Surf Sessions: Gold Coast goes off for holiday swell

Surf Sessions

Kelly Slater joins locals for Gold Coast session

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 8 May, 2012 : - - Brilliant weather and a public holiday brought the crowds to the Spit while the near-perfect surfing conditions pulled the world number one into the line-up at the Gold Coast. Technically, the swell was supported by an easterly trade wind flow which developed over the Coral and northern Tasman seas.

In reality it meant the crowded point breaks from Kirra to Snapper Rocks were pumping, while the beach breaks produced some heavy, board-breaking waves. The downside was traffic jams from Southport to Duranbah across the Gold Coast Highway with thousands of beachgoers out enjoying the sunny long weekend, with temperatures a comfortable 25C.

Eleven-time world champion surfer Kelly Slater flew in from Bali yesterday just in time for a two-hour tow-in surf at North Stradbroke Island, making the most of the solid easterly swell which peaked at 1.5m.

The chilly start of 12C didn't stop Slater from suiting up with TV crews, locals and mates. "I'm here to see some friends and have some down time," he said. Slater is recovering after cutting his foot while surfing a Bali reef. The injury meant he could not compete in the Nike Lowers Pro event at Trestles Beach, California and may miss this month's Billabong Pro in Rio, Brazil. Slater said he would make the call in coming days.

The superb surf was due to a large high-pressure system over New Zealand, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

Read the full article at Gold Coast.com

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Source: Gold Coast.com

Tags: Kelly Slater, North Stradbroke Island, Gold Coast

Surf Sessions: Surfersvillage