There are two warm weeks of Goldie time coming up, and as history will show, much of that time is spent waiting, patiently and impatiently, for waves. It’s an invigorating event, and the launch of the Men’s and Women’s Championship Tours is always going to be a time of enthrallment, but we still need to mix it up when it comes to diversions. Here are a few interesting little additives to the simple act of spectating that we repeat like doomed conformists every year.
At the Quiksilver Pro you can get up really close to the pros, more so that many other events. The security escorts the surfers back to the WSL’s juggernaut office block on the beach, but does not follow them to the jump spot. If you want to get up close, go and hang around at the gully, walk out on to the jump – rocks. You can high five Mick as he launches through the air. Alternatively, you can wade out into the line-up, pretty much. When it’s small and shallow, you can walk out to the waves, even to the extent of getting sprayed by their buckets as they whoop down the line looking for pockets.
It is also a fucking great time for some good ole perving, be it boys or girls that you’re into. Much of this falls firmly on the laps of the Brazilians (did you see what I did there?) who are not in any way scared of wearing g-strings, even if they shouldn't be. Usually they have boyfriends with them, and they’re pure beefcake, if the ladies want to come around and watch them jiggle their pecs in the sun.
Sometimes it all gets a bit much in the sun, what with all the perving and getting up close, that the only relief is beer. Then you need to head on over to the RSL for a quiet one. Chances of you getting a view from up there are pretty slim, unless you’re a long time local and member, or family of one. The front deck, in other words, is booked. Still, the beers are cold and the food is great. If the Snapper RSL is full they’ll stop you at the stairs. No matter how much you plead, those dudes keeping check won’t let you in, no matter who you say you are. They know all the Aussie surfers, as well as Kelly, Jordy, Gabby etc. so don’t try.
It’s going to be crowded and it’s going to be shit, but you can always paddle out on the other side of the Little Marley section and surf away from that brooding WSL Mothership. Sometimes a competitor will come flying down the line and do a bunch of tight, finishing moves and possibly an air or two as they approach the section, so you can get really up close and personal without doing anything wrong. Just don't try and high five your heroes down here because those safety dudes on the jet ski might or might not give you a ‘friendly’ heads-up.
If you’re not into doing it for the team at Little Marley then you can always climb over the hill and go and surf Duranbah. It’s always worse than what it looks. Yep, you read that correctly. But then again there is always something to ride, and a few of the Championship Tour surfers will be out there and will be a bit more relaxed than those fighting for takeoff spots behind the rocks. You can get a couple of waves out at DBah, get ridden over a few times, get photographed, meet a world champ and get back home and showered in the same time it’ll take you to get one solitary wave at the Superbank.
Then the nightlife starts turning on. There are always a few industry parties going down that many people can blag into, and there are other impromptu get-togethers all over the place. There’s a club just the other side of the Greenmount hill in the Komune Hotel and all the parties that lead on from there. Do what you can to blag your way into one, even if it means kissing someone.
It’s crowded down at Coolangatta during this time, and if you’re into it, this is the time to get your Tinder act together. Being happily married I don't have Tinder, not even for research, but I’ve seen it in action at this event and oh my god it is something to behold in real life. A good swipe right night can change your life, apparently.
