GOLD COAST, QUEENSLAND (Wednesday 17 January 2023) – The iconic Burleigh Heads will once again play host to one of surfing’s most anticipated annual events, the Gold Coast Open, which will mark the return of professional surfing to Queensland from 16 – 18 February.
The 2024 Gold Coast Open will see the Australia / Oceania regional World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) return for a QS 1000-rated event, providing one of the first opportunities for competitors to grab points and qualify for the 2025 WSL Challenger Series.
This event will mark the second Australia QS event of 2024 and will feature the debut of longboard QS (LQS) divisions at Burleigh Heads.
Stand-out names competing in the Longboard QS include, 3x World Longboard Champion, Taylor Jensen and Queensland longboard icon, Kirra Molnar.
WSL APAC Regional Tour Manager, Ty Sorati, expressed his excitement to have the Gold Coast Open return to Burleigh for 2024 and the inclusion of the LQS.
“Burleigh Heads is a truly iconic, world-class wave, and it will be great to see the longboarders join the QS competitors for the 2024 instalment of the Gold Coast Open,” said Sorati.
“We look forward to continuing our great relationship with Surfing Queensland and can’t wait to see the next crop of Aussie up-and-comers qualify for the next Challenger Series season and World Longboard Tour.”
The World QS divisions are set to showcase top-tier surfing, featuring elite talents such as renowned pro surfer from Byron Bay, Kyuss King, along with Sierra Kerr, who was recently crowned World Junior Champion.
Ex-World Championship Tour surfers, Sophie Mcculloch, Nathan Hedge and Dimity Stoyle are also set to compete in the event.
The three-day event at Burleigh Heads will offer spectators plenty of entertainment including, live music, sunrise yoga, skate clinics and pro demonstrations, a beach bar, food trucks, and of course world-class surfing.
Surfing Queensland CEO, Adam Yates, is looking forward to seeing some of surfing’s brightest male and female talent vie for a share of the $30,000 prize pool on offer.
“Surfing Queensland has been growing the Gold Coast Open year after year, and we are proud to run an event that showcases both homegrown and international talent,” said Yates.
“With the addition of longboard QS divisions, we can’t wait to witness such a broad variety of professional athletes battle it out. We encourage everyone to come down and enjoy our three-day event, in what will undoubtedly be one of the best showcases of surfing talent on offer.”
Previous winners of the Burleigh-based event include Queenslanders Mick Fanning, Julian Wilson and Isabella Nichols, as well as other World Championship Tour surfers Sally Fitzgibbons, Taj Burrow and Owen Wright.
The 2024 Gold Coast Open is supported by the WSL, Experience Gold Coast and the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.
Surfing Queensland would like to thank it’s corporate event partners for their ongoing support including, Suzuki Queensland, Travla, Dritimes, QMS, We Are Feel Good Inc, Ancestral Nutrition, Shade Eyewear and Blackroll.
