They don't call it the Gold Coast for nothing. Surfers Paradise makes a cool sunset backdrop

The ASP award banquet was top-notch this year. Kelly and Steph awarded their titles and a short film was played in memory of AI

Kelly and Steph hold their tropies high

Kell lands on another cover. Australia's Surf World Magazine

Woody, head security, says you're not getting in without the proper pass buddy

Even the pros have to get their passes or security just sends them away. It's tighter than the white house over here.

TKnox contemplates having one of the 200 coronas behind him or sticking to his soy muscle milk diet

Pat G. is always in good form. He was ripping on his Proton during the low tide. However just fell on a few crazy moves

At the bottom of the bay you can pull over and check the line up, wow what a view.

Kelly pulls over to check the surf pre heat

Kelly ended up riding his 5-9 Semi Pro 18 3/8 x 2 5/16 rp as a tri fin. He looked fast and snappy on it

Here lies Jordy and Kelly's backup boards. To the right is Kelly's 5'5" Wizard Sleeve set up as a quad. To the left is a sneak peak at a board Taylor has been working on called the Dagger. Boxy rails, low entry, new bottom. Both Jordy and Taylor both say it goes sick in small waves.

Equipment shots are key. Freshly unpacked, Dusty lines up his 5'11" and 6'0" Remix models and prepares them for their strickering and a surf

Marc Lacomare, our French team rider, lost a close heat in the trials but got the wild card due to Jeremy Flores' injusty. He took out a Proton for the low tide conditions

The beautiful Miller sisters stop by for a smile

Pat G is still smiling because he knows he's got another shot in round 2

Some of the local talent plays a tune or two for the tourists

Once the public gets involved, Quik's The Best campaign sometimes gets a little out of control. This shot of Dane is rad.

5:30 am isn't that early for people on the Gold Coast. Many of them are already in the water. Here is Green Mount looking very tropical and inviting.

One of the best things about flying over to Australia is Quantas Airlines. Your boards fly for free and it's a huge cost for the guys on tour. Everyone loves the Australian hospitality... they just get it.

Where's Wally?

So, there are a few things you have to watch out for in Aus. If you see Wally, you should probably run... unless you also wear Speedos

Besides the shark that Sally saw in her heat, blue bottles tend to blow in with the wind and the tentacles wrap around you and it doesn't fell good at all. Feels like a bee sting that just spreads to different spots as you smear the stingers.

A close up of the blue bottle jelly fish

D bah offers a fun peaky beach break but it's very crowded during the asp event so you got to get some whenever you can

This event is pretty cool ... and when the waves are on snapper is everyones favorite

You can actually stand on the border of queens land and New south Whales and be in two different time zones at once. I'm sure some people have missed a few appointments or even heats because of it .

Alana picks up her K Whip model. The perfect board for high tide, windy Snapper. Unfortunately, it's usually the time they run the girls event