Fast forward to 2002 and the event had changed its sponsor to Quiksilver, yet there was no doubt as to the superb quality of the wave, the competition or the competitors.

The secret to the great waves at the Gold Coast Pro is all to do with the sand.  Between the pointbreak Snapper Rocks and the beach break of Kirra lies a massive super bank of sand.  This bank has not naturally developed, but has been created by the dredging of the Gold Coast Tweed River.  An enormous amount of sand has been moved out of the river since 1995, when the regional government decided to create a safer waterway.  The sand was pumped out and over to Rainbow Bay- aka Snapper Rocks and Kirra, restoring the beach and creating the huge sand bank.  Extra sand + pointbreak = super long epic righthander ride of up to 1.5 kilometres!!!


The fun of the super bank is that it not only provides the long ride, but it changes almost daily.  Depending on the tides, the swell and the storms or cyclones that hit, the bank will shift and change, so surfers often don’t know what to expect from the wave.  On a small day, Snapper Rocks will peal waves around its pointbreak, yet when the storms hit, the bank can light up all the way to Kirra.  A sharp take off at Snapper Rocks, followed by a thigh burning barreling ride to Kirra’s deep peaks has thrilled surfers and spectators alike for years.  So depending on the daily conditions, the Gold Coast Pro can call for the competition to be held at Burleigh Heads, Snapper Rocks, Kirra or Duranbah.

Since the competition’s inception on the world tour, the winners of the Gold Coast Pro are always considered to be world title contenders.  Over the last decade the winner’s podium has seen the likes of Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning, Dean Morrison, Michael Lowe and 09’s winner Joel Parkinson grace it’s platform.  This year the competition is spot number 1 of 10 on the world tour.  So everyone is interested in who manages to win the competition and kick the world championship race off to a great start.

Watch it all this year live at Quiksilver pro and take a look below at the pro clip:

Wave: Shipsterns, aka Shipstern’s Bluff, The Stern, Shippies
Where: Off the Tasman Peninsula, Raoul Bay, SE Tasmania, Australia
When: ???  Who knows exactly, but the media found out about this beast in 2001 and it was first officially ridden in 1997.
Why: Sick, warped and extremely heavy.
Stats: Holds 6ft - 25ft+, best at low tide, 50m - 150m of ride



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Off the steep cliffs of Raoul Bay on the Tasman Peninsula of Australia, lies the monster wave that is known as “Shipsterns”.  This wave is so heavy and dangerous that very few surfers brave its lumpy ride, and when they do... it is the pros and the local legends that turn up in the water.  Shipsterns is a wave to gawk at, but not to be attempted by your average joe.

Since 2001, ridiculous footage has come out of just how crazy Shippies really is.  The thick lipped right hander wave barrels over its peak onto the rock reef bottom... but wait, it doesn’t end there.  Bizarre formations are churned up by the massive boulders that are lurking beneath its surface. Often a ledge appears on the face and surfers are made jump a few feet in the air while in the barrel!



The fuss over this wave has been going on for decades, but it wasn’t ridden until 1997 when the heroic/madman (delete where applicable) Andy Campbell decided to just do it.  Big wave riding was his thing, and Shipsterns certainly delivered.  Campbell is now renowned for conquering the wave.


After Campbell’s success it was only a matter of time before the word got out.  In 2000 Tasmanian photographer Sean Davey recorded the highs and lows of pro surfers Mark Mathews, Drew Courtney and Kieren Perrows as they rode/were beaten by Shipsterns.  In spite of the freezing water, the pulverizing white water and the sharks, the team survived to tell the tale, and the surfing world took notice.  Cue a deluge of surfers talking about Shipsterns and making the trek to the ancient site.

The monumental wave lies at the heart of Tasmania’s wild coastline.  The walk alone from the car park to the site can take over an hour, whilst the only other access is via boat.  So, if you get hurt here, there simply isn’t an easy option for getting help.  The ancient wave demands respect.  The lonely barrel derived its name from the ship like cliff formation close by after originally being named “The Devil’s Point”... whoever came up with that did have a point.


However, despite the fervour that has been whipped up since its rise to global notoriety, Shippies really does humble surfers.  Few brave it, so it remains relatively uncrowded unlike its northern hemisphere counterpart Maverick’s.  It simply crops up when the swell and all important wind is right, and you have a few crazies in the water. 

Check out this insane footage of Michael Brennan as he makes riding the loopy beast look like a piece of cake.

Name: Bede Durbidge
Nicknames: Durbo, The White Fijian, Bej
Hometown: Currumbin, Queensland, Australia
Age: 26 (Dob 23 Feb 1983)
Stance: Regular
Sponsors: Fox Clothing, Ocean Minded Footwear, Mt. Woodgee Surfboards, On A Mission (OAM) Accessories, Xcel Wetsuits, Freestyle watches and Green Stuff Surf Wax

Bede Durbidge has left a blazing trail over the last few years on the ASP Championship Tour.  He finished 3rd in the rankings after Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson in 2009, and he is up there with the best for a reason. 


This tall powerful surfer from Queensland, Australia has a great arsenal of techniques... carving bottom and top turns in the big waves, and punchy aerials in the smaller.  He has managed to climb the rankings since his ASP inception in 2005, and has risen from his 25th placement in 05’ into the top 5 in 07’, 08’ and 09’.  In 2008 he was the ASP’s world championship runner-up to the one and only Kelly Slater.  Not bad for the 26 year old from Stradbroke Island.

“Durbo” has received a good deal of support from his crew since he was 14 years old and competing in the Australasian Juniors Series.  However, it hasn’t always been an easy road for Durbidge to succeed on the tour.  After spending 3 years on the grueling WQS tour, he finally managed to put together enough points to launch onto the ASP dream circuit in 2005. 

The then relatively unknown Durbidge was soon to gain notoriety in his second year on tour, when he won the Boost Mobile Pro of Surf 2006 at Trestles, beating Kelly Slater to the post.  However, at the start of 2007 he was dropped by his primary sponsor.  Where other men would have called it a day, Durbidge funded his world tour quest and finished 07’ at 5th in the world.  In the process of achieving the superb ranking, Durbidge won both the Billabong Pipeline Masters and the Triple Crown of Surfing over in Hawaii.  He was the first Australian to claim the Triple Crown after a wait of over 10 years.


After a brilliant past 3 years of finishing within the top 5 surfers in the world, what will 2010 bring for Durbidge?  He has been inspired by his Aussie friends Joel Parkinson and Mick Fanning to train hard and truly challenge their recent dominance in the sport.  Over the last month Durbidge has been training in Oz with the legendary charger Gary “Kong” Elkerton.  He is also pushing the boundaries of surfing by experimenting with the new “bullet” (super short) surfboards shaped by Wayne McKewen at Mt. Woodgee, performing aerials and challenging himself to be in great shape for the Goldcoast Quiksilver Pro competition that starts on 27th February.

So watch this space for updates on how this dark horse for the 2010 world title does in the up and coming contests.  In the meantime check out his moves at the classic Billabong Pipeline Masters 2007 where he claimed the title.


 

Its great fun spending hour after hour on the web checking out different surfers websites and fidning out whats going on in the surfing world. We've listed our Top 10 surfer websites and surfer blogs below. Hope you enjoy them!


Mick Fanning, www.mickfanning.com


2009’s ASP world champion Mick Fanning has a slick website that gives a well rounded presentation of this brilliant surfer.  Photos, tour updates, interviews and more, Fanning’s site gives you the chance to keep up to speed with his tour plight.  Just give him some time off from updating between tours.


Joel Parkinson, www.joelparko.com


Parko and his team does a great job of updating the website with video diaries of Joel and his life.  Whether it’s on the ASP tour or simply life at home in Oz, Parko’s site is fresh, entertaining and interactive.  Parko often writes his blogs and regularly gives insights into the highs and lows of life on the tour.


Kelly Slater, www.kellyslater.com


Here’s a bit of a cheeky website, there is a homepage, but it simply gives you the choice as to where you’d like to be redirected to.  Myspace, Facebook, twitter or Quiksilver’s own Slater mini-site.  You can follow Kelly’s wanderings and see the latest info on his recent projects.... just through other sites.


Stephanie Gilmore, http://stephgilmore.blogspot.com/


Random, lighthearted and fun, x3 world champion Stephanie Gilmore’s blogspot gives a glimpse into her life around the globe.  Truly girlie, with fashion ideas, nights out and lots of links and clips of what she likes.  Gilmore’s blog is pretty different to the men’s polished sites, but it is full of character and is a good laugh.


Laird Hamilton, www.lairdhamilton.com


Laird Hamilton’s name is forever linked with big wave riding, tow in surfing and now stand-up paddle boarding.  His website is frequently updated with his surf exploits, his own range of equipment and his watermen friends.  Hamilton’s website also provides useful information on how to choose a SUP (Standup Paddle) board and how to ride it well. The site is often updated by his wirf and former Olympic Beach Volleyball champion Gabby Reece


Kassia Meador, www.kassiameador.com


This elegant longboarder has branched out from surfing, and now not only models for Roxy, but is a TV host and presenter.  Check out her blog for updates on the countries she visits and her adventures in and out of the water.


Maya Gabeira, www.mayagabeira.com.br


This stand out big wave surfer from Brazil has taken the sport by storm.  Her bilingual website provides a quick look at her life and the massive waves she takes on and dominates.


Rob Machado, www.robmachado.com


Known for his massive hair, love of Indo and for voicing a penguin version of himself in “Surf’s Up”, Machado’s website is a collection of photos, links and clips that encompass his way of life.  Oh and you can also buy all things Machado if you so desire.


Lee-Ann Curren, http://leeanncurren.blogspot.com


Following on in the footsteps of her famous father, Lee-Ann has newly qualified for the 2010 women’s ASP tour.  This Biarritz local regularly updates her blog with her trips and what inspires her to surf.


Aritz Aranburu, http://aritzaranburu.com/blog/


Representing the progressive euroforce of surfers, Aritz’s blog is in Spanish yet translates well for those of us who don’t speak his native Basque or Spanish.  His blog is full of great videos from his recent surf trips. He is from the lively surf town of Zarautz, one of our most popular Surfing Holidays destinations in Spain

Ericeira, Portugal: Can eco holidays and surf lessons go together? Ross McDonagh of the Dublin Metro Newspaper went to investigate

Contrary to what the movies would have you believe, you don’t need a golden tan, awesome bod and long blonde hair to surf – and that goes for girls AND boys.

Surfing is the very definition of ‘easy to learn, hard to master’. Standing on a surfboard is actually quite simple; it’s staying there that’s the tricky part.As locations go, Ireland is pretty high on the ‘best surf spots’ list. Believe it or not, Lahinch in Clare and Bundoran in Donegal are world renowned. But a sense of touch in your hands and feet would be an advantage Irish waters tend to take away.

Ericeira is a beautiful town 40 minutes north of Lisbon, nestled on the edge of warmer parts of the Atlantic. Regarded as Portugal’s best and most consistent spot for all standards of surfers, it hosts major world surfing competitions yet has beaches seemingly designed for the complete noob. The old town is made up of narrow cobblestone streets filled with small cafés and bars, and is elevated on the cliffs from the beaches and fishing port.



The real gems hidden in Ericeira are the Eco-Lodges. Book the package through surfholidays.com , and you will stay in the most adorable accommodation ever. You’d walk right past the wooden door without even noticing, but go through and you’ll find yourself in the cutest little complex, with just six two storey wooden houses gathered around the natural eco-pool – a beautiful lagoon swimmers can share with frogs, whose lily pads keep the water clean and chlorine-free. The pool is flanked by a vegetable garden visitors can tend and use for cooking on a huge communal BBQ, while beneath the complex is a grand games/chill-out room with plush leather sofas, pool and fussball tables, self-serving bar, and movie and sound systems.



Each house comes equipped with a balcony hammock, and there are lots of little recycling reminders that actually aren’t annoying. In fact, you’ll feel so indebted to Ms Nature at the end of your stay you’ll find yourself going through your trash and separating. It is the perfect place to relax after a hard day of lounging on the beach. The surfholidays.com instructors are excellent – they will have you standing after your first hour. Surfholidays.com also offer yoga classes, should you require extra limbering.



The idea of a surfing holiday on the Portuguese coast sounds expensive, but it’s not. A week’s stay in the Eco-Lodges in peak season is just €1,125. Don’t forget they sleep four, so that’s just €281.25 each. Six days of surf lessons are only €98 per person. Aer Lingus fly from Dublin to Lisbon every day of the week, and cost as little as €80 return if booked well in advance. And if you decide to go off-season outside of the summer months, the lodges are just €680 for the week – almost half price.

In addition, your euro will go a lot further over there – coffees are 50c, beers €1 and a delicious meal for four with two bottles of wine will barely set you back €50.

If you’ve never tried surfing, or never even thought about trying it, you should definitely consider a trip to Ericeira. And if you can round up 23 friends, it is the perfect place to book out completely for yourselves.