More than 20 years after she first won the Gold Coast Pro as a schoolgirl, Stephanie Gilmore has again dominated to clinch her seventh title at her home break.
The queen of Snapper Rocks held off a challenge from young Brazilian Luana Silva, who was denied a maiden finals victory for the fourth time in her two seasons on the World Surf League.
Returning to the Championship Tour fulltime after taking a two-year hiatus and gunning for her ninth world title, Gilmore found her groove in the third event of the year and outclassed Silva 17.33 to 14.07 in the decider on Monday.
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Gilmore first won the Gold Coast event at Snapper back in 2005 as a 17-year-old wildcard, needing time off school at nearby Kingscliff to compete.
The now 38-year-old proved she’d lost none of her potency in the final as she delivered some epic waves that had the thousands on the beach on their feet cheering.
With less than eight minutes remaining, Gilmore nailed the final with the best score of the day, with her trademark searing carves and transitions awarded a 9.50.
Fellow Australian Ethan Ewing will take on Connor O’Leary in the men’s final.
O’Leary is a Sydneysider but switched his nationality to Japan in 2023 to honour his mother’s heritage.
