Caption: Isla Huppatz going to the air. Credit: Surfing Queensland
GOLD COAST, QUEENSLAND (Saturday 15 February 2025) – The 2025 Gold Coast Open World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 1000 has seen a massive day of competition in clean 3-4ft waves, setting the stage for tomorrow’s Finals Day.
The Longboard QS ran in clean and sizeable conditions in the morning, finishing today with the men’s Quarterfinals. The women’s longboard divisions will join in tomorrow’s action, with the event’s best conditions expected.
2023 Gold Coast Open champion, Isla Huppatz (AUS), delivered an outstanding performance, showcasing an aerial masterclass in her heat. She battled it out against her closest friend, Milla Brown (AUS), as their exciting and friendly rivalry continued.
“Milla and I have surfed against each other a lot and she got the best of me last time at the Australian Junior Surfing Titles,” said Huppatz.
“Having a best friend in your heat makes everything better and it is always good surfing against her because we really push eachother! I just love competing and I’m stoked to be at the Gold Coast Open and heading into the next round.”
Standout performer and former WSL Championship Tour surfer (2021-24), Morgan Cibilic (AUS), secured his spot in the Quarterfinals by winning two exceptional heats. His highest wave score was a crowd-pleasing wave, earning him a remarkable score of 9.40 out of a possible 10.
“This big rip came out and the wave went off the side of the rip and had the perfect angle going down the point,” said Cibilic.
“I was stoked to get in three decent turns and there wasn’t a whole lot of that going on by the afternoon, so it definitely gave me the advantage. I’m glad I got the score and made it into Finals Day.”
Tomorrow we’ll see the surfers vie for points that will be necessary in getting onto the 2026 Challenger Series. Come on down to Burleigh Heads to see the competitors pack on the heat and crown our event champions.
Chiggy’s Skateboarding provided endless entertainment for spectators and participators, with impressive pro demonstrations and skate clinics.
The afternoon will see Burleigh Hill come alive with a free concert, surf trivia and beach bar open until 8:30pm.
The 2025 Gold Coast Open is supported by the WSL, Experience Gold Coast and the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland.
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, Rockstar Energy Drink, Easy Seltzer, Blackroll and Chiggy’s Skateboarding.
Previous winners of the Gold Coast Open (formerly Burleigh Pro) include names like Taj Burrow, Julian Wilson, Dimity Stoyle, Owen Wright, Sophie McCulloch, Mitch Crews and Isabella Nichols. The event is known for attracting surfers from all corners of the globe including Hawaii, Indonesia, North America, France, Brazil and Japan.
2025 GOLD COAST OPEN
- The three-day event (14 – 16 February) is a renowned event for the region and is much more than a surfing competition. The event will include sunrise yoga sessions by Active and Healthy and Rigs Recovery, women’s group surfing with Club Shakas, food trucks, a skate ramp with pro demonstrations and skate clinics, free concert (Friday 14 & Saturday 15 Feb), pop-up beach bar stocked with Travla beer and Easy Seltzer, and much more.
HISTORY OF PROFESSIONAL SURFING AT BURLEIGH HEADS
- The Stubbies Surf Classic was established in 1977, organised that year by surfer, Peter Drouyn. Drouyn established the “man on man” competition format, where two surfers compete in each heat (where before four or even six was normal). This competition format is implemented today in both grassroots and professional surfing competitions. View video of 1977 Stubbies Surf Classic HERE
