As if winning the contest and stuffing Joel Parkinson on the best wave of the final wasn't enough, Slater uncorked on him on the podium.

Slater in deep. There's a reason he was frothing all week to have a crack at Kirra. Throwing down 9s and 10s in the semifinals and finals, he made the most of all-time conditions.

Joel Parkinson drew first blood in the final, knotching an eight-point ride to put the pressure on Slater. But in a back-and-forth battle Parko's effort was ultimately all for not.

With only two people in the lineup, Slater and Parko had the privilage of picking the most perfect waves. As far as tube riding goes, it was about as good as it gets.

Thanks and praise be to the fans. There's no more visible surfer the world over than Kelly Slater, and two hours after his win he was still signing autographys for fans.

Doesn't anybody work around here? Not when Fanning and Parkinson are in contention.

Mick Fanning looked like the White Lightning of old throughout the Quik Pro, but Slater stopped his run in a hard-fought, back-and-forth semifinal duel.

Stephanie Gilmore paddled out for an expression session between the semis and final and ended up winning, beating noteables like Jordy Smith and Wayne "Rabbit" Bartholomew.

Fluid dynamics as discussed by two world champs post semifinal battle.

The sand bank at Snapper wasn't all that super, but it did have its moments. The final day ran down at world-famous Kirra.

Big, powerful Bede Durbidge put his best foot forward, but Slater proved too much for him in the quarters. Just the same, not a bad way to start off the year after at lackluster showing last season.

Dane Reynolds was reduced to wallpaper by the time the final came around. Peace, bro.

Julian Wilson came up short in the quarters, siting his poor wave selection as the reason. But all told, Wilson looks to be a threat all season long.

Defending champ Taj Burrow's had a lot of success at the Quik Pro, and while a quarterfinal finish is good by most standards, he'll consider it a disappointment.

Matt Wilkinson and Travis Logie did the goofy-footers proud, proving that the Gold Coast isn't necessarily a forehand paradise. Both will prove to be dangerous this year.

So many boards and so few heats to win. Slater's winning sled was a 5’9 x 18 1/4 x 2 1/4 Fred Rubble model from Channel Islands.