FROM STEPH’S SEVEN TO PARKO’S BIRD ...
With the Quiky Pro and Boost Mobile Pro starting, Surf Scene columnist and Gold Coast surfing identity Andrew McKinnon looks back on some of the most memorable moments over the years.
SEVEN-times world women’s champion Stephanie Gilmore holds the record of seven wins at her home break.
Snapper Rocks is where she learnt to surf and honed her relaxed-yet-radical style with the world’s best like Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson and Mark Occhilupo and a cast of thousands on the Superbank.
For the record Steph’s wins were in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2017.
MY favourite women’s finals include Carissa Moore’s superb win over Gilmore at Snapper in pumping waves in 2015 with a faultless display from the Hawaiian three-times world champion.
Equally tantalising was Gilmore’s comeback win in 2017 at Snapper Rocks against in-form Californian Lakey Peterson. Last year Peterson rose to a whole new level to finally clinch her maiden title at a kegging Kirra Point.
OF the men’s finals, it’s hard not to overlook the 2002 inaugural mobile event.
The Superbank hadn’t yet formed and Kelly Slater was making his return from retirement. Slater came up short against a brash Joel Parkinson at Burleigh and Parko went on to win against Florida’s Shea Lopez at a pristine pre-Superbank.
The following year was the Year of the Dingo – aka Dean Morrison. He won his only WCT final against Mark “Occy” Occhilupo in 2003 after taking down Kelly Slater in the quarter-finals.
In 2007, Mick Fanning had scintillating win over a fired-up Bede Durbidge, taking off way deep behind the rock to negotiate the backwash drop.
In 2013, fans witnessed a herculean final between Slater and Parkinson at Kirra Point. It climaxed when Joel took off without priority, leaving Slater no other option than to drop in legitimately.
Parko gave him the bird and Slater had his last great win on the Gold Coast. In 2014, Parkinson was primed for a comeback win at Snapper Rocks against Brazil’s Gabriel Medina but the Brazilian went ballistic on his backhand to win his first Quiksilver Pro.
THE most emotional final was in 2017 with the return of Owen Wright who had been sidelined with the prospect of never competing again.
Wright produced a rejuvenated performance against good mate and fellow goofy-foot Matt Wilkinson, the defending champion.
This marked the first dual backhand “goofy-foot” final and there was not a dry eye at Snapper for the final.
LET’S not leave out Julian’s Wilson winning double barrel
backdoor keg fest at Kirra last year when he raised the bar big time against a spirited backhand attract from Adrian “Ace” Buchan.
FOR the record, Kelly Slater has won the most Quiksilver Pros – four, in 2006, 2008, 2011 and 2013 – but he also won the Billabong Pro in 1997 and 1998.
I mentioned this to Kelly at the WSL Awards and he replied with a grin: “It’s a good way to start the year.”
Can surfing’s greatest champion do it again at the age of 47 and go on to take his 12th world title in his retirement year?