BURLEIGH HEADS, Queensland, Australia (Thursday, April 10, 2025) - The World Surf League (WSL) today announced that the upcoming Championship Tour (CT) event, the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM, originally planned for Snapper Rocks will relocate to Burleigh Heads.
The decision follows significant cyclone-related impacts to the Snapper Rocks sandbank and beach, which has made the location currently unsuitable for the CT. Extensive assessments and engagements have confirmed that the bank is extremely unlikely to recover in time for the event window from May 3 - 13, 2025.
The stretch of sand from Snapper Rocks to the Kirra groyne-known as the "Super Bank"-is famed for producing long, flawless waves. However, after crossing the Gold Coast coastline in early March, ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred has left a deep trough where the famed waves typically break, leaving the iconic super bank and beach without the sand needed to host the upcoming CT event. While the Tweed Sand Bypass System usually helps restore the sandbanks at Snapper much quicker than other beaches, widespread erosion along the Tweed Coast has limited the sand available for replenishment. As a result, while the sand may return in the coming months, it is extremely unlikely to recover in time for the upcoming CT event.
"Snapper Rocks is one of the most perfect waves in the world, and this was an extremely difficult decision to shift locations," said WSL APAC President Andrew Stark. "Our priority is to ensure world-class conditions for our athletes and fans, and given the state of the bank at Snapper Rocks and the lack of time to replenish the sand, we are confident this is the right decision to ensure the success of the 2025 Gold Coast CT. We are fortunate on the Gold Coast to have another world-class, right-hand point break just up the coast that has a rich history of running elite surfing events, so we will relocate this year's event to the iconic Burleigh Heads. We look forward to celebrating this event in a community steeped in surfing history. We are grateful to our partners at Experience Gold Coast & Tourism and Events Queensland, who have been so supportive towards reaching this decision. We absolutely look forward to returning to Snapper Rocks in 2026."
"While we are, of course, disappointed Snapper Rocks won't be hosting the highly anticipated return of the Championship Tour this May, we know Burleigh is a world-class point break that will challenge the globe's very best surfers," Experience Gold Coast CEO John Warn said. "For surfing fans, the relocation of the Gold Coast Pro to Burleigh provides a unique and very special opportunity to watch the world's leading surfers do battle at one of the world's most iconic surfing destinations steeped in history. There is no doubt our famous Super Bank at Snapper will return better than ever, planning for this in 2026 is underway, and we look forward to seeing the Gold Coast Pro back to its rightful home for the 2026 event and beyond."
The relocation will not affect the CT schedule, and the WSL is committed to showcasing elite performance across the Gold Coast. While Burleigh will serve as the primary event site, Greenmount, Kirra, and Snapper Rocks will remain under active consideration as mobile options should conditions allow throughout the event window.
Part of the Gold Coast World Surfing Reserve, Burleigh Heads is steeped in competitive surfing history. Home of the first-ever man-on-man heats, Burleigh has hosted international surfing events for around 50 years. Birthplace to some of surfing's biggest names and most impressive talents, Burleigh is a super high-performance right-hand point which, on its day, offers freight-train, stand-up barrels, just meters off the famous cobblestone point and Burleigh Hill, making it one of the most exciting locations for surfers and spectators alike.