This first series opens the competition season and will gather the best surfers of the World Surfing League (WSL). The surfing elite is expected in the land of kangaroos from February 28 to March 11.
Each year, the WSL Samsung Galaxy CT celebrates the 34 men and 17 women who are the best surfers on the planet. They compete in a 20-event international tour for the title of World's Best Surfer.
Quicksilver Pro Gold Coast
Gabriel Medina, (BRE) WSL champion comes to defend his title of winner of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast. Last season, in December, he recorded a historic victory by becoming the first Brazilian to become world champion. For the event, he continued his training in Santa Barbara, California, then on the North Shore in Oahu before heading to Australia. He will face his compatriot, the rookie Wiggoly Dantas.
Mick Fanning (AUS) and Kelly Slater (USA), respectively 3 and 11 times world champions, had fought until the end for the title of world champion last year, going to the last event of the season, the pipeline. Fanning, 33, just missed out on a 4 e victory, but is looking to make up for it on his home turf at the Gold Coast. Kelly Slater, who just turned 43, continues to show a high level of performance and further solidifies his reputation as one of the greatest athletes of all time. However, after three consecutive years of near misses, will 2015 finally offer him a 12 e victory?
Also in the 2015 men's competition are Matt Banting (AUS), Wiggolly Dantas (BRA), Italo Ferreira (BRA), Keanu Asing (HAW) and Ricardo Christie (NZL) who return to the CT surfing team, Dusty Payne (HAW) and Glenn Hall (IRL) who rejoins the world's elite after a brief hiatus.
Former CT surfer Dane Reynolds (USA) has been announced as one of two "wild cards" for the Quicksilver Pro Gold Coast. The second will be determined at local trials on February 27.
Roxy Pro Gold Coast
Stephanie Gilmore, a six-time world champion, had a remarkable performance in 2014 and is closing in on the record of 7 world titles, achieved in 2006 by Layne Beachley (AUS). Last year, in the season opener, she won the Gold Coast event on home soil at Snapper Rocks and is keen to do the same in this 2015 Roxy Pro Gold Coast. The Australian will be up against Silvana Lima (BRA), winner of the trials on the opening "round" of the competition.
Tyler Wright (AUS), Carissa Moore (HAW) and Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), who are among the top 17 surfers in the world, will be back to face Stephanie Gilmore.
The only newcomer for 2015 is Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) and will be joined by two former CT surfers, Lima and Sage Erikson (USA) who are returning after a season on the Qualifying Series. The 17 surfers will be joined by the winner of the Roxy Pro Gold Coast trials.
The competition will be broadcast live on WorldSurfLeague.com.
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Round 1
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Miguel Pupo (BRA), Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 2: Michel Bourez (PYF), Sebastian Zietz (HAW), Ricardo Christie (ZAF) Heat 3: Kelly Slater (USA), Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), C.J. Hobgood (USA)
Heat 4: John John Florence (HAW), Jadson Andre (BRA), Glenn Hall (IRL)
Heat 5: Mick Fanning (AUS), Matt Banting (AUS), TBD Heat 6: Gabriel Medina (BRA), Wiggolly Dantas (BRA), TBD
Heat 7: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Kai Otton (AUS), Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Heat 8: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Filipe Toledo (BRA), Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 9: Taj Burrow (AUS), Bede Durbidge (AUS), Keanu Asing (HAW)
Heat 10: Josh Kerr (AUS), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Heat 11: Kolohe Andino (USA), Julian Wilson (AUS), Italo Ferreira (BRA)
Heat 12: Owen Wright (AUS), Nat Young (USA), Adam Melling (AUS)
Roxy Pro Gold Coast Round 1
Heat 1: Malia Manuel (HAW), Johanne Defay (FRA), Sage Erickson (USA)
Heat 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Courtney Conlogue (USA), Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) Heat 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Silvana Lima (BRA), TBD Heat 4: Tyler Wright (AUS), Dimity Stoyle (AUS), Alessa Quizon (HAW)
Heat 5: Carissa Moore (HAW), Laura Enever (AUS), Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW)
Heat 6: Lakey Peterson (USA), Bianca Buitendag (ZAF), Coco Ho (HAW)
