The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC) was the recent venue of the 2012 ASP World Surfing Awards, the event officially recognising last season’s best performers at the 2011 ASP World Championships.
Showcasing the athletes of the professional surfing circuit, more than 600 guests gathered at the ‘blue carpet’ event to celebrate the ASP World Champions, runners-up, Rookie-of-the-Year and Breakthrough Performer.
Surfing champs Carissa Moore (l) and Kelly Slater (r) were recognised at the event.
Image credit: ASP / Scholtz 2012
New accolades voted by the surfers featured for the first time, where fans were also allowed to participate in the selection process of four new publicly-voted awards. The ASP Word Surfing Awards is the precursor to the Quicksilver and Roxy Pro, the Australian leg of the ASP World Tour at Snapper Rocks in Coolangatta.
The revamped event brought an exciting new format to the GCCEC in 2012 featuring enhanced production, live broadcast via YouTube and entertainment from Wolfmother and The Vernons. Emceed by TV personality Sal Masekela, fans were given the chance to celebrate at the awards alongside the world’s greatest surfers by purchasing from a limited number of tickets available to the public. Kelly Slater and Carissa Moore took the spotlight as the ASP World and Women’s World Champions at the event, which highlighted a number of pro-circuit competitors, up-and-coming champions ahead of the 2012 Word Tour and surfing greats such as Larry Bertlemann who are widely celebrated as pioneers of the sport.
This year the Awards occupied two of the Centre’s halls to accommodate for the larger numbers and enhanced production. To add to the fun and festivities of the night, a half-pipe was constructed alongside the main stage where screens either side showcased highlights from the 2011 World Tour and formal proceedings concluded with an after-party for the surfers, fans and industry professionals. The team at the GCCEC and their in-house audio-visual team Staging Connections worked with the Gemba Group who specialise in the sporting and entertainment industry to create the event.
Mick and Karissa Fanning at the 2012 ASP World Surfing Awards held last week on the Gold Coast.
GCCEC’s general manager Adrienne Readings said the Centre is proud to host local industry events such as the ASP World Surfing Awards which bring world-class athletes to the venue.
“In 2012 ASP returned to the GCCEC for its fourth year, which in conjunction with the World Tour supports local industry and puts the spotlight on the destination,” she said.
“The Centre is extremely pleased to have once again been the host venue for the Awards in 2012 which offered a bigger event and a raised profile among industry professionals, fans and the general public.”
