The iconic Burleigh Heads on Queensland's Gold Coast will once again welcome elite-level professional surfing back to the point for the Gold Coast Open. 2024 will see the return of the World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 1000 event, along with the addition of a Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) event running from February 16 - 18.
The three-day surfing festival will see the competitors from the WSL Australia / Oceania regional QS battle for points as they look to qualify for the 2024 international Challenger Series. It will also give longboard competitors from the region an opportunity to qualify for the 2024 World Longboard Tour.
Stand-out names competing in the Longboard QS include three-time World Longboard Champion Taylor Jensen (USA) and Queensland longboard icon Kirra Molnar (AUS).
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 QS is set to showcase top-tier surfing, featuring elite talents such as renowned pro surfer from Byron Bay, Kyuss King (AUS), along with Sierra Kerr (AUS), who was recently crowned WSL World Junior Champion. Former Championship Tour surfers Nathan Hedge (AUS) and Dimity Stoyle (AUS) 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, Ethan Ewing and Isabella Nichols, as well as other CT 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.
2024 Gold Coast Open Returns to Burleigh Heads This Summer
WSL
The iconic Burleigh Heads on Queensland's Gold Coast will once again welcome elite-level professional surfing back to the point for the Gold Coast Open. 2024 will see the return of the World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 1000 event, along with the addition of a Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) event running from February 16 - 18.
The three-day surfing festival will see the competitors from the WSL Australia / Oceania regional QS battle for points as they look to qualify for the 2024 international Challenger Series. It will also give longboard competitors from the region an opportunity to qualify for the 2024 World Longboard Tour.
Stand-out names competing in the Longboard QS include three-time World Longboard Champion Taylor Jensen (USA) and Queensland longboard icon Kirra Molnar (AUS).
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 QS is set to showcase top-tier surfing, featuring elite talents such as renowned pro surfer from Byron Bay, Kyuss King (AUS), along with Sierra Kerr (AUS), who was recently crowned WSL World Junior Champion. Former Championship Tour surfers Nathan Hedge (AUS) and Dimity Stoyle (AUS) 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, Ethan Ewing and Isabella Nichols, as well as other CT 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.
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