Ferreira snatches Gold Coast surf title

Italo Ferreira has produced a brilliant late ride to win the World Surf League's season-opening men's event on the Gold Coast.

Needing 6.93 to take the lead, Brazilian aerial specialist Ferreira executed a clean 360 degree spin that impressed the judges and denied Kolohe Andino a maiden Championship Tour title in his eighth year on the circuit.

Luckless Andino (12.43 points) had controlled the final until the final 7.07 wave gave Ferreira a tally of 12.57.

Ferreira was engulfed by the Gold Coast's bulging Brazilian community on the sand and celebrated with a trademark backflip off the stage after he collected his trophy.

"I tried to catch a lot of waves ... knew it was my last chance, thought 'let's do it, one shot' then boom," the 24-year-old recounted of his thrilling finish.

"Oh my god, that was unbelievable. We have a lot of Brazilians in Australia, it's good to push this energy and that's what I did."

Ferreira entered the decider in fine form after prevailing in a back-and-forth semi-final against Jordy Smith earlier on Monday while Andino accounted for two-time world champion John John Florence.

"He's a freak ... 10 times out of 10 I would've let that wave go again because it was actually a knee-high wave," Andino said of Ferreira.

"But he did a full rotation and good on him."

Andino was a narrow loser to Australian Matt Wilkinson in the 2016 decider on the Gold Coast when his own last-gasp effort fell short.

Clearly gutted, the 25-year-old American said he would do his best to turn the disappointment into motivation.

"It's a super bummer I wasn't getting chaired out, but it's a long year, great result and hopefully I can win one soon.

"I was two minutes away from winning that one; it's all the lord's plan I guess."

Earlier in the day, Avoca Beach talent Wade Carmichael's (9.77) quarter-final patience backfired as Ferreira caught the first eight waves before he got on the board.

Competition returned to the alternate Duranbah Beach venue on Monday after organisers attempted, without success, to shift action to the traditional Snapper Rocks venue on Sunday.

It suited Ferreira and his ability above the lip, with his victory a neat double after he claimed the big-air competition last week from the Sunshine Coast's Reef Heazlewood.