Watch The Burleigh Single Fin Festival From Home This Sunday

It would take more than COVID-19 to stop Burleigh Boardriders running the Burleigh Single Fin Festival, presented by Billabong.

And despite restrictions (no Stubbies-style crowd this year unfortunately) The Cove is set to be filled with surf stars past and present over the weekend.

The Burleigh Single Fin is in its 23rd year, and such a revered piece of Gold Coast surfing folklore must go on. The good news for the rest of us, is that to combat the lack of crowd, the event will be broadcast to the world, with Ain’t That Swell’s finest, Jed Smith and Vaughan Blakey, taking the mic for commentary duties. Que: searing surf insight, peppered with hilarity.

In terms of the cast, even the first round promises to deliver its share of interesting match ups. It’s the perfect mix of local heroes, some of the regions most celebrated pros, and genuine surfing legends. Dragging eyes over the draw reveals Dean Morrison vs Jai Glindeman, Mitch Crews vs Margo, Occy vs Paul Fisher! and that’s not even getting close to the business end.

All competitors have to ride boards with one fin (duh), and crucially, they have to have been shaped pre-1985. Defending champ Ethan Ewing is currently in Hawaii, so he’s not featuring in the form guide, but if we had to throw a few shackles at a prospective winner, then it’s hard to go past previous winner Parko. See below for how not to rock off at Burleigh, and a man at the peak of his powers (admittedly on a thruster).

Check the draw here, and stay tuned for how to watch.