Gold Coast surfer and current ASP World Junior Champion Jack Freestone should be a major contender at the 2013 Breaka Burleigh Pro. Pic ASP/Robertson.
Burleigh Heads, QLD/Australia (Saturday, February 2, 2013) – The Breaka Burleigh Pro is set to start tomorrow in great surf conditions at the iconic Burleigh Heads Point on Australia’s Gold Coast.
As an Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 6-Star Women’s and 4-Star Men’s rated event the Breaka Burleigh Pro’s prize-money totals US$135,000 and has attracted an outstanding field that includes many of the world’s best surfers who will revel in one of the world’s best point breaks from Sunday February 3rd through to the finals the following weekend on Sunday February 10th.
The large swell which brought floods and cyclonic conditions to Australia’s Gold Coast less than a week ago is slowly abating, with clean offshore winds forecast to move in on Saturday evening, conditions should be ideal for Sunday’s opening rounds.
Surfing Queensland Chief Executive Officer Scott Gillies is hopeful for a good start.
“The waves here five days ago were extremely stormy and powerful so we won’t know exactly what the state of the sand is on the Burleigh Point until the offshore winds groom this swell but with a lot of east direction in this swell and clean winds I’m confident we’ll be running in some of the best waves we’ve seen for the Breaka Burleigh Pro,” said Gillies.
Burleigh Heads at it’s best is an extremely challenging, fast and long peeling right point wave which can serve up barrelling sections that require high levels of judgement, skill and commitment.
Australian sibling duo Owen and Tyler Wright are the number two seeded surfers in the Men’s and Women’s respectively and both are looking forward to beginning their ASP seasons at Burleigh Heads.
“To surf Burleigh with just a few people in the water is a privilege especially if it’s pumping like we expect, so I’m very keen to get out there and start my season in some barrelling waves,” said Wright who finished last season in 10th place on the ASP Men’s World Championship Tour.
“You can get get some incredible backhand barrels out there but waves can be unpredictable as well and you often find local surfers who know the wave well choose the right waves.
“It will also be cool to surf this event with my brother Mikey and two sisters Tyler and Kirby – Hopefully we’re all still in the event by the finals next weekend!”
Tyler Wright who finished with a number 4 world ranking in 2012 is excited at the prospects of the girls getting prime conditions on these opening few days of the event.
“I had a warm-up surf out at Burleigh today and it’s the first time I’ve surfed out there for two or three years and it just felt great – heaps of power and speed in the waves and it looks like the girls could be running in solid waves on these opening days which will be sick fun – I’m really looking forward to it,” said Tyler.
Number one seed in the Men’s is two time ASP world champion Mick Fanning while current number two world ranked Women’s surfer Sally Fitzgibbons takes top seed in the Breaka Burleigh Pro Women’s and just a few of the high profile internationals in this event include Coco Ho (Hawaii), Caio Ibelli (Brazil), Maxime Huscenot (France) and Courtney Conlogue (USA).
Burleigh Heads Point offers spectacular viewing opportunities for the anticipated large crowds expected to come and see many of the established worlds best surfers along with emerging young surfers from all over the world chasing important ASP ratings points at this prestigious event.
Each day the event will start around 8:00am and run through to around 4:00pm. The Breaka Burleigh Pro will be broadcast LIVE via www.breakaburleighsurfpro.com.au
The Breaka Burleigh Pro is proudly supported by Breaka Flavoured Milk, Channel 7, Southern Cross Austereo (B105 & Sea FM), Events Queensland, Surfing Queensland, ASP Australasia, Scoot Airlines, Ooh!, Surfing Life Magazine, GCCC, XXXX Summer Bright Lager, Rapid Media, 5 and a half Sunglasses, JR Surfboards and the Maddison Estate Surf Precinct.
