Quiksilver Pro 2011 Quiksilver Pro: Latest Surf Forecast

In: Quiksilver Pro 2011 by Stu Nettle 3 Comments Thu 3rd Mar '11

Tags: kelly slater , rod brooks , Quiksilver Pro , Mick Fanning , Josh Kerr

At last, after five consecutive laydays, things are looking up for the pros at the Quiksilver Pro at Snapper Rocks.

Since the first day of competition was completed a lack of any significant pressure gradient in the Coral Sea has seen small swell on the Gold Coast with northerly seabreezes overpowering weak synoptic activity to arrive mid-morning each day. The only respite has been very small waves at D'bah, The Spit and incrementally larger waves on the Tweed Coast. No doubt Kelly's been swinging the clubs and Mick knocking his medicine ball into shape during the downtime. There's not much for a pro surfer to do on the Gold Coast during a flat spell.

What would make it harder to bear is that a very good swell is currently hitting Victoria with 4'-5' waves on the Surf Coast and at least double that down south. Unfortunately for the fancyfree and footloose travelling pros there was an outside chance that the Quiksilver Pro may have run today so they had to sit tight till contest director, Rod Brooks, made the call. As it happened, he called another layday and the Vicco locals had the waves to themselves. No doubt a welcome relief after enduring their own extended flat spell and with the Bells comp just around the corner.

Back to the Goldy. A long-distance south swell (from the same source as the current Vicco swell) will move up the Tasman Sea. At the same time a trough will form off the Fraser Coast directing onshore, south-east winds towards Northern NSW and Southern QLD. This will be the beginning of a four-day swell event that will see the Quiksilver Pro through to its completion.

Saturday will begin with small waves early in the day, increasing to 2-3 foot by dark. Winds will be light and variable early tending south-east and becoming fresh and gusty in the afternoon. By Sunday morning the swell will be well established and from then until Tuesday morning the Gold Coast should see waves between 3-5 feet. Winds will also settle into a south-east pattern, although they will be lighter and more southerly during the mornings.

So that's the forecast, what about the formguide? Kerr over Kelly in a hi-fi final. //STU NETTLE.

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