SUPER grommet Matt Banting (Port Macquarie, NSW,Aus) has become the youngest ever surfer to receive a wildcard into the upcoming Quiksilver Pro presented by Land Rover on the southern end of the Gold Coast.
The sixteen year-old is preparing to be propelled into the big time, with his freakish talent securing him a position in the line-up of the season-opening Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Men's World Title event.
With style and power well beyond his years, Banting has been steadily making a name for himself among the Aussie junior contingency whilst making a bigger presence in the global surf scene.
Banting, who won the under 16 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in New Zealand as well as bagging the Quiksilver King of The Groms title in France in 2010, said it's the highlight of his career to date on hearing news of the coveted wildcard spot.
But the stylish natural foot said he's not daunted by the task ahead..
For the first time in the history of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, the event will utilise the new 36-man format which Banting says will work in his favour.
Rounding out the 36-man draw at Snapper Rocks will be the winner of the 16-man trials, to be held on Friday 25th February.
Former ASP World Tour surfers Dean Morrison (Coolangatta, QLD) and Tom Whittaker (Bronte, NSW) will lead a stacked field of potential giant-killers including Garret Parkes (Byron Bay, AUS), 2010 Snapper Rocks club champion Jay Phillips and the cream of the Gold Coast including Corey Ziems (Currumbin), Thomas Woods (Coolangatta), Noah Lane (Burleigh Heads), Mitch Crews (Currumbin) and Chris Bennetts (Main Beach) in the Quiksilver Pro Trials.
2003 Quiksilver Pro champion Morrison said he was pumped when he was informed of his spot in the trials.
The Roxy Pro Trials will be staged in conjunction with the Quiksilver Pro Trials and will include the sister act of Sarah and Airini Mason (Cabarita), Rosy Hodge (South Africa), Bianca Buitendag (South Africa) and Felicity Palmateer (WA).
The Quiksilver Pro is presented by Land Rover and proudly supported by Events QLD, Corona, Olympus, Telstra, Nature Valley Muesli bars, Lipton Ice Tea, Red Bull, Power Balance, Sharpie, Suncorp, GCCC (Gold Coast City Council), CSGC (connecting southern Gold Coast), Gold Coast Airport, Pages, Coastalwatch, RBSLSC (Rainbow Bay Surf Life Saving Club) and ASP International.
The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover will feature the world's best surfers from February 26 through March 9, 2011 and will be web LIVE via www.quiksilverpro.com.au
