Superbank and the Coolie Kids

In 2002, the ASP’s elite tour underwent a drastic change. Dubbed the “Dream Tour,” the season boasted quality waves, increased prize purses and media interest competitive surfing had been lacking. More changes were afoot: a dredging project miraculously turned Rainbow Bay into one long, clean wall of waves known as “Superbank,” and Quiksilver upped the ante by turning the Quiksilver Pro into a world class event.

 

That same year, Gold Coast locals Mick Fanning and Dean Morrison graduated from the WQS to join fellow “Coolie Kid” Joel Parkinson on the Dream Tour. The stage had been set and the rebirth of the tour meant the pressure was on.

 

“The Goldie,” as it’s been affectionately termed, is a surfing heaven. The warm waves, beautiful beaches and natural competitiveness of the Aussie culture has made the region a hotbed of surf talent. Here, surfing is an integral part of life—local surf clubs hold regular competitions and groms are brought up through the ranks with a firm understanding of what it takes to win.

 

Three of those groms have gone on to become some of the top surfers in the world. Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson and Dean Morrison gained a rep as heavy hitters on the world juniors circuit and the WQS. The word spread, and the “Coolie Kids” became worldwide stars.

 

When Parkinson won the inaugural Quiksilver Pro in 2002, it solidified the media hype around the trio of surfers. Parko finished the season as the runner-up to the world title and Mick Fanning finished in the top five. Fanning was named ASP’s Rookie of The Year. Morrison went on to win the Quiksilver Pro in 2003, and Fanning brought it full circle with a win in 2005.

 

Surfers are fiercely protective of their home breaks. So when the local powers-that-be unveiled their plans to dredge the Tweed rivermouth and pump the sand out at Snapper Rocks, Duranbah and Kirra in the late 90s, local surfers were up in arms. But a funny thing happened. In 2001, the sand had begun to build, and the legend that is Superbank made its first appearance.

 

By the time the Quiksilver Pro came to town in 2002, the sandbar was in full form, and that July, Damon Harvey rode his way into the record books after catching a wave from Snapper Rocks all the way to Kirra (a distance of one and a half kilometers). Like that immortal line from Field of Dreams, “If you build it, they will come,” crowds flocked to Superbank creating one of the most crowded surf breaks on earth. If you think your break is crowded, try catching a wave with 1,000 other people out in the water. It happens.

 

In 2006, cyclonic action off the coast wreaked havoc on the sandbar that had served as the main staging area for the Quiksilver Pro, and the event relocated to nearby Duranbah. Fully mobile, the event has the ability to take advantage of the waves at Snapper Rocks, D-bah or Kirra.Will Superbank be making an appearance at this year’s event? If the recent crowds in the lineup are any indication, it’s looking promising.