“I’m just cruising,” Irons said. “I have nothing to prove. I have already accomplished all my dreams and I just want to go out and win contests. I’d love to do well of course. The ASP World Title is probably not in my picture this year, I’d say, I’m more just out there to get my feet wet, and get back into things and feel comfortable again. I think this is going to be more of a learning year again.”

Lee-Ann Curren (Biarritz, FRA), 20, qualified for the ASP Women’s World Tour last December after a couple of years touring on the ASP World Qualifying Series...

“Growing up on the Gold Coast, there is no shortage of quality waves to surf and people to look up to,” Gilmore said. “Definitely, a familiarity with the waves here is a big advantage when it comes to competition."

The 2010 ASP World Tour season is just around the corner—10 days and counting to the Quiksilver and Roxy Pros! We're chomping at the bit for the start, so we decided to go ahead and give you the only preview and expert analysis you'll need a few days early...

Stephanie Gilmore wins the season-opening Roxy Pro, Julian Wilson takes down Slater in the Quiksilver Pro, the Corona Expression Session lets the world's best get loose, and hot girls in bikinis dot the beach. There's a reason they call it the Gold Coast mate!

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21, reigning two-time ASP Women’s World Champion, has won the Roxy Pro Gold Coast presented by LG Mobile, defeating Melanie Bartels (HAW), 26, in the Final to claim the inaugural event on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour.

SNAPPER ROCKS, Australia (Saturday, March 7, 2009) – After nearly a week of lay days, the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by LG Mobile roared back to life today, with the world’s best surfers exploding at Duranbah Beach and Snapper Rocks.

The Roxy Pro Gold Coast presented by LG Mobile recommenced this morning in clean two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves at nearby Duranbah Beach with athletes enduring three rounds of competition before deciding the Semifinalists by day’s end.

DURANBAH BEACH, Australia (Friday, March 6, 2009) – The Roxy Pro Gold Coast presented by LG Mobile will return to the water this morning with Round 2 commencing at nearby Duranbah Beach at 7:15 a.m.

After some gale-force winds last night, I was all pumped for some surf down here, but no, not today.

If you ever find yourself in the surfing fantasy-land that is Coolangatta on the Gold Coast of Australia, you will no doubt be taken by its modern and fashionable charm. Here's a quick guide to a few of the local hot spots...

SNAPPER ROCKS, Australia (Wednesday, March 4, 2009) – Small surf continued in the one-to-two foot (0.5 metre) range at Snapper Rocks and Duranbah Beach today, forcing event organizers at the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast presented by LG Mobile to call another lay day of competition.

SNAPPER ROCKS, Australia (Tuesday, March 3, 2009) – Small surf in the one-to-two foot (0.5 metre range) and inconsistent conditions greeted event organizers at the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast presented by LG Mobile this morning, prompting the call for a lay day of competition.

Day 1 of the Roxy Pro Gold Coast presented by LG Mobile is in the books, and the new guard of women’s surfing announced their intentions with style, punch and bite in clean two-foot (0.75 metre) waves at Duranbah Beach.

The 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour is moments away from commencing as Round 1 of the Roxy Pro Gold Coast presented by LG Mobile is slated to begin at 7:30am at nearby Duranbah Beach.