Billy Stairmand and Kirra-Belle Olsson have won the 2019 Gold Coast Open pres by Flight Centre presented by Flight Centre today, in peeling 2-3ft waves at Burleigh Point. Crowds swarmed to the Burleigh Hill in the thousands to witness some world-class surfing in the natural amphitheatre that is Burleigh Point.
Stoyle, Olsson, Stairmand, Kennedy on the podium at Burleigh. - WSL / Ben Stagg
Billy Stairmand has won the open men's division today, defeating Stuart Kennedy in a huge final heat. Stairmand scored a 7.5 (out of a possible 10.00), combined with a 7.75 - to give him a combined heat total of 15.30 (out of a possible 20.00) to edge out his opponent. Kennedy required an 8.85 to take the win, but huey was on Stairmand's side as the ocean stood still for the remainder of the heat.
"It feels crazy, it feels really good," said Stairmand. "I've been having a great week, staying with some friends, looking after myself and eating good food. I knew Stuey (Kennedy) was a gnarly competitor, and the waves haven't been too big so it could've been tough. I'm not too big though so I work well in small waves!" joked Stairmand. "I'd like to thank my mum, who passed away a couple of years ago. To win the event on Mother's day is pretty special, I'm sure she was looking down at me."
Billy Stairmand tearing through the field at Burleigh. - WSL / Ben Stagg
Runner-up Stuart Kennedy was stoked with a second place win and holds high hopes for the rest of the year.
"I'm hoping I can carry this momentum into future events, like the QS10,000's and stuff. I would like to re-qualify for the world tour, I feel like that's where I belong."
Stuart Kennedy with a trademark hack. - WSL / Ben Stagg
Kirra Belle-Olsson has won the women's division at the event, defeating Dimity Stoyle in a quick-paced and thrilling final heat. Belle Olsson has scored a 6.65, combined with an 8.25 for a total heat score of 14.90. Stoyle's heat total of 11.00 was no match for Olsson's backhand attack, riding 8 waves for her heat in a day of big lulls with not many waves on offer.
"It feels amazing to win today," said Olsson. "I had a pretty slow start to the year, so I've been working hard the last few months - just to get back into the winning formula. I definitely think I've found it at this event. Now that I've won this I can go to America, so I'll probably head over there for a month then maybe Mexico after that."
Kirra-Belle Olsson taking her maiden QS victory. - WSL / Ben Stagg
Dimity Stoyle was stoked with her second-place finish. "It definitely feels better than last," said Stoyle. "It feels really good. I love this wave, I love Burleigh - it's such a great place to hold an event. It was a lot of fun to have an event here at home in Queensland, today was a really good day."
The next Australian Qualifying series event will be the Mandurah Pro in Western Australia, from October 19th - 22nd.
Stairmand and Olsson Claim Breakthrough Victories at Burleigh Heads
WSL
Billy Stairmand and Kirra-Belle Olsson have won the 2019 Gold Coast Open pres by Flight Centre presented by Flight Centre today, in peeling 2-3ft waves at Burleigh Point. Crowds swarmed to the Burleigh Hill in the thousands to witness some world-class surfing in the natural amphitheatre that is Burleigh Point.
Billy Stairmand has won the open men's division today, defeating Stuart Kennedy in a huge final heat. Stairmand scored a 7.5 (out of a possible 10.00), combined with a 7.75 - to give him a combined heat total of 15.30 (out of a possible 20.00) to edge out his opponent. Kennedy required an 8.85 to take the win, but huey was on Stairmand's side as the ocean stood still for the remainder of the heat.
"It feels crazy, it feels really good," said Stairmand. "I've been having a great week, staying with some friends, looking after myself and eating good food. I knew Stuey (Kennedy) was a gnarly competitor, and the waves haven't been too big so it could've been tough. I'm not too big though so I work well in small waves!" joked Stairmand. "I'd like to thank my mum, who passed away a couple of years ago. To win the event on Mother's day is pretty special, I'm sure she was looking down at me."
Runner-up Stuart Kennedy was stoked with a second place win and holds high hopes for the rest of the year.
"I'm hoping I can carry this momentum into future events, like the QS10,000's and stuff. I would like to re-qualify for the world tour, I feel like that's where I belong."
Kirra Belle-Olsson has won the women's division at the event, defeating Dimity Stoyle in a quick-paced and thrilling final heat. Belle Olsson has scored a 6.65, combined with an 8.25 for a total heat score of 14.90. Stoyle's heat total of 11.00 was no match for Olsson's backhand attack, riding 8 waves for her heat in a day of big lulls with not many waves on offer.
"It feels amazing to win today," said Olsson. "I had a pretty slow start to the year, so I've been working hard the last few months - just to get back into the winning formula. I definitely think I've found it at this event. Now that I've won this I can go to America, so I'll probably head over there for a month then maybe Mexico after that."
Dimity Stoyle was stoked with her second-place finish. "It definitely feels better than last," said Stoyle. "It feels really good. I love this wave, I love Burleigh - it's such a great place to hold an event. It was a lot of fun to have an event here at home in Queensland, today was a really good day."
The next Australian Qualifying series event will be the Mandurah Pro in Western Australia, from October 19th - 22nd.
Gold Coast Open
After an epic week of competition at the 2019 Gold Coast Open it all comes down to the final day which will be held at the iconic Burleigh
Stage Set for Massive Weekend of Competition at 2019 Gold Coast Open Presented by Flight Centre.
Burleigh Heads delivers small but perfect surf as QS leader Isabella Nichols carves through the field.
The duo each take commanding leads on the Australia / Oceania JQS Rankings after taking another win, this time at the Gold Coast Open.
Burleigh Heads has come to life for the opening day of the 2019 Gold Coast Open presented by Flight Centre.
News
The 18-year-old Luke Tema rose to the occasion at Sunset Beach and now prepares for another formidable field once more.
No stranger to righthanders with his WSL Longboard Tour experience, Kaniela Stewart now awaits the first WSL Longboard Regional QS on the
Natalia Wunderlich earned her spot on the 2024 WSL Longboard Tour courtesy of this 9-point ride and now looks to push it on the North Shore
From a pair of 10-point rides courtesy of Kepa Mendia and Cannon Carr in the same heat to Taro Watanabe's 9.57, Day 2 was stacked.
Just when Day 2 was wrapping up from an action-packed Round of 64, Kepa Mendia and Cannon Carr closed it out with Perfect 10s to rattle