Three years of surf action
THE Gold Coast looks set to secure the Quiksilver and Roxy pros for the next three years in the wake of the World Surf League’s false start to a radical world tour restructure.
The Gold Coast Bulletin understands the deal, estimated to be worth $60 million to the local economy, is all but finalised ahead of the board of Tourism and Events Queensland voting whether to fund the tourism drawcard.
It comes as the current contract for the WSL’s world championship events is due to expire after this year’s event, which kicks off on the Gold Coast in just over two weeks.
The new deal would see the Gold Coast remain part of the world tour as the sport is showcased to its biggest ever audience with its inclusion in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and through the current “revolution” of wave pools.
Asked if the Queensland Government would continue to support the event, Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said she looked forward to continuing the partnership with the WSL.
The event has an estimated economic impact of $20 million a year for the economy.
“These events are broadcast to millions around the world and inject millions of dollars into our economy,” Ms Jones said.
She said crowds almost doubled last year when thousands stood in the rain to watch local champion Stephanie Gilmore win the Roxy Pro and Owen Wright miraculously return from injury to win the Quiksilver event.
“Last year we had almost 40,000 people attend the Quiksilver Pro and Roxy Pro over the course of the 12-day fixture,” Ms Jones said.
The news follows a rough few months for surfing’s peak professional body.
Earlier this month it was revealed the WSL missed a November deadline to submit paperwork that would have seen Hawaii’s Pipeline open the world tour rather than the Gold Coast, which has traditionally been the opening event.
In October the Bulletin reported the change was part of a “radical” revamp of the competition, in which the tour would be shortened from 10 months to eight and surfers would have the chance to compete in a “grand final” in the wave-rich Indonesian Mentawai Islands in September.
After missing out on the deadline and subsequent frosty exchanges between WSL boss Sophie Goldschmidt and Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, the organisation threatened to cancel all WSL events in Hawaii.
But last week the groups appeared to have patched things up. However another site for a season opener is being sought for February 2019 because Pipeline has been ruled out. SALLY COATES WHERE would you want to be for your last night on Earth?
If your answer is drinking copious amounts of alcohol with your best mates, soon there will be a place that emulates that very night, aptly named Last Night on Earth.
In the space formerly occupied by Not Tonight Southport, the postapocalyptic, Mad Maxesque bar is under construction, including a new level upstairs.
“The rooftop will be unique,” owner Arran Woollams said.
“We’ve had approval for about four years to build up but it just wasn’t the right time – now is the right time.
“It’s going to have operable walls that can be opened or closed to change the whole vibe – open or intimate.
Woollams said his team had no shortage of ideas.
“There’s hints of Mad Max, we’ll be using a lot of tyres around the place,” Mr Woollams said.
“We’ve got a chainsaw hanging from the roof and baseball bats with nails coming out of them.”
Last Night on Earth is tipped to be open in early April.