Building on the outstanding success of two live surfing broadcasts in 2009, FUEL TV is set to bring the opening event of the 2010 World Tour LIVE into living rooms across the nation.

FUEL TV will deliver yet another Australian television first with LIVE and EXCLUSIVE coverage of the 2010 Quiksilver Pro from the Gold Coast.

Coverage of the year's opening event will provide another substantial boost for the Australian surfing community, who last year were able to watch the first ever live surfing broadcasts in Australia through FUEL TV's coverage of the Rip Curl Pro Search, big-wave event ‘The Eddie' and the season-ending Billabong Pipeline Masters.

While those events were beamed in from overseas, the Quiksilver Pro will give FUEL TV its first live broadcast of an ASP men's tour event on Australian waves.

Reigning two-time world champion Mick Fanning leads a host of the world's biggest names for the most anticipated ASP World Tour season in recent memory.

Fanning will be joined by fellow Coolangatta surfer and close rival Joel Parkinson, nine-time world champion Kelly Slater and Aussie young gun Owen Wright for the Gold Coast event, which opens on Saturday 27 February.

FUEL TV's LIVE and EXCLUSIVE television broadcast will commence with the opening heat on the first day of competition and will continue until the event winner is crowned.

FUEL TV has also secured the rights to broadcast the season's second event, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach from Tuesday 30 March.

"Our three live surfing broadcasts last year were immensely popular with viewers and we are rapped that we're able to kick off the new year with LIVE coverage of the first two events of the 2010 season."

"Both events have a huge significance in Australia, being the two biggest surfing contests on our shores. The fact that we currently have the top two surfers in the world should also add to the anticipation for this year's events," said Howarth.

FUEL TV'S coverage of the 2010 Quiksilver Pro from the Gold Coast is available to both FOXTEL and AUSTAR subscribers.

2010 QUIKSILVER PRO

Saturday 27 February - Wednesday 10 March, 2010

*With additional 90-minute highlights shows after each day of competition from 7pm AEDST

2010 RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH 2010

Tuesday 30 March - Saturday 10 April, 2010