Robert Kelly Slater is an American professional surfer, best known for being crowned World Surf League champion a record 11 times. Slater is widely regarded as the greatest professional surfer of all time, and holds 56 Championship Tour victories. He won the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year four-times. Slater is also the oldest surfer still active on the World Surf League, winning his 8th Billabong Pipeline Masters title at age 49.
The World Surf League (WSL) is the governing body for professional surfers and is dedicated to showcasing the world's best talent in a variety of progressive formats. The World Surf League was originally known as the International Professional Surfing founded by Fred Hemmings and Randy Rarick in 1976. IPS created the first world circuit of pro surfing events. In 1983 the Association of Surfing Pros took over management of the world circuit. In 2013, the ASP was acquired by ZoSea, backed by Paul Speaker, Terry Hardy, and Dirk Ziff. At the start of the 2015 season, the ASP changed its name to the World Surf League. Sophie Goldschmidt was appointed as WSL CEO on 19 July 2017. Paul Speaker had stepped down as CEO on 11 January 2017, and Dirk Ziff acted as the interim WSL CEO until Goldschmidt's appointment.
The Rip Curl Pro, formerly the Bells Beach Surf Classic, is a WSL World Tour surfing competition held in and around Torquay, Victoria and sponsored by surf company Rip Curl. The event is based at Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia. The event winner is awarded the prestigious 'Bell' trophy. It is the longest running professional surfing competition in the world.
Samantha Cornish is an Australian surfer. She began surfing at an early age and entered her first competition at age 11. Her father, Peter Cornish, was also a surfer. At age 15, she won the 1996 World Junior Championships. In 2002, she entered the World Championship Tournament. She has been sponsored by various companies such as Quiksilver.
Bede Durbidge is an Australian professional surfer competing on the World Surf League World Tour. Durbo, Bej and The White Fijian are his nicknames.
The Quiksilver Pro France is a men's surfing event on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour. The event is part of the yearly world tour, and takes place in Landes de Gascogne in the Landes department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine area of South-West France, Atlantic Europe.
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast was a surfing competition in the World Surf League that was held at Coolangatta in Queensland, Australia. In August 2021 it was announced that this event would be canceled.
Roxy Pro Gold Coast is a surfing competition on the World Surf League Championship Tour. The event is held every year at Coolangatta in Queensland, Australia.
Australia is renowned as one of the world's premier surfing destinations. Surfing underpins an important part of the Australian coastal fabric. It forms part of a lifestyle in which millions participate and which millions more have an interest. Australian surfboard-makers have driven innovation in surfboard design and production since the mid-1960s. The country has launched corporate giants such as Billabong, Rip Curl and Quiksilver.
Julian Wilson is an Australian professional surfer who competes on the World Surf League Men's World Tour.
Owen Wright is an Australian professional surfer on the World Surf League Men's Championship Tour. His sister, Tyler Wright, is also a competitor on the World Surf League Championship Tour.
Gabriel Medina Pinto Ferreira is a Brazilian professional surfer. He won the 2014, 2018 and 2021 WSL World Championships. In two appearances at the Olympic surfing tournament, Medina won a bronze medal at the 2024 Olympic Games.
The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast 2015 was an event of the Association of Surfing Professionals for 2015 ASP World Tour.
Johanne Defay is a French professional surfer. She was born in Le Puy-en-Velay in the Auvergne region of France. She qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games where she won bronze.
The Fiji Pro was an event on the WSL Championship Tour. The event was held at Namotu in Tavarua, Fiji, and ran from 1999 to 2008, and then was resurrected in 2012. The competition was cancelled in 2018 due to lack of a sponsor.
The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast 2016 was an event of the Association of Surfing Professionals for 2016 World Surf League.
The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast 2016 was an event of the Association of Surfing Professionals for 2016 World Surf League.
The Roxy Pro Gold Coast 2017 was an event of the Association of Surfing Professionals for 2017 World Surf League.
The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast 2018 was an event of the Association of Surfing Professionals for 2018 World Surf League.
The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast 2019 was the first event of the Men's Championship Tour in the 2019 World Surf League. It took place at Coolangatta in Gold Coast, Queensland, and was contested by 36 surfers.
