Just when it looked as though winter was going to slip by without a proper swell, a solid E/SE pulse lit up the Gold Coast points, delivering two days of pumping surf to Snapper and Kirra over the weekend.
Website traffic on Jetstar will have enjoyed a health bump this winter. With a prolonged period of sub-par surf, that felt more like summer than the middle of July on the East Coast of Australia, you could hardly blame surfers for getting trigger happy and booking flights to Indo.
Yet despite an El Niño winter that’s generally favoured Australia’s west and south coasts, the Goldy scored a timely reminder of why its points remain some of the best in the world. Long, ruler-edged walls reeled down Snapper while Kirra served up its usual conveyor belt of barrels.
The relentless sweep at Snapper provided a harsh surf fitness test for anyone paddling, while those lucky enough to have access to a ski were able to step straight into cavernous tubes behind the rock. Hawaiian charger Eli Olsen happened to be in town and linked up with Gold Coast royalty Joel Parkinson, who happily towed him into a handful of bombs.
Earlier this year Eli inked a deal to rock The Mad Hueys sticker on the nose of his board. Having that crew on speed dial certainly doesn’t hurt when the Gold Coast decides to turn on.
Usual suspects Sheldon Simkus and Soli Bailey also joined forces, using motorised assistance to counter the sweep and make the most of the conditions. The pair are one of surfing’s most exciting tube-riding partnerships, with their recent South Pacific strike mission to an undisclosed location only adding to the hype.
Further north, Kirra did exactly what Kirra does whenever the swell arrives: flawless tubes, heavy traffic and plenty of chaos. A tube-hungry crowd combined with the local boardriders’ monthly club round ensured drop-ins were in plentiful supply, providing no shortage of entertainment for those watching from the hill and plenty of ammunition for social media.
With winter beginning to wind down, Gold Coast surfers will be hoping this wasn’t the season’s final hurrah. Until the next pulse arrives, check out some of our favourite shots from the weekend, courtesy of Simon ‘Swilly’ Williams.
