The mini tent village is up at Snapper Rocks and the action is on – it’s Quiksilver and Roxy Pro time.
Ten-time World Men’s Champion Kelly Slater and Kingscliff’s own four-time Women’s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore are leading an all-star field of best surfers for the Gold Coast. The event kick-starts this year’s Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) men’s and women’s tours – happening in 12 places all over the globe.
This all-important opening event takes place over a 12-day period, starting from February 26 and going through until March 9 (although each event only requires three full days of good days to be completed).
The Quiksilver and Roxy Pro events involve more than 250 staff (including a large contingent of volunteers).
Last year more than 76,000 spectators flocked to the Rainbow Bay site to watch some of the best surfing action in the world. This year organisers are hoping and expecting even more.
Extra interest has been sparked by the fact that this could be the last time Australian spectators get to see the legendary Kelly Slater in action.
The event, just secured for the Gold Coast for another three years by the Queensland Government through their Queensland Events organisation, is already one of the area’s biggest money-spinners and tourism showcases, according to Tweed Chamber of Commerce President Lenny McLennan.
“I reckon it’s one of the biggest events on this end of the Coast,” he said.
“With all the restaurants and local businesses finding it difficult (in the current economic climate) it is a really big boost.”
He said it proved a major drawcard for people from throughout Queensland, Australia and even around the world and was a shot in the arm for the restaurant and accommodation businesses in the region.
“They come from everywhere, all over the world for this event.”
Mr McLennan said, with some businesses struggling, they really looked forward to the surfing.
He said, despite the rain, it had been a pretty good summer for many local businesses but without events like the Quiksilver they had to wait until the next holidays for a major influx of tourists.
The Tweed’s peak tourism body Destination Tweed also emphasised the importance of the surfing to the local tourism industry and economy.
Group head Phil Villiers said the region was becoming well-known as a sports tourism destination through events including the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro, next weekend’s Kingscliff Triathlon, the NSW State Surf Live Saving Titles, Malfunction Longboard Festival and major triathlon and cycling races later in the year.
Mr Villiers said the area, which became a training ground for a lot of international teams in key sports including rowing, cycling and hockey in the lead-up to the Sydney Olympics, could further capitalise on its natural and man-made attributes and play an important role in the Commonwealth Games of 2018 if the Gold Coast secures them.
He said this area could once again become a training area for teams in the lead-up to the Games and, with Tweed Shire Council now making it easier for sporting bodies to apply to hold events in the region, we could see more sports tourism.
