Mullet, full deck grip, Quiksilver logo… retro nouveau. Photo: Ed Sloane/WSL

The Quik Pro Gold Coast kicked off today in head high surf at Snapper Rocks.

Mixed fortunes ensued for the Euro rookies with Kikas Morais smashing a Rd1 win over Toledo and Ace, Joan losing to Parko despite drilling with two fat ladies (a pair of 8’s), while Leo was on the wrong end of a Julian Wilson flourish.

JJF looked to have picked up where he left off with a polished display, while the superheat of Fanning, Flores and Slater, (which had a combined age of 108) saw Fanno pip J Flo. (Slater recovered from his last with a win over Nat Young in Rd2).

Elsewhere, wee lad Ethan Ewing looked as dangerous as the gun pointed at JR. “A bit of Andy,” observed Ronnie of the teenager’s flow. Style-wise he really is.

owen wright looked painfully thin but back, which is great news considering the severity of his head injury 15 months ago at Pipe, while his brother Mikey, sporting full deck grip and mullet surely ushered in surfing’s latest and best aesthetic – retro nouveau.