Snapper Rocks back on World Surf League tour

Eight-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore has described Snapper Rocks as one of her favourite waves on the planet after the famed break regained entry to the World Surf League's Championship Tour.

Located off Coolangatta at the southern end of the Gold Coast, Snapper Rocks was on the tour from 2002 until the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020.

When the Championship Tour (CT) resumed in 2021, Snapper Rocks was left off main the circuit.

But the event will regain its CT status from next year until at least 2028 under a four-year partnership between the WSL and Queensland's tourism arm.

Western Australia's Margaret River Pro and Bells Beach in Victoria recently had their CT deals extended until 2028, ensuring Australia will have three stops on the main tour for the next four years.

Gilmore, who will return to the tour full-time next year after taking a sabbatical in 2024, has triumphed six times at Snapper Rocks.

"I'm so excited to see Snapper come back onto the CT schedule in 2025," Gilmore said in a statement.

"It's obviously my home break and one of my favourite waves on the planet, but it's incredibly high performance and offers a bit of everything, which is fun for both the surfers and the fans.

"There's really nothing like having that perfect canvas in front of you with a huge crowd cheering from the beach just metres away.

"It's a true spectacle and has such a rich history. It belongs on the Championship Tour, and I can't wait to compete there again next year."

Other past winners at Snapper include world champions Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning, Carissa Moore, Gabriel Medina, Tyler Wright, Caroline Marks, Filipe Toledo and Italo Ferreira.

There will be plenty of action at Snapper Rocks this weekend when the Challenger Series Gold Coast Pro gets under way, with the event window running from Saturday through to May 4.

US legend Slater, who missed the WSL's mid-season cut, will compete at the event.