Surfers stop for lay day

ORGANISERS called a lay day at the World Surf League season-opening event on the Gold Coast yesterday.

Former world champions Mick Fanning and Kelly Slater face second-round knockout heats after failing to win the first round on Saturday. Six-time women’s world champion Stephanie Gilmore also has to surf for survival in the second round.

When competition resumes, Fanning will face American Dane Reynolds and Slater will take on Australian Jack Freestone.

Gilmore faces compatriot Bronte Macaulay.