Shaw and Partners Coolangatta Gold to deliver new format for surf sport athletes and spectators

After celebrating its 40th anniversary last summer, the Shaw and Partners Coolangatta Gold is delivering an exciting new development which will see all athletes from the Shaw and Partners Iron Series race in the Coolangatta Gold, with the country’s fittest and fastest athletes competing for Series points as well as prize money.

Coolangatta Beach will once again host the Shaw and Partners Coolangatta Gold on 18th-19th October 2025, marking the start of the national surf sports season.

In another shake up to the traditional race, competitors will compete on a shorter modified course, designed to attract more participants to the event. As in recent years, the race will continue to start and finish on the iconic Coolangatta Beach.

The announcement comes as Shaw and Partners Financial Services commit to supporting the Coolangatta Gold for a further three years (until 2027), bringing Shaw and Partners investment in Surf Sports up to more than $2 million over the next three years.

Surf Life Saving Australia Chief Executive Adam Weir notes “The Coolangatta Gold is a hallmark event on our national surf sports calendar, and we’re proud to be working together with Shaw and Partners Financial Services as the naming rights sponsor for the next three years.

“In 2024 we celebrated 40 years of the iconic race, and the changes we’re making in 2025 are designed to reinvigorate the traditional race and provide more opportunities for more people to race.

“On behalf of the entire Surf Life Saving community we thank Shaw and Partners Financial Services for extending their partnership with SLSA, with their commitment to surf sports at a grassroots and national level.”

Shaw and Partners Financial Services Chief Executive, Earl Evans added “we’re proud to continue our partnership with Surf Life Saving Australia as we help drive the growth of surf sports nationally. The Shaw and Partners Coolangatta Gold is an iconic event, and with our Iron Series athletes competing, 2025 promises to be the biggest and most exciting yet. We’re committed to building on this momentum and taking the sport to even greater heights”.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate shared “every signature sporting event needs to constantly reinvent itself and the team behind the Coolangatta Gold has certainly done that this year. I’m thrilled the new format will give spectators better access to the racing and will draw in competitors from the national iron series. Congratulations to Shaw and Partners for extending their commitment to the Gold. Make a date with the action in October.’’

The Shaw and Partners Coolangatta Gold will be held from 18th-19th October 2025 with further details on the course formats and timetable to be released in the coming weeks.

The 2025 Shaw and Partners Coolangatta Gold is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and Experience Gold Coast.

Image top. 2024 Shaw and Partners Coolangatta Gold Champions Ali Day and Jemma Smith; Image below. Surf Life Saving Australia Chief Executive Adam Weir (L) and Shaw and Partners Financial Services Chief Executive, Earl Evans (R) Credit:  Surf Life Saving Australia