Mick Fanning (AUS), pictured during a Carlton Dry Expression Session, will face Dane Reynolds (USA) in Round 2 of the Quiksilver Pro. Image: WSL / Kelly Cestari

COOLANGATTA, Queensland/Australia (Wednesday, March 11, 2015) – The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by BOQ, the opening stop on the Samsung Galaxy World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour, has been called ON today. Competition will begin with Round 2 at 7:35 a.m. local time at Snapper Rocks, with the Roxy Pro Quarterfinals on hold.

“It’s on,” said WSL Commissioner, Kieren Perrow. “We’ll be running Round 2 of the Quiksilver Pro and we’re excited to get underway. Conditions are a little undersized from what we expected this morning but it’s supposed to build through the day.”

First to take to the water will be three-time World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS) facing wildcard Dane Reynolds (USA) in the opening heat followed by 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) taking on trials winner Jack Freestone (AUS) in Heat 2. The Roxy Pro Quarterfinalists are set and reigning six-time WSL Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) will take on Silvana Lima (BRA) for the third time this competition. Surfline, official forecaster for the World Surf League, are calling for: A gradual increase in E trade swell is forecast for the mid to second part of the week, with confidence increasing that we’ll see fun to moderate size waves, especially by Friday. Tropical Storm Pam has developed to the northwest of Fiji, although it does not look to directly provide surf before the contest waiting period closes (but will help to enhance tradeswell a bit).      The Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast will be webcast LIVE at WorldSurfLeague.com. The world’s best surfing will also be broadcast LIVE on Fox Sports in Australia, MCS Extreme in France, EDGE Sports in China, South Korea Malaysia and other territories and the WSL’s new partner in Brazil, Globo TV. Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Round 2 Match-Ups (1st to R3, 2nd = 25th): Heat 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Dane Reynolds (USA) Heat 2: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Jack Freestone (AUS) Heat 3: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Glenn Hall (IRL) Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. C.J. Hobgood (USA) Heat 5: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Ricardo Christie (NZL) Heat 6: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Brett Simpson (USA) Heat 7: Kolohe Andino (USA) vs. Jeremy Flores (FRA) Heat 8: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. Keanu Asing (HAW) Heat 9: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Italo Ferreira (BRA) Heat 10: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Adam Melling (AUS) Heat 11: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) Heat 12: Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA) Roxy Pro Gold Coast Quarterfinal Match-Ups (1st to SF, 2nd=5th): Heat 1: Malia Manuel (HAW) vs. Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW)  Heat 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs. Silvana Lima (BRA)  Heat 3: Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Courtney Conlogue (USA) Heat 4: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Lakey Peterson (USA)