Gold Coast dumped for tiny island in surf blow

MORE salt has been rubbed into Queensland’s wounds after it lost the long-running world championship surfing event on the Gold Coast, with a tiny West Australian island being gifted a new event.

The Corona Open Gold Coast at Snapper Rocks, which has traditionally launched the World Surf League championship tour since 2002, was dumped this week after a wrangle over COVID-19 quarantine arrangements between the WSL and Palaszczuk government.

The event has been poached by NSW and will be held at North Narrabeen, adding to another world championship tournament at Newcastle which will replace the alsocancelled Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach in Victoria.

Rottnest Island – a 19sq km island off Perth with a population of about 350 people and best-known as the home of a small, wallaby-like marsupial known as the quokka – will also host a new championship tour contest.

It means Australia’s socalled surfing capital the Gold Coast, where the WSL is based, will not have a major tournament while NSW and WA will have two each.

“This year, the Aussie CT leg is looking very different to what we’re used to due to COVID-19, with the addition of three new stops,” WSL Australian chief Andrew Stark said.

“Although it’s very disappointing to miss locations like Bells Beach and Snapper Rocks this year, we are stoked to add Newcastle, North Narrabeen and Rottnest Island to the schedule.

“We would like to genuinely thank all of our partners for their patience, understanding and support during this extremely difficult time.

“The WSL can’t wait to get the tour back under way and run epic and safe events for our athletes, fans and partners in Australia.”