Bruce in epic conditions on the final day of the Quiksilver Pro France last October, a day that will live in folklore of European surfing history. .

“We are on the technology highway continued Rabbit, “Surf contests are no longer about summer metropolitan venues before thousands of people, but about towers on remote reefs, with half a million people watching on the internet, and ASP is meeting the challenge.

Bartholomew welcomed aboard the new QS graduates to both the men’s and women’s WCT tours, as well as new location WCT event sponsors Rip Curl who this year add Reunion Island to their Bells and Pipeline events, and Globe who have taken over the WCT licence for Fiji from Quiksilver. The ASP President was one of many who also praised theongoing support and dedication of ASP staff like the tireless Karen Green, financial controller Greig Bedggood,nd former CEO Peter Whittaker.

Former Olympian athlete Ron Clarke, now Gold Coast City Lord Mayor, welcomed the surfing world to its epicentre, as well as special guest Cathy Freeman, who lit the Olympic flame at the Sydney Games, as Clarke did at the Melbourne Olympics.

Speeches from ASP Chairman Richard Grellman, new CEO Brodie Carr, Chris Cummins MP representing the Queensland State Premier Peter Beadie, and Surf-Aid International convenor David Jenkins followed, with a personal thank you from Josi Syahrial on behalf of the Indonesian people championing the support of the surf industry to the tsunami appeals, especially that of Billabong and Quiksilver who both donated half a million dollars.

Historical guests for the gala