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Thanks Uesi: Frothing for best waves in a year

Waves as high as 3.5m could be whipped up this afternoon as Cyclone Uesi inches towards the Gold Coast, with one surfer saying she is only going to come in from the water for quick food and water breaks.

Feb 13, 2020, updated Feb 13, 2020

Surfers on the Gold Coast say they are “frothing” in anticipation as Cyclone Uesi brings forecast swells of up to 3.5m on this afternoon and into tomorrow.

Pro surfer Alyssa Lock, whose local break is Snapper Rocks on the southern Gold Coast, said she was desperate to paddle out as it had been months since there had been good surf in the region.

“We haven’t had a really big swell in a long time, since winter, and I know every surfer is really keen to get out there,” she said.

“I’m going to head out early and the only time I’m going to come in is for food and water.

“We’re definitely frothing.”

Surfer Terry Teece said while he was excited about the forecast conditions, predicting wave size was not an exact science.

“You never really know what you’re going to get until it gets here,” he said.

“Everyone has a froth on because it’s going to be the first real swell in almost 12 months.

“But everyone is going ‘is it going to happen, or is it going to be a hoax?’ because sometimes swells can be predicted and then they don’t show.”

Gold Coast chief lifeguard Warren Young said as Cyclone Uesi moved through the Tasman Sea towards Lord Howe Island on Thursday, it was expected several beaches in southern Queensland would be closed.

“We had five beaches closed yesterday and more will be closed today if that swell hits as predicted,” he said.

“It looks like it’s a hit-and-run swell, in other words, it will come in pretty heavy and then settle down quickly into Saturday.”

Young also warned only experienced surfers should contemplate heading out.

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“It will be good waves for experienced surfers, but experienced surfers should never overestimate their abilities in rising swell conditions,” he said.

Gold Coast Surf Lifesaving co-ordinator Nathan Fife expected spectators to turn out to watch the pros take on the large swell.

“Definitely on the point breaks, sit and watch the pros do it, if the surf does get up and the beaches are closed, we’ll see surfers being towed on jet skis,” he said.

He also warned that recent heavy rain in northern New South Wales and Queensland has led to a large amount of debris flowing out of the region’s rivers and creeks.

“Everyone please be mindful and alert, listen to the lifesavers, if beaches are closed, please stay well away as there will be big surges, even walking on the beach can be quite dangerous if one of these surges come up,” he said.

A spokeswoman for the Gold Coast City Council said officers would monitor beach erosion during the current swell conditions.

“The beaches are expected to generally respond well throughout this swell event, however, some erosion scarps are expected, especially along the northern beaches,” she said.

“The city will undertake scarp reduction works and manage wind-blown sand as required.”

– ABC

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