Do you remember the 2007 Quiksilver and Roxy Pros? They had longer boards, longer boardshorts, wrap-around sunnies and even Matthew McConaughey. But more importantly, it was a watershed in the history of competitive surfing.
We've just released the first episode of The Vault, which means you can relive firing Snapper Rocks, and indulge in a celebration of surfing heritage.
At this event, 13 years ago, two of our biggest stars -- Mick Fanning and Carissa Moore -- in their own ways made declarations that would reverberate throughout their careers.
Mick won the event after a final with Bede Durbidge, which set him on a roll to win a World Title. It was the first of three. And Moore, now a four-time World Champion, barnstormed through the Roxy Pro trials all the way to the final of the main event.
On her way through, she knocked seven-time World Champion Layne Beachley and a host of other competitive titans. She was 14 in 2007. This was where the ball really got rolling for the phenomenon from Honolulu.
It was trademark Carissa, all smiles and good vibes masking an uncompromising competitive spirit.
While 2007 was not the fist year Fanning won in front of a home crowd on the Gold Coast, it did foreshadow what was then a whole new level of excellence. He went on to secure two more victories (alongside a smattering of other excellent results) in France and Santa Catarina.
By this stage, the surf world already knew "White Lightning" was a force to be reckoned with. But in 2007 he truly planted his flag and put names such as Kelly Slater, who was then in the midst of one of many hotstreaks, on notice.
This period was also a boom time for the surf industry, and the zenith of the hype around the "Super Bank", the amazing right hand point break created by a government sand pumping program which has facilitated the waves of thousands of surfers' lives.
Mick, Joel Parkinson and Dean Morrison were the "Cooly Kids" and the Gold Coast region had well and truly burst onto the scene as a major pole in the surf world.
Meanwhile, there may have been fewer airs, but the longer boards allowed drawn out, drivey turns, which today seem like a celebration of surfing fundamentals. It was bread and butter made beautiful.
So get ready to kick back and relive a pivotal moment in our sport's history.
2007 Was The Year Two Surfing Superstars Planted Their Flags
Ben Collins
Do you remember the 2007 Quiksilver and Roxy Pros? They had longer boards, longer boardshorts, wrap-around sunnies and even Matthew McConaughey. But more importantly, it was a watershed in the history of competitive surfing.
We've just released the first episode of The Vault, which means you can relive firing Snapper Rocks, and indulge in a celebration of surfing heritage.
At this event, 13 years ago, two of our biggest stars -- Mick Fanning and Carissa Moore -- in their own ways made declarations that would reverberate throughout their careers.
Mick won the event after a final with Bede Durbidge, which set him on a roll to win a World Title. It was the first of three. And Moore, now a four-time World Champion, barnstormed through the Roxy Pro trials all the way to the final of the main event.
On her way through, she knocked seven-time World Champion Layne Beachley and a host of other competitive titans. She was 14 in 2007. This was where the ball really got rolling for the phenomenon from Honolulu.
It was trademark Carissa, all smiles and good vibes masking an uncompromising competitive spirit.
While 2007 was not the fist year Fanning won in front of a home crowd on the Gold Coast, it did foreshadow what was then a whole new level of excellence. He went on to secure two more victories (alongside a smattering of other excellent results) in France and Santa Catarina.
By this stage, the surf world already knew "White Lightning" was a force to be reckoned with. But in 2007 he truly planted his flag and put names such as Kelly Slater, who was then in the midst of one of many hotstreaks, on notice.
This period was also a boom time for the surf industry, and the zenith of the hype around the "Super Bank", the amazing right hand point break created by a government sand pumping program which has facilitated the waves of thousands of surfers' lives.
Mick, Joel Parkinson and Dean Morrison were the "Cooly Kids" and the Gold Coast region had well and truly burst onto the scene as a major pole in the surf world.
Meanwhile, there may have been fewer airs, but the longer boards allowed drawn out, drivey turns, which today seem like a celebration of surfing fundamentals. It was bread and butter made beautiful.
So get ready to kick back and relive a pivotal moment in our sport's history.
Layne Beachley
The women are returning to Teahupo'o for the first time since 2006 … this is going to be good!
Rob Bain, Layne Beachley, and Dave Macaulay take the Gold back home to Australia on the last day of the Azores Airlines World Masters
It was a clean sweep for the Aussies as Rob Bain, Layne Beachley, and Dave Macaulay win the Azores Airlines World Masters Championships.
27 legends of surfing come out of retirement next week in Azores to fight for the ultimate surfing crown in over-45 and over-55 categories.
This September, an unprecedented roster of former male and female Champs will battle at the Masters and Grand Masters World Titles.
Australia/Oceania
QS 3000 Event to End Season for Asia and Australia / Oceania -- Phillip Island Pro Locked In for 2025 Thanks to New Agreement Between WSL
West Papua Hosts Second Annual QS 1000 and JQS From December 1 - 5 as the Final Asia Regional JQS of 2024 To Decide World Junior
Jahly Stokes and Keijiro Nishi Finish Runners Up as Jinzun Harbor Turns on Pumping Surf For Finals Day and Kerr Wins Second QS 5000 Event
Women's Top Seeds Dominate Round of 32 -- Stage Set For Potential Finals Day in Taiwan.
Only Four Heats of the Men's Round of 96 were Completed on Day 3, with a Promising Forecast For the Coming Days at Jinzun Harbor.