The final day of the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover culminated today with perennial ASP World Title threat Taj Burrow (AUS), 33, and four-time ASP Women’s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 24, taking the respective wins in clean two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves at the primary venue of Snapper Rocks.

The opening stop on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour, the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast enjoyed sunny weather, light winds and a capacity crowd for the final day of competition, with the world’s best surfers putting on a spectacular display of high-performance surfing.

Burrow defeated dangerous South American Adriano De Souza (BRA), 25, in a Final that came down to the wire. De Souza caught a wave in the dying minutes and launched into a massive air-reverse, requiring a 7.87 out of a possible 10 to take the lead. The judges deliberated until after the siren sounded and when it was announced that De Souza came a mere 0.27 short, Burrow was chaired up the beach and declared the 2012 Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast champion.

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WA surfing champ Taj Burrow could face court action after one of his sponsors lodged a Supreme Court writ against his management company.

The world No.2 has been named in a civil writ lodged last Friday by the company Great Waves Pty Ltd which owns the surf accessories brand Creatures of Leisure.

The writ says the Yallingup-raised Burrow agreed to a deal in August, 2005 through his management company TB Endorsements to a sponsorship deal with the brand.

The deal requires Burrow to use the Creatures of Leisure branded surf leash and deck grip, and in addition display as prominent as possible the company’s logo on surfboards, top and bottom.

Creatures of Leisure is also to have photographic rights of the surfer in advertising, first rights to any new sponsorship deal and be allowed to make a matching offer in the advent of a new offer after the deal lapses.

Burrow was paid $50,000 for the period between March last year and February next year which is when the deal expires.

But by letter dated May 6, this year, TB Endorsements stated an intention to no longer perform its obligations under the sponsorship agreement, the writ says.

Great Waves, which is based in Dunsborough, wants the court to order Burrow to continue with the sponsorship deal and its conditions.

TB Endorsements, of which Burrow’s father Vance Burrow is director, and the lawyer for Great Waves did not respond to requests for a comment on the court action.

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