Pre-game with a local veteran: Josh Kerr, Gold Coast

Yeah, Josh Kerr is still kinda local at Snapper. Before moving to California, the world airshow champ was born and bred on the Gold Coast. And dare we label him kinda veteran? Now in his sixth year on tour, Kerrzy is the guy who knocks big dogs outta business end rounds without making too much noise about it. His above-lip game is unquestionable (he’s invented tricks), and he’s in the top five tuberiders on tour (CC: Second at honest Pipe in 2012). All things considered, Josh is a brill guide leading into the first event of the year, being the Quik Pro, Gold Coast. What’s the run, Mr Kerr?

Stab: Gift us your impressions of the Goldy right now.
Josh: I’ve been up here for a week and the last four days, it’s been a lot of windswell, but there’s been lots of waves. I’ve been surfing both Snapper and D-bah. I actually surfed four times yesterday! I haven’t done that since I was 12. Gromlyfe!

Based on what you’ve seen, when might the event run? I haven’t heard much, but I think maybe not so much the first few days. There’s waves on the long range. Right now there’s surf, this swell’s just not super strong for Snapper. It’s weak windswell. There’s moments of juice but it’s kinda just rolling through.

Describe the sand. The banks are good. They’ve been pumping the sand so there’s lots of it at Froggies still to come around. It should be nice and replenished (for first siren). There’s a good bank behind the rock at Snapper, too. A few tubes. When the right swells hits, it’s going to be so good. Since I’ve been here I haven’t really had the right swell for it, but I think it’s a good old fashioned Snapper bank. Last year was really bad, it’s way better this year. It’s a different type of year, too. It’s more typical this year, it’s been sunny with light southerlies and easterlies, with the occasional squall. Last year was storming for like three weeks straight. Heaps of stormy swell, and the water was all brown. This year it’s clear and beautiful, it’s picturesque gold coast right now.

Can we have some scoring scenarios? It’ll have a lot to do with the type of swell coming through. If it’s similar to what’s going on now, it’ll definitely be a lot of high performance surfing. But if a good swell comes, the bank’s in such good shape that it’ll be barrelling all the way through, f’sure. Just good old Snapper. If it’s smaller – depending on the wind – I think they’ll score airs high so long as they’re not a single manoeuvre, but more like a mid, first or last turn. Something functional, where the whole wave has been surfed well. I think that’s what they’re really looking for – for the whole wave to be surfed well, not just people going for one big thing. Having said that, I think if you do a single move that’s crazy and big you should be rewarded, even if it’s at a wave like Snapper.

You’re very comfortable above the lip. Do you have to stop yourself looking for ramps at a tour stop like Snapper? F’sure. Snapper can definitely offer some amazing ramps, and if you’re thinking airs, you find yourself racing for a long time between manoeuvres. And the judges will definitely score that down. If you’ve missed opportunity on the wave, y’know? They’ll take that into consideration.

Who are the five guys you least wanna draw? Joel and Mick, ’cause you just can’t bet against them on the Goldy. Kelly, because you can’t bet against him anywhere. Taj, because he has a great track record here. And Jordy, ’cause he’s just surfing really well, and this wave suits him to a T. He just got married, too, so he’s in a good place right now.

So other than them, we’ll bet on you, huh?  That’s the plan. – Elliot Struck

Kerrzy spins a family portrait over D-bah two days ago (this was also brilliantly captured by kid Colin).