Gabriela Bryan (HAW) & West OZ Local Jack Robinson WIN at Western Australia Margaret River Pro

Second time Jack has beat John John at Main Break

Gabriela takes out Sawyer Lindblad (US)

Jack Robinson and Gabriela Bryan Win Western Australia Margaret River Pro

Hawaii’s Gabriela Bryan Claims Career-First CT Victory
Rookie Sawyer Lindblad Earns Runner-up Finish to Make the Cut
Jack Robinson Is Best in the West Once Again, Earns Second CT Victory at Margaret River Pro
John John Florence Scores Perfect 10 in Main Break Semifinals

Pictured: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) and Jack Robinson (AUS) celebrate their victories at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro. Credit: © WSL / Beatriz Ryder

MARGARET RIVER, Western Australia, Australia (Sunday, April 21, 2024) – Today, Gabriela Bryan (HAW) and Jack Robinson (AUS) won the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, Stop No. 5 on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT). In a full day of competition that ran 18 heats, Bryan and Robinson took down a stacked field in six-to-eight-foot waves at Margaret River’s Main Break.

As the final event before the Mid-Season Cut, the surfers left in the draw had one last opportunity to continue through to the back half of the 2024 CT season. Today’s high-pressured heats confirmed the final list of competitors who made and missed the Mid-Season Cut.

Hawaii’s Gabriela Bryan Claims Maiden CT Victory

Coming into the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, Gabriela Bryan (HAW) was sitting in 10th place on the rankings and in desperate need of her best result of the year. A standout at Margaret River, Bryan has made the Final at this location before to save her place on Tour with a career-best runner-up finish in her rookie season. The 22-year-old’s path to the Final was a rocky one, with plenty of close results seeing her edge out her opponents, Costa Rica’s Brisa Hennessy and Australia’s India Robinson. Bryan saved her best surfing for last against 2024 CT Rookie Sawyer Lindblad (USA) in the Final, where she posted her best heat total of the week, a 15.93 (out of a possible 20), to claim her maiden CT victory and move up to No. 5 on the world rankings.

“I don’t even know what to say. I’m so happy right now,” Bryan said. “It’s been a crazy day, crazy week, crazy month. I’m so happy to get this win and proud to do it when my back was against the wall. I couldn’t do this alone, though. My mom, my dad, my brother, and my sister support me so much. Seabass [Sebastian Zietz] has supported me so much. There are so many people at home, and I hope I’ve made them all proud. This is insane, and I don’t even know if it’s sunk in yet.”

The women’s Final saw eventual winner and 2022 Western Australia Margaret River Pro runner-up Bryan take on rookie Lindblad on a day that has once again seen the next generation of female competitors raise the bar. For the majority of the 35-minute matchup, both women held mid-range heat totals without separating Linblad’s vertical backhand approach from Bryan’s frontside power hacks. Then, with less than five minutes left, Bryan found the biggest wave of the set and laid down a huge frontside carve, then finished with a super late, critical rebound to earn an excellent 8.10 (out of a possible 10) to take the win.

“I was coming into this event under the Cut, and now I’m No. 5, which makes a big difference,” continued Bryan. “It’s just reassuring knowing my surfing belongs on Tour. I’m so happy we got good waves today. Last year, I was eliminated from this event and relied on things going my way to make the Cut, so it was so good to do it myself and do what I needed to do. All the girls put on such a good show today. When I kicked out of that wave, I knew it was sent to me by someone—with those dolphins riding it—it was amazing.”

Rookie Lindblad Earns Runner-up Finish to Make the Cut

Similarly to Bryan, Sawyer Lindblad (USA) came into the Western Australia Margaret River Pro needing a career-best result to move above the Mid-season Cut and save her spot on the CT for the second half of the season. The 18-year-old took down veteran Aussies Tyler Wright and Sally Fitzgibbons on her way to her maiden CT Final. Although Lindblad peaked in the Semifinals, earning the highest single-wave score of the women’s event, a near-perfect 9.40 (out of a possible 10), she leaves Western Australia with the best result of her career and now sits safely at 10th on the rankings.

“It’s pretty crazy,” Lindblad said. “Coming into this event, I knew I needed to make the Final or maybe even win, so I was just taking it heat by heat, and I’m so glad I did it because I get to stay on Tour. I feel like I’ve always done well under pressure, so I was just focusing on wave by wave. The waves were so good today. I’m so grateful that we got so much opportunity out in the water.”

Robinson Is Best in the West Once Again, Earns Second CT Victory at Margaret River Pro

After winning the 2022 Western Australia Margaret River Pro, a knee injury early last season robbed Jack Robinson (AUS) of defending the title at his home break. This year saw Robinson get his opportunity, and after an early exit at Bells Beach, the young Australian World Title hopeful looked destined for the Final from his performances today. Robinson built through the day and, in the Final against John John Florence (HAW), posted the second-highest heat total of the event to claim his second win in front of his hometown crowd, friends, and family.

“I missed last year and went through so much to get back and get through that injury, so I felt like this year I was defending my title,” Robinson said. “I’m feeling good. That’s the Final I wanted, and I wanted to throw everything at it. It’s always fun surfing against John. We will have many more heats in the future, I’m sure. What a day. I’m super humbled to be here and win at my home, and I’m so grateful for this moment.”

The men’s Final saw local boy Robinson come up against Main Break standout Florence in a matchup of the two event standouts. Florence looked to be the man to beat coming in, but Robinson had other ideas, posting a 9.10 for three huge carves on one of the biggest waves of the event, then backing it up with an 8.17 for a massive frontside straight air with three turns to complete the wave. Robinson’s 17.27 heat total (out of a possible 20) was the second-highest of the event and left Florence needing a Perfect 10 to take the lead. Florence posted an 8.10 to lower the requirement but couldn’t find another set wave, leaving Robinson to take the win and equal Florence with two Main Break victories in what was one of the heats of the event. With this being his second CT win of the year, Robinson moves to second on the rankings heading into Tahiti, where he is the defending event winner.

“John John fires me so much, and I always look forward to heats with him,” Robinson continued. “There’s no one else I’d rather Final with than John. Watching him out here inspired me so much, he set the benchmark. It’s not just me who won, it’s everyone who supports me. It’s an incredible moment. To come back here after traveling all year is special. It’s my home, and it’s the best place in the world. And I’m grateful to be here right now.”

Two-time event winner Florence looked destined for a third CT victory in Margaret River today as he began to display some of the incredible surfing he has become known for at Main Break after a slower start to his campaign. The two-time World Champion dominated the Semifinals, posting a Perfect 10-point ride, as well as the highest two-wave total of the event with an 18.40 (out of a possible 20). He looked to be building in the Final but wasn’t able to find the waves he needed to earn a third CT victory in Western Australia. The result was enough to lock Florence in at World No. 3 as he aims for a Top 5 finish and to contest his first-ever WSL Finals later this year. Today also witnessed Florence post his 52nd excellent score at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro.

“It’s so exciting to be in the Final against Jack again after our matchup in 2022,” Florence said. “It felt like it was happening again and to have it happen in waves like these is pretty amazing. Jack and I are good friends and have been for a long time, but obviously, when the heat starts, we’re competitors, and we want to win. It’s a fun rivalry where we want to put on a good show and a good heat so we have good battles. I’m feeling super good at the moment. I’m super stoked to be surfing and be healthy and be surfing in the Finals here again and just be back in WA. Really, it’s one of my favorite places in the world.”

Leaderboard Frontrunners Fall Out on Finals Day of Margaret River Pro

Event Wildcard George Pittar (AUS) upset the competition with his big win over World No. 1 Griffin Colapinto (USA) in Quarterfinal 2. Pittar proved once again that his winning streak was not a fluke with another near-perfect score, this time backdooring a solid Main Break tube for a 9.50 (out of a possible 10).

Pittar went on to face eventual runner-up Florence in the Semifinals, where his dream run came to a close after the two-time World Champion posted the highest heat total of the entire event, which included his Perfect 10-point ride for a massive lay-back snap, which he backed up with two more huge turns.

Two-time WSL Champion Tyler Wright (AUS) dispatched World No. 1 Caity Simmers (USA) in Quarterfinal 3. Simmers leaves in 5th place and retains the yellow Leader jersey update. She will now have a few weeks to prepare for the SHISEIDO Tahiti Pro Presented by Outerknkown, which starts May 22, 2024.

Wright then came against Lindblad in the Semifinals. The rookie shut the door on the two-time World Champion with a near-perfect 9.50 for two huge backhand snaps on one of the biggest waves of the day.

Best friends Molly Picklum (AUS) and Hennessy found themselves pitted against each other in Quarterfinal 2. With less than a one-point difference between them, it was Hennessy who emerged victorious with a total score of 12.50 points. Picklum stays at World No. 3 at the season’s halfway point.

Last Mid-Season Cut Qualifiers: Gabriela Bryan, Sawyer Lindblad, Seth Moniz, Connor O’Leary, Yago Dora

Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), the 15-year CT veteran, needed to win the entire event to save herself from the Cut. In a battle with 2024 CT rookie Sawyer Lindblad (USA), the two competitors played a patient game, with former Margaret River winner Fitzgibbons holding the advantage with only two waves surfed. With everything on the line, Lindblad threw everything at a medium set with only seconds remaining to earn a 5.50 and the win by just 0.50 of a point. For Fitzgibbons, it’s the second consecutive year she will be forced to return to the Challenger Series, a tour she dominated in 2023.

Bryan won her heat against India Robinson (AUS) in the first Quarterfinal to make the Cut and secure her position on the Tour for her third straight season. Robinson, who needed to win the entire event to avoid relegation, put up a strong fight, but she fell less than 2 points shy in the Main Break conditions.

With a massive comeback to start the day in Heat 5 of the men’s Round of 16, Moniz saved himself from the Cut in the dying minutes of his heat against World No. 2 Ethan Ewing (AUS). With time escaping the Hawaiian, he had one final opportunity that paid off with an excellent 8.17 and the win. Moniz went on to face Robinson, where the close matchup saw the West Australian get the win with a narrow 0.63-point advantage.

Brazilian Caio Ibelli was unable to take down eventual Quarterfinalist Smith. His loss in the Round of 16, Heat 6, means that he missed the Cut, while the result also cleared the way for Connor O’Leary (JPN) to qualify. Ibelli will head back to the Challenger Series, which kicks off in exactly one week at the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM at the famed Snapper Rocks.

Joining Ibelli at Snapper will be Samuel Pupo (BRA) after his loss to Florence in the first Quarterfinal. An excellent performance from Florence, with a 16.26 combined score, was too much for Pupo to defeat with a 14.17. Pupo relegated his older brother in the Round of 16, and they’ll now do battle to requalify for the Tour together via the Challenger Series. Pupo’s also loss provided the opening and confirmation for Yago Dora (BRA) to be the final men’s competitor to clear the Mid-season Cut.

For highlights from the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Women’s Final Results:
1 – Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 15.93
2 – Sawyer Lindblad (USA) 13.94

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Men’s Final Results:
1 – Jack Robinson (AUS) 17.27
2 – John John Florence (HAW) 16.04

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Women’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 11.90 DEF. Brisa Hennessy (CRC) 11.17
HEAT 2: Sawyer Lindblad (USA) 16.57 DEF. Tyler Wright (AUS) 10.30

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Men’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: John John Florence (HAW) 18.40 DEF. George Pittar (AUS) 14.87
HEAT 2: Jack Robinson (AUS) 14.33 DEF. Seth Moniz (HAW) 13.70

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Women’s Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 14.03 DEF. India Robinson (AUS) 12.06
HEAT 2: Brisa Hennessy (CRC) 12.50 DEF. Molly Picklum (AUS) 11.80
HEAT 3: Tyler Wright (AUS) 12.66 DEF. Caitlin Simmers (USA) 11.90
HEAT 4: Sawyer Lindblad (USA) 12.67 DEF. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 12.17

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Men’s Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: John John Florence (HAW) 16.26 DEF. Samuel Pupo (BRA) 14.17
HEAT 2: George Pittar (AUS) 16.83 DEF. Griffin Colapinto (USA) 11.17
HEAT 3: Seth Moniz (HAW) 15.90 DEF. Jordy Smith (RSA) 15.17
HEAT 4: Jack Robinson (AUS) 15.43 DEF. Imaikalani deVault (HAW) 14.43

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Men’s Round of 16 Results:
HEAT 1: John John Florence (HAW) 13.90 DEF. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 13.66
HEAT 2: Samuel Pupo (BRA) 13.00 DEF. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 10.10
HEAT 3: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 12.07 DEF. Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 8.33
HEAT 4: George Pittar (AUS) 15.90 DEF. Liam O’Brien (AUS) 8.84
HEAT 5: Seth Moniz (HAW) 14.67 DEF. Ethan Ewing (AUS) 13.44
HEAT 6: Jordy Smith (RSA) 14.27 DEF. Caio Ibelli (BRA) 7.34
HEAT 7: Imaikalani deVault (HAW) 14.30 DEF. Jake Marshall (USA) 12.33
HEAT 8: Jack Robinson (AUS) 15.13 DEF. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 11.87

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

First Stop on the 2024 Challenger Series: Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM
For the surfers who missed the Cut at the Margaret River Pro, and for surfers who’ve qualified through the regional Qualifying Series, their six-event Tour starts in exactly one week at the Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro Presented by GWM. The competition opens on Sunday, April 27, and runs through Saturday, May 4, 2024. Check out the full 2024 Challenger Series schedule. All competitions will be broadcast LIVE onWorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app. Check out more ways to watch from the WSL’s broadcast partners.

Finals Day Started at 6:45 AM Sunday in AWST (12:45pm Saturday in Hawaii)
Competition Schedule: Overlapping 40-Minute Heats for Men’s R/16, Men’s Quarterfinals, Women’s Quarterfinals; Women’s and Men’s Semifinals and Finals to Follow with Normal Heats
Watch the World’s Best Surfers Battle for the Event Titles at Main Break
Final Mid-Season Cut Scenarios at Play Today

Pictured: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) needs to win the Western Australia Margaret River Pro today in order to make the Cut. The CT veteran will face rookie Sawyer Lindblad (USA) in Quarterfinal 4. Credit: © WSL / Aaron Hughes

MARGARET RIVER, Western Australia, Australia (Sunday, April 21, 2024) – Finals Day is ON at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, Stop No. 5 on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT). Today will be a massive day of competition, starting at 6:45 a.m. AWST in four-to-six-foot waves at Main Break, to determine the Western Australia event winners and the final qualifiers for the Mid-Season Cut. Today’s competition will start by with the remaining four heats of the men’s Round of 16, the men’s Quarterfinals, and the women’s Quarterfinals, all with 40-minute overlapping heats. The women’s and men’s Semifinals and Finals will be normal heats.

The Western Australia Margaret River Pro is the final event before the Mid-Season Cut, which sees the field sizes cut down halfway through the season. The top-ranked surfers continue to the back half of the 2024 CT competitions, in venues such as Tahiti and Fiji, while the surfers who miss the Cut are relegated to the Challenger Series, which will kick off in a week’s time on the Gold Coast at Snapper Rocks.

On the men’s side in the remaining Round of 16, two major heats will hold the fate of multiple surfers hoping to continue onto the back half of the 2024 CT season:

Seth Moniz (HAW) will be first up today against World No. 2 Ethan Ewing (AUS). The Hawaiian will make the Cut if he defeats the Australian in this matchup. Should he lose, he will be relegated as Samuel Pupo (BRA) would beat Moniz on a tie-breaker.

For Heat 6, Caio Ibelli (BRA) will face Jordy Smith (RSA). Connor O’Leary (JPN), who was eliminated in the previous round, will make the Cut should Moniz or Ibelli lose.

Yago Dora (BRA) will make the Cut if both Moniz and Ibelli are eliminated.

Heat 8 will see the local hero and last Western Australian left in the draw, Jack Robinson (AUS), battle Italo Ferreira (BRA) for a place in the Quarterfinals. Earlier this season, Robinson ended Ferreira’s run at Sunset Beach in the Quarterfinals en route to winning the event and will look to replicate a similar result here in his hometown.

Jake Marshall’s (USA) consistency has been playing into his favor this season as continues to chip away into the Top 5. He will be against Hawaii’s Imaikalani deVault in Heat 7.

The women’s Mid-Season Cut scenarios will continue in the Quarterfinals, with almost every heat a must-win for the surfers still in the draw who sit below the Cut:

If Gabriela Bryan (HAW) wins Quarterfinal 1 against India Robinson (AUS), she will make the Cut. If Robinson wins, she must win the entire event to qualify for the back half of the season.

Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) will also need to win the entire event to make the Cut. The CT veteran will face rookie Sawyer Lindblad (USA) in Quarterfinal 4.

Lakey Peterson (USA) will make the cut if Lindblad does not make the Final, and neither Robinson nor Fitzgibbons win. Peterson wins the tie-breaker against Lindblad should Lindblad finish in third.

Watch the Western Australia Margaret River Pro LIVE at WorldSurfLeague.com.

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Men’s Round of 16 Remaining Matchups (Heats 5 – 8):
HEAT 5: Ethan Ewing (AUS) vs. Seth Moniz (HAW)
HEAT 6: Jordy Smith (RSA) vs. Caio Ibelli (BRA)
HEAT 7: Jake Marshall (USA) vs. Imaikalani deVault (HAW)
HEAT 8: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Jack Robinson (AUS)

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Women’s Quarterfinal Matchups:
HEAT 1: India Robinson (AUS) vs. Gabriela Bryan (HAW)
HEAT 2: Molly Picklum (AUS) vs. Brisa Hennessy (CRC)
HEAT 3: Caitlin Simmers (USA) vs. Tyler Wright (AUS)
HEAT 4: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) vs. Sawyer Lindblad (USA)

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Watch LIVE
The Western Australia Margaret River Pro will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app. Check out more ways to watch from the WSL’s broadcast partners. For fans watching in the United States, coverage of the competition’s Quarterfinals and beyond will continue co-exclusively on WorldSurfLeague.com and ESPN+.

PRIOR UPDATES BELOW

Critical Wins Start Men’s Round of 16…Western Australia Margaret River Pro
Men’s Round of 16, Heats 1 – 4, Completed Before Called OFF for the Day
World No. 1 Colapinto and No. 3 Florence Through to Quarterfinals
Emotional Win for Samuel Pupo, Relegates Brother Miguel to Challenger Series
Event Wildcard George Pittar Continues Dream Run at Main Break
Next Call: Saturday, April 20, at 2:45 PM AWST for Possible 3:03 PM Start (Friday 9:03pm Friday in Hawaii)

Pictured: Samuel Pupo (BRA) reacts to a bitter-sweet victory against his older brother Miguel Pupo (BRA) in Heat 2 of the men’s Round of 16 at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro. Credit: © WSL / Aaron Hughes

MARGARET RIVER, Western Australia, Australia (Friday, April 19, 2024) – The Western Australia Margaret River Pro, Stop No. 5 on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), saw a short but moving day of competition with the first four heats of the men’s Round of 16. Main Break hosted the men in three-to-four-foot conditions, but the high tide and strong onshore winds promoted the WSL Commissioner’s Office to put the round on hold until conditions improve. The next call will be tomorrow, Saturday, April 20, at 2:45 pm AWST for a possible 3:03 p.m. start.

World No. 1 Colapinto and No. 3 Florence Through to Quarterfinals

In an early clash of surfing World Champions at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, John John Florence (HAW) emerged victorious over Gabriel Medina (BRA) in the first heat of the men’s Round of 16. Despite early dominance from Medina, Florence steadily closed the gap, securing a crucial 7.00 (out of a possible 10) before clinching the lead in the final two minutes with a 6.90. Medina set out to defend his event title and come back from early losses this season, but ultimately, it was Florence who advanced to the Quarterfinals, adding another chapter to their rivalry.

“That was quite a stressful heat,” said Florence. “Just surfing against Gabe is always fun, and I’ve been surfing against him since we qualified together. I was just so stoked to get that wave in the end and really try to hold together the nerves on it and try to beat him. He’s one of the best competitive surfers of our time. He’s so calculated in what he’s doing in the heat, and I feel like he’s able to think about everything really quickly, so it’s like a constant pressure through the whole heat if you don’t get an early lead on it.”

Current World No. 1 Griffin Colapinto (USA) continues his run in the West after dispatching Morocco’s Ramzi Boukhiam in Heat 3. Establishing the lead with a 12.07 two-wave combined score (out of a possible 20), Colapinto held control and left Boukhiam scrambling to find a back-up wave substantial enough to take the win. Despite Boukhiam’s loss, his earlier qualification for the back half of the 2024 CT marks a significant milestone in his career, offering him a long-awaited chance to showcase his talent after missing his rookie season due to injury.

Event Wildcard George Pittar Continues Dream Run at Main Break

Event wildcard George Pittar (AUS) is on a dream run in his second CT opportunity this month. Pittar defeated Liam O’Brien (AUS) in Heat 4 in dominant fashion, kicking off the opening exchange with a near-perfect 9.00 (out of a possible 10) with a 6.90 backup score to O’Brien’s 6.67 and 2.17. Pittar’s form in the recent Main Break conditions is a serious threat to the field, and he will look to play spoiler when he comes up against Colapinto in the Quarterfinals.

“I can’t even believe what’s going on really,” said Pittar. “I just feel like the waves just keep popping up, and I’m just in the spot. I’ve been enjoying it but definitely a few mistakes in that heat falling on the end sections. I feel like it’s sort of easier coming into this event with less pressure. Everyone’s having to worry about the Cut and they’ve just got so much on the line, and for me, I’m paddling out there and everything is experience for me. I’m enjoying the whole experience and getting to know this wave. It’s actually a really fun wave when you can get on the right ones and it just feels good to put a few heats together on this level and keep the ball rolling.”

Emotional Win for Samuel Pupo, Relegates Brother Miguel to Challenger Series

In a highly emotional heat, brothers Samuel and Miguel Pupo (BRA) faced off in a high-stakes matchup where the outcome would determine one surfer’s relegation to the Challenger Series. Samuel controlled the scoreboard with an excellent 8-point ride and strategic use of priority, making it challenging for Miguel to overcome. As the heat came to a close, emotions ran high, with Samuel in tears and Miguel offering consolation, showcasing the deep bond between them despite the competitive intensity of the moment. Samuel’s win keeps him in contention to stay in the CT, while his older brother will fall off Tour and will need to go back to the Challenger Series to requalify for 2025.

“Without him, I wouldn’t be anywhere near where I am now,” said Samuel Pupo. “Maybe I wouldn’t be surfing. For me to be in this position, it’s all because of him and to be the one to get him off Tour, it just feels like a loss for me. But he’s really strong. He’s going to come back. He got out of the water smiling, and it looks like he was the guy that won the heat, but that shows how strong he is, but it still hurts so much.”

Mid-Season Cut Scenarios To Come in Men’s Round of 16

When the competition resumes, Mid-season Cut scenarios will be in play in Heats 5 and 6 with Seth Moniz (HAW) and Caio Ibelli (BRA), respectively. Moniz will make the Cut if he defeats World No. 2 Ethan Ewing (AUS). Should he lose, he will be relegated as Samuel Pupo (BRA) would beat Moniz on a tiebreaker. For Heat 6, Ibelli will face Jordy Smith (RSA). Connor O’Leary (JPN), who was eliminated in the previous round, will make the Cut should Moniz or Ibelli lose. Yago Dora (BRA) will make the Cut if both Moniz and Ibelli are eliminated.

The next call will be tomorrow, Saturday, April 20, at 2:45 pm AWST for a possible 3:03 p.m. start.

For highlights from today’s competition at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Men’s Round of 16 Results (Heats 1 – 4):
HEAT 1: John John Florence (HAW) 13.90 DEF. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 13.66
HEAT 2: Samuel Pupo (BRA) 13.00 DEF. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 10.10
HEAT 3: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 12.07 DEF. Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 8.33
HEAT 4: George Pittar (AUS) 15.90 DEF. Liam O’Brien (AUS) 8.84

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Men’s Round of 16 Called ON at Western Australia Margaret River Pro

Men’s Round of 16 Started at 7:03 AM Friday AWST at Main Break (1pm Thursday for Hawaii)

Mid-Season Cut on the Line for Seth Moniz (Heat 5) and Caio Ibelli (Heat 6)

Pictured: 3X World Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA) will face 2X World Champion John John Florence (HAW) up first this morning in the Round of 16 at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro. Credit: © WSL / Aaron Hughes

MARGARET RIVER, Western Australia, Australia (Friday, April 19, 2024) – The Western Australia Margaret River Pro, Stop No. 5 on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), is ON starting at 7:03 a.m. AWST today. The men’s Round of 16 will compete in three-to-four-foot surf at Main Break in Margaret River with 35-minute heats.

The first matchup of the day will see two of surfing’s biggest stars go head-to-head in the Round of 16: three-time World Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA) against two-time World Champion John John Florence (HAW). With both competitors holding event titles at the Margaret River Pro, it will be an exciting kickoff to the round that will determine the Quarterfinalists and more qualifiers of the Mid-Season Cut.

Heat 2 will be a battle between brothers Miguel Pupo (BRA) and Samuel Pupo (BRA). The loser of this heat will be relegated to the Challenger Series. With so much on the line, these competitors will have to push through the pressure and unique circumstances of their matchup in order to continue their CT careers for the 2024 season.

Heat 5 and Heat 6 have major Mid-Season Cut repercussions on the line. In Heat 5, Seth Moniz (HAW) will make the Cut if he defeats World No. 2 Ethan Ewing (AUS). Should he lose, he will be relegated as either Pupo brother will beat Moniz on a tiebreaker. For Heat 6, Caio Ibelli (BRA) will face Jordy Smith (RSA). Connor O’Leary (JPN), who was eliminated in the previous round, will make the Cut should Moniz or Ibelli lose. Yago Dora (BRA) will make the Cut if both Moniz and Ibelli are eliminated.

Watch the Western Australia Margaret River Pro LIVE at WorldSurfLeague.com.

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Men’s Round of 16 Matchups:
HEAT 1: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Gabriel Medina (BRA)
HEAT 2: Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Samuel Pupo (BRA)
HEAT 3: Griffin Colapinto (USA) vs. Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR)
HEAT 4: George Pittar (AUS) vs. Liam O’Brien (AUS)
HEAT 5: Ethan Ewing (AUS) vs. Seth Moniz (HAW)
HEAT 6: Jordy Smith (RSA) vs. Caio Ibelli (BRA)
HEAT 7: Jake Marshall (USA) vs. Imaikalani deVault (HAW)
HEAT 8: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Jack Robinson (AUS)

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

ALL PRIOR UPDATES BELOW

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Witnesses Massive Comebacks with Mid-Season Cut Pressure
Dramatic Heat Finishes for Australians Tyler Wright and Sally Fitzgibbons
American Caitlin Simmers Advances to Quarterfinals with Excellent 9.10 at Southside
Rookie Sawyer Lindblad Continues Fight to Stay on 2024 CT with Big Win Against Bettylou Sakura Johnson
Lakey Peterson Remains on the Bubble and Will Await Cut Scenarios After R/16 Elimination

Pictured: 2X World Champion Tyler Wright (AUS) following her heat win against Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) to secure her place in the Quarterfinals and above the Mid-Season Cut at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro. Credit: © WSL / Aaron Hughes

MARGARET RIVER, Western Australia, Australia (Thursday, April 18, 2024) – The Western Australia Margaret River Pro, Stop No. 5 on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), saw Mid-Season Cut scenarios playing out in all five of the women’s Round of 16 heats today. The competition moved to its neighboring backup site, Southside, with three-to-four-foot waves to decide the women’s Quarterfinalists.

The Mid-Season Cut relegated injury replacement Sophie McCulloch (AUS) to the Challenger Series, while wins by veteran Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) and rookie Sawyer Lindblad (USA) keep themselves in the running to make the Cut.

Tyler Wright (AUS) and Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) officially made the Cut following the scenarios in the Round of 16, and their entries are guaranteed for the next stops on the 2024 CT season.

Dramatic Heat Finishes for Australians Tyler Wright and Sally Fitzgibbons

Tyler Wright (AUS), two-time WSL Champion, was sitting dangerously close to the Mid-Season Cut coming into this event at World No. 10. In a matchup against Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), who sat a position ahead of her, the win would be crucial to both competitors’ standings as lower-ranked surfers have moved through the Quarterfinals. With the heat not looking to go Wright’s way, it was her last-minute heroics that secured both the heat win and her spot on the back half of the 2024 CT. Wright pulled off three big turns in the dying minutes of the heat for a solid 7.83 (out of a possible 10) and the narrow 0.03-point difference to win.

“The last few days, it’s felt like every heat matters for me,” said Wright. “It was all thanks to the ocean on that one. I was just asking her, ‘Hey, I’m going to need your help here.’ I needed the score. I love my job, and I love doing this. So massive thanks to the ocean for producing that one for me. I am pretty realistic, and I know I am fighting for my job right now. This is the first year that I am actually really enjoying it. It’s different as you get older, but it’s one of those ones that you can’t lose your trust in yourself.”

Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) defeated 2023 World Champion Caroline Marks (USA) in Heat 7 today with a clutch, last-ditch effort in the last five minutes of the heat, earning a 7.50 for the win. Despite the key victory, Fitzgibbons is not yet safe from the Cut and now needs to win the entire competition to secure her position on the CT and avoid relegation to the Challenger Series. All eyes will be on her next Quarterfinal heat against rookie Sawyer Lindblad (USA).

“No matter what happens this week, I just want to fight to the end,” said Fitzgibbons. “To keep fighting and to give myself the opportunity to show my surfing. It doesn’t matter what track you take after this event; I just want to keep bringing more surfing to the table and keep evolving. I heard that Tyler won too, so it was inspiring to hear that.”

American Caitlin Simmers Advances to Quarterfinals with 9.10 at Southside

World No. 1 Caitlin Simmers (USA) stamped her authority on the event’s backup break with a commanding win over injury replacement Sophie McCulloch (AUS) in Heat 5. Simmers, 18, put the Australian in a combination situation (meaning McCulloch would need to turn in two new scores) with a near-perfect 9.10 (out of a possible 10). Once again this season, Simmers continues to showcase her progression, this time with a big backside tail release. She furthered her lead with a 7.33.

The loss for McCulloch means relegation to the Challenger Series. The young Australian has had a tough break on the CT in her first two seasons. Her rookie year in 2023 started with an injury and, thus, missing the first two events. She then received the call-up as the season injury replacement following Carissa Moore’s withdrawal from the CT. Having started one event behind the pack, it was going to be a challenge to make the Cut here in Margaret River, but now she will shift paths to requalify on the 2024 Challenger Series, which starts later this month.

Rookie Sawyer Lindblad Continues Fight to Stay on 2024 CT with Big Win Against Bettylou Sakura Johnson

Sawyer Lindblad (USA) is fighting hard to secure her future on the 2024 CT, booking guaranteeing her equal best finish for the year after taking down 2024 form surfer Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) in the last heat of the day. Sakura Johnson took the early advantage, but eventually, Lindblad found good touch with the Southside lefts, posting an excellent 8.10 for a huge frontside carve to vertical snap combination. Lindblad will now face Fitzgibbons in a must-win Quarterfinal matchup for both surfers.

“I was just sitting out there with 20 minutes left on the clock feeling pretty relaxed, and then all of a sudden, there was like four minutes left,” Lindblad said. “I was like, ‘Please send a three-wave set’, and then it came. I had a feeling they were going to move the contest there, so I went out there to warm up, and it was fun. It felt like Lowers.”

Peterson Remains on the Bubble and Will Await Cut Scenarios After R/16 Elimination

Lakey Peterson (USA) came into Heat 4 of the Round of 16 knowing that the win would secure her position about the Mid-Season Cut. With her opponent, Costa Rica’s Brisa Hennessy already qualified and in the sixth position on the World Rankings, this was a crucial 35-minute exchange for the Californian. Peterson got on the scoreboard first and took an early lead with a 5.17 (out of a possible 10), but Hennessy came back stronger with two 6-point rides. Peterson was unable to score a stronger two-wave total out of her nine attempts and exited in 9th place. The loss does not necessarily mean Peterson misses the Mid-Season Cut, but her fate will now be determined by the other competitors still in the draw and their upcoming results.

“There was a lot of wave catching in that heat, which I feel we haven’t done for a little bit, so it was good to get the body moving and go left,” said Hennessy. “I feel like we’re constantly adapting. I think that’s what all the best surfers are able to do, and to be able to open up your mind and see new sections and make a new game plan. It’s not just all about surfing, it’s such a chess game and learning to try to be patient. I think the end goal is making heats no matter what it looks like sometimes.”

For highlights from today’s competition at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Women’s Round of 16 Results:
HEAT 1: India Robinson (AUS) 14.00 DEF. Johanne Defay (FRA) 12.00
HEAT 2: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 12.67 DEF. Isabella Nichols (AUS) 7.33
HEAT 3: Molly Picklum (AUS) 13.43 DEF. Alyssa Spencer (USA) 11.10
HEAT 4: Brisa Hennessy (CRC) 12.93 DEF. Lakey Peterson (USA) 9.84
HEAT 5: Caitlin Simmers (USA) 16.43 DEF. Sophie McCulloch (AUS) 12.33
HEAT 6: Tyler Wright (AUS) 13.70 DEF. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 13.67
HEAT 7: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 13.10 DEF. Caroline Marks (USA) 11.57
HEAT 8: Sawyer Lindblad (USA) 14.87 DEF. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) 13.90

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

PRIOR UPDATES BELOW

Women’s Round of 16 Continues at Western Australia Margaret River Pro
Women’s Round of 16, Heat 4, Starts at 1:03 PM Thursday AWST at Southside (7pn Wed in Hawaii)
Mid-Season Cut Scenarios at Play in All Matchups Today
Women’s Quarterfinals and Men’s R/16 OFF for the Day
Watch LIVE at WorldSurfLeague.com

Pictured: Lakey Peterson (USA) is up first this afternoon against Brisa Hennessy (CRC). A win in today’s Round of 16 at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro will secure Peterson’s place above the Mid-Season Cut. Credit: © WSL / Aaron Hughes

MARGARET RIVER, Western Australia, Australia (Thursday, April 18, 2024) – The Western Australia Margaret River Pro, Stop No. 5 on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), will continue today after being on hold throughout the morning. The women’s Round of 16 will continue at 1:03 p.m. AWST with the remaining five heats (35 minutes) to determine the event’s Quarterfinalists in three-to-four-foot conditions at Southside. The women’s Quarterfinals and men’s Round of 16 is OFF for the day.

The Western Australia Margaret River Pro is the final event before the Mid-Season Cut. All of the heats in today’s Round of 16 will have relegation or qualification scenarios in play.

Up first this morning will be World No. 6 Brisa Hennessy (CRC) against No. 9 Lakey Peterson (USA). If Peterson wins this heat, she will secure her position above the Cut and will continue on the CT. Hennessy is already safe from relegation from her result at Bells Beach but is eager to keep her consistency this season to reach the Semifinals at least.

World No. 1 Caitlin Simmers (USA) will face injury replacement Sophie McCulloch (AUS) in Heat 5. McCulloch got her starting position on the CT at Sunset Beach (Stop No. 2) following Carissa Moore (HAW) announcing she’d take an indefinite break from full-time competition. McCulloch needs to win this heat to keep the opportunity of remaining on Tour alive, otherwise she will be relegated to the Challenger Series.

Heat 6 will be a massive matchup with Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) against Tyler Wright (AUS). Similar to Peterson, if Weston-Webb wins this heat, she will qualify. This heat has major implications for Wright as she is sitting right on the Mid-Season Cut line at World No. 10 (with relegation for places ranked No. 11 onwards). After lower-ranked surfers advanced yesterday, and with the potential for more today, this will be a crucial heat to her 2024 CT campaign.

Australia’s icon Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) will be against 2023 WSL Champion Caroline Marks (USA) in Heat 7. Fitzgibbons pulled herself from the Elimination Round in a big way, showcasing immense progression. She’ll need to deploy the same excellence if she’s to continue through and save herself from relegation to the Challenger Series again. If Fitzgibbons loses this heat, she will be relegated to the Challenger Series.

The last heat of the day, Heat 8, hosts 2024 CT Rookie Sawyer Lindblad (USA) who must win the heat against Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) to avoid relegation from the CT.

Watch the Western Australia Margaret River Pro LIVE at WorldSurfLeague.com.

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Women’s Round of 16 Matchups (Heats 4 – 8):
HEAT 4: Brisa Hennessy (CRC) vs. Lakey Peterson (USA)
HEAT 5: Caitlin Simmers (USA) vs. Sophie McCulloch (AUS)
HEAT 6: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) vs. Tyler Wright (AUS)
HEAT 7: Caroline Marks (USA) vs. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
HEAT 8: Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) vs. Sawyer Lindblad (USA)

EARLIER UPDATES BELOW

Short Day Sees More Relegation Scenarios Unfold at Western Australia Margaret River ProIndia Robinson Defeats World No. 2 Johanne Defay, Continues Chance of Advancing Above the Cut
Two More Surfers Relegated to the Challenger Series with Mid-Season Cut
Next Call: Thursday, April 18 at 9:45 AM AWST

Pictured: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) relegates Isabella Nichols (AUS) to the Challenger Series with her Round of 16 win today at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro today. Credit: © WSL / Aaron Hughes

MARGARET RIVER, Western Australia, Australia (Wednesday, April 17, 2024) – The Western Australia Margaret River Pro continued today for only a short run of competition, completing only the first three heats of the women’s Round of 16. With conditions slowing down significantly through the morning, the WSL Commissioner’s Office called the event off for the rest of the round. The next competition call will be tomorrow, Thursday, April 18 at 9:45 a.m. AWST for a possible 10:03 a.m. start.

As Stop No. 5 on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), this event is the final event before the Mid-Season Cut. Despite the few number of heats completed, all three had major requalification and relegation scenarios on the line.

India Robinson Defeats World No. 2 Defay, Continues Chance of Advancing Above the Cut

India Robinson (AUS) has been in a no-lose situation all week as she came into Margaret River ranked four positions below the Cut at No. 14. The 23-year-old fell off the CT back in her rookie year of 2022 and is determined to give herself every opportunity to make it through this year. Up against World No. 2 Johanne Defay (FRA), Robinson locked in a 7.67 (out of a possible 10) and a 6.33 for a heat total of 14.00 (out of a possible 20). Although Defay fought back, it was Robinson who found herself on the better waves, allowing her to open up and display the surfing she’s been hoping to all year, leaving the Defay to leave Western Australia with an equal 9th place finish, her worst result of the 2024 season.

“It is really windy out there,” Robinson said. “It doesn’t look like it from the beach but it is. It was good to put all the strength and conditioning work to the test. When it’s like this, you have to be really selective where you place your turns. I feel really comfortable out here, and I feel like my turns fit the wave well. I’m not going to the lip too much, just keeping it on the rail, and that suits me. Let’s keep going.”

Two More Surfers Relegated to the Challenger Series with Mid-Season Cut

The second heat of the day was a must-win matchup for both Isabella Nichols (AUS) and Gabriela Bryan (HAW), with Nichols sitting just below the Cut line and Bryan just above it. The heat was bound to see fireworks as it was a replay of the 2022 Western Australia Margaret River Pro Final. After a long wait for the first waves, both women started strong, Bryan with an 8.00 point ride for three massive open-face turns and Nichols with a 7.33 for two vertical snaps. Bryan was able to back it up with a mid-range score to take a decent lead, whilst 2022 event winner Nichols was unable to find another wave in the inconsistent conditions, leaving Bryan to take the win. The loss will see Nichols return to the Challenger Series to try and regain a spot on the 2025 CT.

“The beginning of that heat was pretty gnarly,” Bryan said. “Isabella is such a fierce competitor. Going into it, I was like, ‘I’m not giving anyone an inch,’ and it ended up working out. I did make a few mistakes. I got sucked out a bit far and missed a good wave. It’s hard, though, because I’m really confident in my surfing, and I just want to get the good waves, but from the beginning of the year, I haven’t been playing the game that well, and that’s something I’ve been working on, so I’m glad that worked out. We were so far out of position in the beginning, but if there’s a good wave and your competitor isn’t on it, it doesn’t matter if you’re not on it.”

2024 CT Rookie Alyssa Spencer (USA) lost to World No. 3 Molly Picklum (AUS) in Heat 3 of the Round of 16. In a very slow heat, consisting of two heat restarts, it was a battle of wave selection to find the gems that would provide the best scoring opportunities. The Californian held the lead for the majority of the heat, but Picklum’s 7.33 (out of a possible 10) in the last few minutes closed the door for Spencer’s comeback story. Spencer will now head to the Challenger Series for the opportunity to re-qualify for the CT in 2025. Picklum advances to the Quarterfinals, where she will face Bryan in Heat 1.

For highlights from today’s competition at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Women’s Round of 16 Matchups (Heats 4 – 8):
HEAT 4: Brisa Hennessy (CRC) vs. Lakey Peterson (USA)
HEAT 5: Caitlin Simmers (USA) vs. Sophie McCulloch (AUS)
HEAT 6: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) vs. Tyler Wright (AUS)
HEAT 7: Caroline Marks (USA) vs. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
HEAT 8: Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) vs. Sawyer Lindblad (USA)

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

PRIOR UPDATES BELOW

Women’s Round of 16 Called ON at Western Australia Margaret River Pro
Women’s Round of 16 Started Wednesday at 7:33 AM AWST (1:33pm Tuesday HI Time)
Women’s Quarterfinals on Standby for Possible Start Today
Men’s Competition Called OFF for the Day

Pictured: 2024 CT Rookie Sawyer Lindblad (USA) will face Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) in the Round of 16, Heat 8 of the Western Australia Margaret River Pro today. Credit: © WSL / Aaron Hughes

MARGARET RIVER, Western Australia, Australia (Wednesday, April 17, 2024) – The Western Australia Margaret River Pro, Stop No. 5 on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), continues today with the women’s Round of 16, starting at 7:33 a.m. AWST. The world’s best surfers will take on three-to-four-foot surf at Main Break in Margaret River, and Mid-season Cut scenarios could potentially come into play with the next eliminations.

Today’s heats will have major implications to the 2024 CT field, with the Western Australia Margaret River Pro being the final event before the Mid-season Cut.

Current World No. 2 Johanne Defay (FRA) will be against CT sophomore India Robinson (AUS) in the opening Round of 16 heat today. Robinson needs a big result in Margaret River and every heat win counts toward putting her back above the Cut line. Defay, on the other hand, sits on the top end of the leaderboard in a very successful World Title campaign so far. Both surfers will do battle to achieve their dreams for the CT, for Defay being the World No. 1 spot, and for Robinson staying on Tour for the remainder of the season.

Australia’s icon Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) will be against 2023 WSL Champion Caroline Marks (USA). Fitzgibbons pulled herself from the Elimination Round in a big way, showcasing immense progression. She’ll need to deploy the same excellence if she’s to continue through and save herself from relegation to the Challenger Series again.

Gabriela Bryan (HAW) and Isabella Nichols (AUS) both sit just below the Mid-season Cut line, at No. 11 and 12 on the rankings, respectively. This will be a rematch of their 2022 Margaret River Final, and elimination could jeopardize their shot at continuing through the rest of the year on the CT.

Watch the Western Australia Margaret River Pro LIVE at WorldSurfLeague.com.

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Women’s Round of 16 Matchups:
HEAT 1: Johanne Defay (FRA) vs. India Robinson (AUS)
HEAT 2: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) vs. Isabella Nichols (AUS)
HEAT 3: Molly Picklum (AUS) vs. Alyssa Spencer (USA)
HEAT 4: Brisa Hennessy (CRC) vs. Lakey Peterson (USA)
HEAT 5: Caitlin Simmers (USA) vs. Sophie McCulloch (AUS)
HEAT 6: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) vs. Tyler Wright (AUS)
HEAT 7: Caroline Marks (USA) vs. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
HEAT 8: Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) vs. Sawyer Lindblad (USA)

PRIOR UPDATES BELOW

Kelly Slater and Seven Others Miss the Cut… at Western Australia Margaret River Pro

11X World Champion Kelly Slater Gets Honorable Chair-up After Loss in Margaret River and Shares Emotional Message Following His Elimination
Mid-Season Cut Relegates Eight Surfers from the 2024 CT Season
World Champions Gabriel Medina and John Florence To Face Off in Round of 16
Bubble Surfers Survive Another Chance to Make the Cut at Main Break, Plus Nine Surfers Confirmed

Pictured: 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) takes a moment with partner Kalani Miller after his Round of 32 elimination at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro today. Credit: © WSL / Beatriz Ryder

MARGARET RIVER, Western Australia, Australia (Tuesday, April 16, 2024) – The Western Australia Margaret River Pro, Stop No. 5 on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), saw an emotional day of competition with the men’s Elimination Round and Round of 32 in four-to-five foot surf at Main Break in Margaret River.

Eight surfers were relegated from the 2024 CT and will go to the Challenger Series to try to earn their spot back on the elite Tour, while nine more surfers have secured their position for the back half of the 2024 season.

11X World Champion Kelly Slater Gets Honorable Chair-up After Loss in Margaret River and Shares Emotional Message Following His Elimination

11-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) has alluded to slowing down his competitive career in recent weeks, and although he did not officially announce his retirement today, shared his thoughts and future plans in an emotional post-heat interview after his loss to World No. 1 Griffin Colapinto (USA) in the Round of 32 at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, Stop No. 5 of 10 on the 2024 WSL CT.

Celebrated as the greatest surfer of all time, Slater has 56 event wins over his incredible 32-year career on the Championship Tour. With 11 World Titles, he holds the record for the most World Championships of any surfer and is both the youngest and oldest World Champion in men’s history.

Although the surfing GOAT hinted that he doesn’t plan to hang up his jersey at the moment, he’s missed the Mid-season Cut, meaning that he has not requalified for the remainder of the 2024 WSL CT nor the start of the 2025 WSL CT.

The 52-year-old shared that he plans to compete in events as they come, and the WSL Commissioner’s Office will release updates to the event wildcards for the back half of the season as those event windows draw closer.

After being chaired up at Margaret River, Slater shared an emotional message following his loss:

“As far as emotions, it’s almost hitting me. It’s right there bubbling. I couldn’t quite pull a miracle off this week. I’ve pulled a few off over the years and I still had that hope out there. Even with a minute to go, I thought, ‘One might pop up.’ But to lose to the world number one. Griff is the number one guy and I’ve been close with him for a long time. It’s been fun to be over 50 and still mixing it up with the guys and still feeling like I’m there with them. Seeing this new crop of guys and to finish with Griffin, as a full-time competitor that’s cool.

“I’ve had a fight with this wave my whole career, so it’s not necessarily the wave I want to end on. I have put in for a wildcard for Fiji so I’ll see how that goes. But I do feel like, if I get a wildcard into Fiji, I could end up against Griffin again so I’ll get to pay him back.

“But yeah, it is what it is, everything comes to an end and if you don’t adapt you don’t survive and my motivation just hasn’t been there to really put in that one-hundred percent that everyone else is now.

“I’ve got a couple weeks here, Renato asked me if I want to surf on the Goldy [Challenger Series Event]. If Snapper looks good, we’ll see. Just for some fun.”

Colapinto is one of the next generation’s promising hopes to be the World Champion and his current World No. 1 standing has put the surfing world on notice. His win over Slater signals a changing of the guard and continues to solidify his presence as one of the world’s best surfers. Colapinto will continue his charge through this event and the season to the WSL Finals, as well as representing the United States in the upcoming Olympic Games at Teahupo’o, Tahiti.

“It’s pretty mind-blowing – when I saw him getting chaired up the stairs I was like whoa, is that for real? That’s a sign in surfing that someone is retiring and the fact that he did that after a heat with me, I was pretty blown away and was just trying to take it all in,” Colapinto said. “It’s crazy, he’s given me and everyone on this tour so much, we owe him so much, we make a living because of how far he has taken surfing. It’s pretty incredible. I used to watch his video parts and imagine myself being like him.”

World Champions Gabriel Medina and John Florence To Face Off in Round of 16

Three-time WSL Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA) will now face two-time WSL Champion John John Florence (HAW) in the Round of 16 after both competitors won their Round of 32 heats today against Ryan Callinan (AUS) and Deivid Silva (BRA), respectively.

Callinan needed to win against Medina in order to secure himself above the Cut, but will now need to see the other scenarios play out to determine if he will advance through to the rest of the 2024 CT season. The heat saw Medina separate himself from the Australian with an 8.73 to take the win and advance to the next round when the competition resumes.

“I like the overlapping heats, but today is really slow out there,” Medina said. “I’m happy with the win for sure but I hope the next round we get some more waves coming. Over the years of coming here, I have worked out different parts of the wave and how to surf it. I think I’ve proven myself here and am enjoying my time here every year I come. It’s going to be good surfing against John, I’m looking forward to it.”

Florence had a slow start to this event so far with a trip to the Elimination Round yesterday, but he fired back today with the win over Silva. The matchup was extremely close, with Silva giving everything to the Main Break walls but falling only 0.43 of a point shy of the win to Florence’s 17.13 combined score (out of a possible 10). The loss for Silva means relegation to the Challenger Series, where he will compete against other relegated surfers and new faces, who will all be fighting for a spot on next season’s CT.

“The waves are really good when they come and I was kind of fired up,” Florence said. “I’ve had a couple of slow heats recently, so I was just excited to go surf so when I was sitting there for 30 minutes thinking, ‘This is not what I had in mind.’ It would have been nice to be a little more consistent but the waves were so clean and good when they came.”

Mid-Season Cut Relegates Eight Surfers from the 2024 CT Season

Alongside Slater, eight surfers were unable to progress through the Round of 32 and were eliminated from the competition, falling below the Mid-season Cut line: Ian Gentil (HAW), Eli Hanneman (HAW), Frederico Morais (POR), Kate Matson (USA), Callum Robson (AUS), Deivid Silva (BRA), and Jacob Willcox (AUS).

Margaret River local and 2024 CT Rookie Willcox was unable to back up his 8.50 and went down to good friend Liam O’Brien (AUS). Another CT Rookie who lost in the Round of 32 and was relegated to the Challenger Series was Hanneman, who narrowly lost his heat against Jake Marshall (USA). San Clemente’s Matson was the last rookie of the day to experience the heartbreak of missing the Cut, after his loss to Italo Ferreira (BRA). Matson, with this equal 17th-place finish, was unable to move above the Cut line and will return to the Challenger Series for the remainder of 2024.

Silva put everything he could into his matchup with Florence, posting his best heat total of the 2024 season. Unfortunately for Silva, it wasn’t enough to overcome Florence who posted the highest two-wave total of the event so far and will be sent to the Challenger Series to once again battle to regain his spot at the elite level.

Morais fell victim to the Mid-season Cut for the second consecutive season after he lost his Round of 32 matchup with Jordy Smith (RSA), while Robson suffered the same result with his loss to hometown favorite Jack Robinson (AUS) in the last heat of the day.

Nine More Surfers Confirmed To Make the Cut

Coming into the round of 32, Rio Waida (INA), Ramzi Boukhiam (MOR), Imaikalani DeVault (HAW), and Italo Ferriera (BRA) needed to progress through their heats to make the Mid-season Cut. All except for Waida were able to get the job done, progressing into the Round of 16 and securing their spots on the CT for the second half of the season. Fortunately for Waida, with other results going his way, he was able to also secure his spot beyond the Mid-season Cut.

Other surfers to clear the Cut line after further eliminations today included Gabriel Medina (BRA), Ryan Callinan (AUS), Leonardo Fioravanti (BRA), Matthew McGillivray (RSA), and Liam O’Brien (AUS).

Pupo V. Pupo Matchup to Come, Bubble Surfers Survive Another Chance to Make the Cut at Main Break

The men’s Round of 16 will be a battle of the Pupo brothers, Miguel and Samuel, as they face each other in a critical heat for both of their CT careers. The loser of that heat will be relegated to the Challenger Series, while the winner will have the opportunity to continue to fight to save their spot on the Tour for the remainder of the year and into the next season.

Also claiming critical wins to improve their qualification hopes include Seth Moniz (HAW) and Caio Ibelli (BRA). Their CT fates will depend on the results from the upcoming Round of 16 and the Final Series.

For highlights from today’s competition at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Men’s Elimination Round Results:
HEAT 1: Callum Robson (AUS) 12.84 DEF. John John Florence (HAW) 11.37, Otis North (AUS) 10.73
HEAT 2: Reef Heazlewood (AUS) 14.93 DEF. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 12.63, Barron Mamiya (HAW) 11.43
HEAT 3: Cole Houshmand (USA) 13.10 DEF. Kelly Slater (USA) 12.50, Yago Dora (BRA) 10.20
HEAT 4: Matthew McGillivray (RSA) 14.00 DEF. Deivid Silva (BRA) 12.54, Rio Waida (INA) 7.13

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Men’s Round of 32 Results:
HEAT 1: John John Florence (HAW) 17.13 DEF. Deivid Silva (BRA) 16.70
HEAT 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 14.66 DEF. Ryan Callinan (AUS) 12.40
HEAT 3: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 15.27 DEF. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 13.77
HEAT 4: Samuel Pupo (BRA) 12.77 DEF. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 11.50
HEAT 5: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 11.87 DEF. Kelly Slater (USA) 6.17
HEAT 6: Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 13.06 DEF. Matthew McGillivray (RSA) 12.43
HEAT 7: George Pittar (AUS) 13.26 DEF. Cole Houshmand (USA) 12.87
HEAT 8: Liam O’Brien (AUS) 15.00 DEF. Jacob Willcox (AUS) 14.17
HEAT 9: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 14.33 DEF. Reef Heazlewood (AUS) 11.37
HEAT 10: Seth Moniz (HAW) 10.60 DEF. Connor O’Leary (JPN) 10.10
HEAT 11: Jordy Smith (RSA) 13.77 DEF. Frederico Morais (POR) 12.83
HEAT 12: Caio Ibelli (BRA) 13.50 DEF. Crosby Colapinto (USA) 10.97
HEAT 13: Jake Marshall (USA) 11.84 DEF. Eli Hanneman (HAW) 11.33
HEAT 14: Imaikalani deVault (HAW) 13.73 DEF. Ian Gentil (HAW) 13.70
HEAT 15: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 10.93 DEF. Kade Matson (USA) 10.33
HEAT 16: Jack Robinson (AUS) 13.83 DEF. Callum Robson (AUS) 10.77

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

PRIOR UPDATES BELOW

Day 3 is ON at 7:33am Tuesday for Western Australia Margaret River Pro (1:33pm Monday HI Time)

In the afternoon Kelly Slater lost to #1 Griffin Colapinto in round 32 making this event even more iconic/historic.

From a broad/long view of the absolute Greatest (and most popular) Of All Time Kelly was carried up like he Won the event.

In a way he did… by competing here for 32 years (His 1st comp in West Oz was in ’92 his 1st World Title year).

A million Mahaloz Kelly for your dedication for so many decades which inspires Million around the world. More on the way. SNN

Men’s Elimination Round and Men’s Round of 32 Called ON

Men’s Elimination Round Starts at 7:33 AM AWST
Round of 32 Called ON with Overlapping Format
Women’s Round of 16 on Standby for Possible Start Today
Watch LIVE at WorldSurfLeague.com

Pictured: 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) will compete in Heat 3 of the Elimination Round this morning against Cole Houshmand (USA) and Yago Dora (BRA) at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro today. Credit: © WSL / Beatriz Ryder

MARGARET RIVER, Western Australia, Australia (Tuesday, April 16, 2024) – The Western Australia Margaret River Pro, Stop No. 5 on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), is ON starting at 7:33 a.m. AWST with four-to-five-foot surf at Margaret River’s Main Break. The remaining three heats of the men’s Elimination Round will start the day, followed by the men’s Round of 32, using the overlapping format. The women’s Round of 16 is on standby for a possible start later today.

The first three heats of the day have major Cut scenarios on the line this morning. Miguel Pupo (BRA) in Heat 2, Kelly Slater (USA) in Heat 3, and Deivid Silva (BRA) in Heat 4 must advance out of the Elimination Round to avoid being cut from the back half of the 2024 CT season.

11-time World Champion Slater will be against 2024 CT Rookie Cole Houshmand (USA) and Yago Dora (BRA) in his Elimination Round matchup. All eyes will be on this matchup to see if Slater will progress in the Western Australia Margaret River Pro to improve his standing on the rankings to make the Mid-season Cut.

If Rio Waida (INA) wins his next heat, he will make the Cut. But, he will be against Silva who needs the win to avoid early relegation. It will be a pressure-filled battle against World No. 15 Matthew McGillivray (RSA) in Heat 4.

Watch the Western Australia Margaret River Pro LIVE at WorldSurfLeague.com.

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Men’s Elimination Round Remaining Matchups (Heats 2 – 4):
HEAT 2: Barron Mamiya (HAW) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Reef Heazlewood (AUS)
HEAT 3: Cole Houshmand (USA) vs. Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Kelly Slater (USA)
HEAT 4: Rio Waida (INA) vs. Matthew McGillivray (RSA) vs. Deivid Silva (BRA)

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

PRIOR UPDATES BELOW

DAY 2: Opening Rounds & First Event Eliminations Establish Cut Scenarios Early
Fitzgibbons, Ewing, and Ferreira Find Excellence at Main Break
World Champions Medina and Florence Advance to Round of 32, Slater Prepares for Elimination Round
Local Heroes Robinson and Willcox Advance, Macaulay and North Lose Early
India Robinson Survives Early Relegation, Cut Scenarios Await Next Heats at Margaret River

Pictured: Ethan Ewing (AUS) drops a 9.50 (out of a possible 10) in his Opening Round heat at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro today. Credit: © WSL / Beatriz Ryder

MARGARET RIVER, Western Australia, Australia (Monday, April 15, 2024) – Stop No. 5 on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, continued with a full day of heats. Main Break provided three-to-four-foot waves for the men’s Opening Round, women’s Elimination Round, and first heat of the men’s Elimination Round before conditions deteriorated and the WSL Commissioner’s Office called the competition off for the day.

The local crowd experienced disappointment from the local event wildcards Otis North (AUS) and Bronte Macaulay (AUS) bowing out early but cheered on their CT heroes Jack Robinson (AUS) and Jacob Willcox (AUS) who will surf again in the Round of 32.

With the Mid-season Cut in full force at this event, Australians Sally Fitzgibbons and India Robinson have given themselves another opportunity to survive the qualification with their Elimination Round wins today, while the next men’s Cut scenarios will await the continuation of Elimination Round 2.

Fitzgibbons, Ewing, and Ferreira Find Excellence at Main Break

Inspired by the next generation’s progression this season, CT veteran Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) showed moves of her own with an excellent 8.17 (out of a possible 10) for a single-maneuver, lay-back snap on a big closeout section. This was a must-win heat for the beloved Australian hero, needing to progress in order to keep the hopes of making the Mid-season Cut in Margaret River. She will now move to the Round of 16, where she will work to improve her standing on the World Rankings and continue through to the back half of the 2024 CT season.

“This is so fun, that’s the stuff I dream up and what gets me out of bed,” Fitzgibbons said. “The process to get to moments and maneuvers like that has been over 20 years. I always dream of it, doing that sort of stuff in pressure moments. I felt really calm once I got past the first part because I was going so fast that I knew I had done the hard part. They’re the moments that keep me playing the game and keep me fighting for my surfing. If I can get another opportunity then hopefully I can show a little bit more. I’ve been working with my shaper Glenn Pang on boards that really suit my surfing and trying to do things like that so a big shout out to the team.”

Heat 7 of the Opening Round witnessed a super close match-up with Italo Ferreira (BRA) taking the win over Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) and Callum Robson (AUS). Robson put in his best showing since CT Stop No. 1 at Pipeline, posting an excellent 8.07 on his way to a 14.57 two-wave total but it wasn’t enough as Igarashi took the second progressing spot with a 15.07 combination. Neither surfer was able to catch Ferreira though as he wound back the clock, posting the equal highest two-wave total of the event with a 17.00. Both Ferreira’s 8.50s were awarded for two turn waves, both seeing vertical snaps in the critical section.

“That was a super fun heat,” Ferreria said. “I was watching the heat before and it was kind of slow so it was great to get plenty of waves and be able to post a couple of scores. I was feeling good out there and am really happy with my performance.”

Equalling Ferreira’s 17.00 point heat total of Aussie Ethan Ewing (AUS), who posted a 9.50 (out of a possible 10) on his way to a dominant heat win. After a wave-starved Quarterfinal saw Ewing eliminated in equal 5th place last week at Bells Beach, he was keen to get busy early, and that he did, posting the highest single wave score of the event so far for three massive frontside hacks. Ewing overcame Kade Matson (USA) who progressed in second with an impressive heat total of 15.00 and event wildcard Reef Heazlewwod (AUS).

“My last heat in Bells was so slow so I really wanted to get a quick start and try to build some kind of rhythm,” Ewing said. “There’s no rhyme or reason at this place, it can just turn on or off for no real reason but we had a really good heat which was cool. Some of the waves are really good out there, probably the best I’ve seen since I got here so it was nice to get a few of them.”

World Champions Medina and Florence Advance to Round of 32, Slater Prepares for Elimination Round

This morning Florence was taken down by Ian Gentil (HAW) and event wildcard George Pittar (AUS) in the Opening Round, Heat 4. Pittar has had an exciting month competing against the world’s best surfers after securing the wildcard at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach and again at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro. Pittar took the win over two-time World Champion Florence and CT sophomore Gentil in Heat 4 of the men’s Opening Round.

Florence was then relegated to the men’s Elimination Round but was able to bounce back alongside Australia’s Callum Robson in Heat 1. Robson continued his solid form from the Opening Round, taking a convincing heat win while Florence took the second progressing spot, narrowly over local Trial’s Winner Otis North (AUS).

Kelly Slater (USA), 11-time World Champion, was knocked to the Elimination Round after losing to Ramzi Boukhiam (MOR) and Jake Marshall (USA) in Heat 3 of the Opening Round. With the competition being called OFF after the first men’s Elimination Round due to deteriorating conditions, surfing’s GOAT will now await another day to continue competing in Margaret River. When the competition resumes, he will be against 2024 Bells winner Cole Houshmand (USA) and Yago Dora (BRA) in Heat 3 of the men’s Elimination Round.

Local Heroes Robinson and Willcox Advance, While Macaulay and North Lose Early

The second heat of the day saw the 2022 and 2023 Western Australia Margaret River Pro event winners, Jack Robinson (AUS) and Gabriel Medina (BRA), take on Deivid Silva (BRA) in a pivotal heat for all three surfers. Reigning event winner, Medina was looking to bounce back from an early exit at Bells and he came out swinging, posting an excellent 8.50 (out of a possible 10) on his first wave, then backing it up with a 6.50. Local favorite Robinson worked his way back into the heat with a two-wave total of 14.66, whilst Silva was sent to the Elimination Round with a 12.83.

“It feels good to be back in WA,” Medina said. “I really started liking this wave after last year – It’s taken a long time to work it out. There are lots of different waves out there today, and you have to read each of them differently, so I’m hoping the swell picks up a bit for the next round and we continue to get more opportunity.”

2024 CT Rookie Jacob Willcox (AUS) put on his most commanding performance of 2024, posting an excellent heat total of 16.17 (out of a possible 20) to overcome Main Break standouts Jordy Smith (RSA) and Matthew McGillivray (RSA). Willcox looked super comfortable at his home break and will look to continue the form in the Round of 32. Smith progressed in the second spot, while McGillivray was sent to the Elimination Round where he will battle Rio Waida (INA) and Deivid Silva (BRA).

Local trials’ winners Otis North (AUS) and Bronte Macaulay (AUS) were unable to find the success of their fellow West Aussies Robinson and Willcox. Macaulay will miss the Semifinals for the first time in four years after she went down to World No. 2 Johanne Defay (FRA) and Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) in Heat 1 of the Elimination Round. North lost to Robson and Florence in the first men’s Elimination Round heat.

India Robinson Survives Early Relegation, Cut Scenarios Await Next Heats at Margaret River

Following suit with Fitzgibbons, Australia’s India Robinson claimed her Elimination Round heat win to give herself another shot at making the Mid-season Cut at the Margaret River Pro. It was a pressured situation against current World No. 6 Brisa Hennessy (CRC) and No. 10 Luana Silva (BRA), but Robinson fought through with a 13.67 and the win. Robinson still has a way to go to secure herself above the Cut, but her win continues to give her to shot to advance. Hennessy secured her position after the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, but Silva is in a difficult position on the rankings as she sits just on the bubble. Movement from her competitors below the Cut, could mean relegation to the 2024 Challenger Series this season.

With three of four heats of the men’s Elimination Round still pending, major Cut scenarios are on the line when the competition resumes. Miguel Pupo (BRA), Slater, and Silva must advance out of the Elimination Round to avoid being cut from the CT.

For highlights from today’s competition at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Men’s Opening Round Results:
HEAT 1: Imaikalani deVault (HAW) 14.50 DEF. Eli Hanneman (HAW) 12.03, Barron Mamiya (HAW) 11.33
HEAT 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 15.00 DEF. Jack Robinson (AUS) 14.66, Deivid Silva (BRA) 12.83
HEAT 3: Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 13.26 DEF. Jake Marshall (USA) 11.53, Kelly Slater (USA) 9.77
HEAT 4: George Pittar (AUS) 11.57 DEF. Ian Gentil (HAW) 8.87, John John Florence (HAW) 6.83
HEAT 5: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 17.00 DEF. Kade Matson (USA) 15.00, Reef Heazlewood (AUS) 12.30
HEAT 6: Seth Moniz (HAW) 12.70 DEF. Griffin Colapinto (USA) 12.20, Otis North (AUS) 6.86
HEAT 7: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 17.00 DEF. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 15.07, Callum Robson (AUS) 14.57
HEAT 8: Caio Ibelli (BRA) 14.93 DEF. Ryan Callinan (AUS) 14.33, Cole Houshmand (USA) 12.73
HEAT 9: Frederico Morais (POR) 15.37 DEF. Crosby Colapinto (USA) 14.50, Yago Dora (BRA) 12.47
HEAT 10: Jacob Willcox (AUS) 16.17 DEF. Jordy Smith (RSA) 15.23, Matthew McGillivray (RSA) 15.10
HEAT 11: Samuel Pupo (BRA) 14.56 DEF. Connor O’Leary (JPN) 12.83, Rio Waida (INA) 12.56
HEAT 12: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 16.57 DEF. Liam O’Brien (AUS) 16.36, Miguel Pupo (BRA) 15.37

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Men’s Elimination Round Results (Heat 1):
HEAT 1: Callum Robson (AUS) 12.84 DEF. John John Florence (HAW) 11.37, Otis North (AUS) 10.73

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Women’s Elimination Round Results:
HEAT 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 16.27 DEF. Johanne Defay (FRA) 13.73, Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 6.33
HEAT 2: India Robinson (AUS) 13.67 DEF. Brisa Hennessy (CRC) 13.27, Luana Silva (BRA) 11.83

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

PRIOR UPDATES BELOW

Day 2 Western Australia Margaret River Pro Called ON
Men’s Opening Round Started Monday at 7:33 AM AWST (1:33pm Hi time Sunday)
Women’s and Men’s Elimination Rounds to Follow
Big Day of Action Could See Cut Scenarios with First Event Eliminations Today
Watch LIVE at WorldSurfLeague.com

Pictured: 11x World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) will surf against Jake Marshall (USA) and Ramzi Boukhiam (MOR) in the Opening Round, Heat 3 of the Western Australia Margaret River Pro today. Credit: © WSL / Aaron Hughes

MARGARET RIVER, Western Australia, Australia (Monday, April 15, 2024) – The Western Australia Margaret River Pro, Stop No. 5 on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), will resume with a full day of competition, starting at 7:33 a.m. AWST this morning. The men’s Opening Round will be first up, followed by the women’s and men’s Elimination Rounds (all 30-minute heats) in three-to-four-foot surf at Main Break in Margaret River, Western Australia.

As the last event before the Mid-Season Cut, the Western Australia Margaret River Pro is the only opportunity for surfers to secure their positions for the remainder of the 2024 CT season.

Up first this morning will be an all-Hawaii matchup with Barron Mamaiya against Imaikalani DeVault and Eli Hanneman. Hanneman will need a big comeback at this event to make it above the Cut in his rookie season, while DeVault will look to improve his standing to better his position on the leaderboard.

Jacob Willcox (AUS) will compete at his home break in front of his home crowd for the first time as a rookie on the CT when the competition resumes. Sitting just below the Cut, Willcox will need a strong start against South Africans Jordy Smith and Matthew McGillivray to avoid early elimination in the second round.

The Pupo brothers will need big showings at Margaret River next week if they’re to climb back up the rankings and continue their 2024 season on the CT. Samuel Pupo (BRA) is currently ranked 25th, with Miguel (BRA) just below at 26th. Sammy will face an in-form Rio Waida (IDN) and Connor O’Leary (AUS) in Heat 11. Miguel will match up with Liam O’Brien (AUS) and Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) in the following heat.

2024 CT rookie Cole Houshmand (USA) made a big statement at Bells earlier this month with his first CT win. All eyes will be on the newcomer to see if he can repeat the success he’d found in Australia. He will face Aussie favorite Ryan Callinan and Brazil’s Caio Ibelli in Heat 8 of the Opening Round.

Ethan Ewing (AUS), the current World No. 2, will meet San Clemente’s Kade Matson (USA) and event wildcard Reef Heazlewood (AUS) in Heat 5. The 25-year-old has shared his goals of a World Title and he’ll be looking to better his lowest result so far, a 9th from Sunset, as his throwaway result before the Cut.

Australian icon Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) was sent to the Elimination Round yesterday after her opening heat, and could risk another season on the Challenger Series should she be defeated in the upcoming heat against World No. 2 Johanne Defay (FRA) and hometown hero Bronte Macaulay (AUS). Macaulay’s last three CT results were all Semifinal finishes, so Fitzgibbons will need to come prepared to overtake her and her local knowledge in the next matchup.

23-year-old India Robinson (AUS) faces the same scenario as Fizgibbons, and early elimination in the next round could mean relegation to the Challenger for her second year in a row. Robinson will meet World No. 6 Brisa Hennessy (CRC) and No. 10 Luana Silva (BRA) in Heat 2 when the event resumes. Hennessy has secured her position above the Cut, but Silva is ranked right on the bubble at No. 10. Silva will also need a result here to ensure she can stay amongst the world’s best surfers.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Men’s Opening Round Matchups:
Heat 1: Barron Mamaiya (HAW), Imaikalani DeVault (HAW), Eli Hanneman (HAW)
Heat 2: Jack Robinson (AUS), Gabriel Medina (BRA), Deivid Silva (BRA)
Heat 3: Jake Marshall (USA), Ramzi Boukhiam (MOR), Kelly Slater (USA)
Heat 4: John John Florence (HAW), Ian Gentil (HAW), George Pittar (AUS)
Heat 5: Ethan Ewing (AUS), Kade Matson (USA), Reef Heazlewood (AUS)
Heat 6: Griffin Colapinto (USA), Seth Moniz (HAW), Otis North (AUS)
Heat 7: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN), Italo Ferreira (BRA), Callum Robson (AUS)
Heat 8: Cole Houshmand (USA), Ryan Callinan (AUS), Caio Ibelli (BRA)
Heat 9: Crosby Colapinto (USA), Yago Dora (BRA), Frederico Morais (POR)
Heat 10: Jordy Smith (RSA), Matthew McGillivray (RSA), Jacob Willcox (AUS)
Heat 11: Rio Waida (IDN), Connor O’Leary (JPN), Samuel Pupo (BRA)
Heat 12: Liam O’Brien (AUS), Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA), Miguel Pupo (BRA)

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Women’s Elimination Round Matchups:
HEAT 1: Johanne Defay (FRA) vs. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) vs. Bronte Macaulay (AUS)
HEAT 2: Brisa Hennessy (CRC) vs. Luana Silva (BRA) vs. India Robinson (AUS)

PRIOR UPDATES BELOW

Next Call for Hawaii viewers was 1:15pm Sunday.

No Competition this weekend at Western Australia Margaret River Pro

Small Surf Continues at Margaret River
Next Call: Monday, April 15, at 7:15 AM AWST
Margaret River Confirmed on the WSL Championship Tour for 2025

Pictured: Brazil’s Luana Silva is sitting right on the bubble of the Mid-season Cut, ranked at No. 10, and will need to advance past the Elimination Round to improve her standing on the rankings when the Western Australia Margaret River Pro continues. Credit: © WSL / Aaron Hughes

MARGARET RIVER, Western Australia, Australia (Sunday, April 14, 2024) – The Western Australia Margaret River Pro, Stop No. 5 on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), continues to wait for improved conditions with another OFF day today. With only small surf on offer over the weekend, the WSL Commissioner’s Office expects improved conditions in the coming days and will make the next call tomorrow morning, Monday, April 15, at 7:15 a.m. AWST for a possible 7:30 a.m. start.

As the last event before the Mid-Season Cut, the Western Australia Margaret River Pro is the only opportunity for surfers to secure their positions for the remainder of the 2024 CT season.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Margaret River Confirmed on the WSL Championship Tour for 2025

The WSL is excited to announce that the Western Australia Margaret River Pro has been confirmed as a Championship Tour (CT) stop on the 2025 schedule.

The event has been secured from 2025 to 2028 thanks to a new agreement between the WSL and the Western Australian Government, and guarantees Margaret River will continue to host the world’s best surfers each year into a third straight decade.

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Men’s Opening Round Matchups:
Heat 1: Barron Mamaiya (HAW), Imaikalani DeVault (HAW), Eli Haneman (HAW)
Heat 2: Jack Robinson (AUS), Gabriel Medina (BRA), Deivid Silva (BRA)
Heat 3: Jake Marshall (USA), Ramzi Boukhiam (MOR), Kelly Slater (USA)
Heat 4: John John Florence (HAW), Ian Gentil (HAW), George Pittar (AUS)
Heat 5: Ethan Ewing (AUS), Kade Matson (USA), Reef Heazlewood (AUS)
Heat 6: Griffin Colapinto (USA), Seth Moniz (HAW), Otis North (AUS)
Heat 7: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN), Italo Ferreira (BRA), Callum Robson (AUS)
Heat 8: Cole Houshmand (USA), Ryan Callinan (AUS), Caio Ibelli (BRA)
Heat 9: Crosby Colapinto (USA), Yago Dora (BRA), Frederico Morais (POR)
Heat 10: Jordy Smith (RSA), Matthew McGillivray (RSA), Jacob Willcox (AUS)
Heat 11: Rio Waida (IDN), Connor O’Leary (JPN), Samuel Pupo (BRA)
Heat 12: Liam O’Brien (AUS), Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA), Miguel Pupo (BRA)

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Competition Called OFF till Monday Due to Small Surf
Likely Restart Early Next Week with More Favorable Conditions
WSL One Ocean: CT Teams Up with Youth for Restoration in Western Australia’s Margaret River Region

Pictured: Australia’s hero Sally Fitzgibbons will need to advance in the Elimination Round to continue her campaign to avoid relegation to the Challenger Series when the Western Australia Margaret River Pro continues. Credit: © WSL / Aaron Hughes

MARGARET RIVER, Western Australia, Australia (Friday, April 12, 2024) – The Western Australia Margaret River Pro, Stop No. 5 on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), is OFF for the day due to small surf on offer in Margaret River. The WSL Commissioner’s Office has also called tomorrow off and, with swell expected to increase after the weekend, will likely call the competition back on early next week. The next call will be shared on Sunday, April 14.

The Western Australia Margaret River Pro is the last event before the Mid-Season Cut, where the field will either continue on the 2024 CT season or be relegated to the Challenger Series, which will kick off later this month.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

WSL One Ocean: Caring for the Coast in Margaret River

The WSL CT teamed up with youth in Western Australia’s Margaret River region on Wednesday, April 10 to care for the coast and protect the area’s beautiful beaches.

Ahead of the 2024 Western Australia Margaret River Pro, a group of local coastal ambassadors aged 15-18 joined surfers from the men’s and women’s CT to restore the coastal dunes as well as lay down branches and brush to close extra pathways through the vegetation – highlighting what it means to be an environmental steward. In previous years, the WSL has teamed up with not-for-profit Nature Conservation Margaret River Region and a swag of local conservation, volunteer, and board riding clubs to run the planting and brushing busy bee.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

PRIOR UPDATES BELOW

Opening Day of Western Australia Margaret River Pro Sees Mixed Results for Top Seeds and Surfers Below the Cut Line
World No. 1 Simmers and No. 3 Picklum Advance to Round of 16, No. 2 Defay Goes to Elimination Round for First Time in 2024
Bubble Surfers Sent to Battle in Elimination Round
More Available at WorldSurfLeague.com

Pictured: Teenager Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) took down Australian favorites Tyler Wright and Sally Fitzgibbons in the Opening Round, Heat 5 of the Western Australia Margaret River Pro today. Credit: © WSL / Beatriz Ryder

MARGARET RIVER, Western Australia, Australia (Thursday, April 11, 2024) – The Western Australia Margaret River Pro, Stop No. 5 on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), kicked off today and completed the women’s Opening Round. As the last event before the Mid-Season Cut, the surfers now face a pivotal time in the season that will determine who advances on the CT and who risks relegation to the Challenger Series. Opening day hosted slower conditions in the two-to-four-foot range, seeing a mix of surfers on the bubble sent to the Elimination Round and some mixed results for the top seeds.

World No. 1 Simmers and No. 3 Picklum Advance to Round of 16, No. 2 Defay Goes to Elimination Round for First Time in 2024

Molly Picklum (AUS), currently ranked World No. 3, emerged victorious over her opponents Luana Silva (BRA) and 2024 CT rookie Alyssa Spencer (USA). Despite a low-scoring affair, Picklum’s ability to stay busy and capitalize on scoring opportunities secured her the win. Silva’s defeat sends her to the elimination round, a critical juncture as she currently sits at No. 10, just above the Cut line, making an early exit potentially detrimental to her 2024 CT campaign.

“It was a little bit slow out there, but conditions are so clean, and I’m happy to have made it for sure,” Picklum said. “I had a really strong start to the year, then had to readjust my sails a bit in Portugal and then Bells was a bit of a whirlwind, so it’s good to be over here in the west, chasing different waves and re-setting just to be stoked on surfing again.”

Current World No. 8 Lakey Peterson (USA) defeated World No. 2 Johanne Defay (FRA) and Injury Replacement Sophie McCulloch (AUS) in Heat 2. Peterson noted drawing inspiration from Defay’s impressive season so far, especially as they have similar tenures on the CT. Defay’s third-place finish in the heat puts her in the Elimination Round for the first time this season.

“I got last place at Pipe, so it’s nice to keep that as my throw-away and avoid the elimination round,” Peterson said. The waves were slow out there, which made it pretty scary, so I’m really proud of myself and how I handled it. It was good to come up against Johanne; I’ve been really inspired by her this year. We’ve been on tour for a similar amount of time, so it’s cool to see her having a career-best year this year. I feel like I can be right there winning events as well. I just need to put it together and also have a few chips fall my way. With this size, there are lefts and rights on offer, and it was good to utilize both.”

Heat 3 of the women’s Opening Round witnessed a super tight matchup between current World No. 1 Caitlin Simmers (USA), 2024 CT Rookie Sawyer Lindblad (USA), and Trials Winner Bronte Macaulay (AUS). After a massive lull in conditions saw a heat restart, the heat began to build momentum, starting with Simmers posting back-to-back scores for a mid-range heat total of 11.57, leaving Lindblad and Macualy to battle it out for the second progressing spot. Both surfers had a score in the bank but needed something more to solidify their spot, and they each earned an opportunity with only seconds left, with the Rookie getting the better of the exchange, leaving Macaulay to head to the Elimination Round. Although Simmers took the win, there was just 0.61 of a point separating the three surfers at the end of the heat.

Surfers Below the Cut Eye Big Results Following Opening Heats

The last heat of the day saw two former western Australia Margaret River Pro event winners, Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) (2021) and Isabella Nichols (AUS) (2022), overcome Brisa Hennessy (CRC) in a pivotal matchup. Hennessy has officially made the Cut, but Weston-Webb and Nichols are both on the hunt for solid results here and today, they took a step in the right direction, progressing into the Round of 16 and relegating Hennessy to the Elimination Round. In 2022, Nichols claimed the crucial win in Margaret River to save herself from the Cut and will need to find similar success again in the West to continue her 2024 CT season.

“It’s nice to get a win and go home to sleep knowing you won’t be back in here into one of the first heats of the day potentially,” Nichols said. “This place is very emotionally fuelled for me. I’ve had some of the most incredible experiences here. Obviously, making the Cut with a win was the best day of my life, and last year, not making the cut was heartbreaking. I’m really trying to tap in to the feelings I felt in 2022 and using it as inspiration and hoping I can get those same feelings again. This is genuinely one of my favorite places in the world, I want to live here. The food is great, the waves are fun, and I just want to have a good time, and whatever comes with it, I’m open to it.”

Reigning World Champion Caroline Marks (USA) and Gabriela Bryan (HAW) had a close call in their Opening Round matchup with India Robinson (AUS), with all three surfers holding the lead at different times in the last four minutes with a flurry of waves being surfed as the clock wound down. Robinson left it late to get started but eventually posted the highest single-wave score of the heat but was unable to back it up and will head to the Elimination Round, where she will take on Hennessy and Luana Silva (BRA) and fight for a result here in Margaret River and their spot on the CT.

Aussie veterans Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) and Tyler Wright (AUS) are both in the hunt for a big result in Magaret River as they look to avoid the Mid-season Cut. For Fitzgibbons, it’s her second straight year sitting below the line coming into Stop No. 5. The pair came up against an in-form Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW), who looked most in rhythm with Main Break, running away with the lead and leaving the two New South Wales South Coasters to battle it out for the second progressing spot. Fitzgibbons came back strong at the end of the heat, but it wasn’t enough to get over the line, and she will now set her focus on an Elimination Round matchup with Johanne Defay (FRA) and Bronte Macaulay (AUS)

For highlights from today’s competition at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Women’s Opening Round Results:
HEAT 1: Molly Picklum (AUS) 11.33 DEF. Alyssa Spencer (USA) 10.66, Luana Silva (BRA) 8.67
HEAT 2: Lakey Peterson (USA) 10.73 DEF. Sophie McCulloch (AUS) 9.60, Johanne Defay (FRA) 9.57
HEAT 3: Caitlin Simmers (USA) 11.57 DEF. Sawyer Lindblad (USA) 11.00, Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 10.96
HEAT 4: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 10.90 DEF. Caroline Marks (USA) 10.67, India Robinson (AUS) 10.37
HEAT 5: Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) 12.33 DEF. Tyler Wright (AUS) 11.83, Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 11.57
HEAT 6: Isabella Nichols (AUS) 10.34 DEF. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 9.56, Brisa Hennessy (CRC) 8.60

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

PRIOR UPDATES BELOW

Opening Day of Western Australia Margaret River Pro Called ON 1st day of the waiting period.
Competition window of April 11 – 21, 2024.
West OZ is 18 hours ahead of Hawaii so the Call was made 7am in West Oz on Thursday…or 1pm Wednesday HI time.

Women’s Opening Round Started at 7:30 AM AWST (1:30pm Wednesday in Hawaii)
Men’s Opening Round to Follow

Pictured: Two-time WSL Champion Tyler Wright (AUS) cheers on the next generation of WA’s surfers at yesterday’s WSL Rising Tides event. Today, the Rising Tides participants will cheer on Wright in her Opening Round heat at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro. Credit: © WSL / Aaron Hughes

MARGARET RIVER, Western Australia, Australia (Thursday, April 11, 2024) – The Western Australia Margaret River Pro, Stop No. 5 on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), is ON for opening day, starting at 7:30 a.m. AWST today. The competition will be hosted in clean two-to-four-foot surf at Main Break for the women’s Opening Round up first today, followed by the men’s Opening Round, all with 35-minute heats.

Current World No. 3 Molly Picklum (AUS) will be up first this morning at Main Break against Luana Silva (BRA) and Alyssa Spencer (USA). Picklum has had solid results at Margaret River with two 5th place finishes and will look to kick off her campaign after her Round of 16 loss at Bells earlier this month.

Johanne Defay (FRA), current World No. 2, will see Lakey Peterson (USA) and Sophie McCulloch (AUS) in the following heat. Defay’s strong season start has put her in a prime position for her 2024 CT campaign. With the opportunity to drop her lowest score this season, Defay noted that she’s eager to push her progression and take more risks throughout this event.

Hometown hero Bronte Macaulay (AUS) will be one to watch this event. Macaulay’s last three CT finishes were all 3rd place results, and the West Australian is back in familiar territory at Margaret River’s Main Break today. She will face World No. 1 Caitlin Simmers (USA) and 2024 CT rookie Sawyer Lindblad (USA) in Heat 3.

Jack Robinson (AUS), the 2022 event winner, will face 2023 event winner Gabriel Medina (BRA) in Heat 2 of the men’s Opening Round. The two have yet to match up against each other in Margaret River and there’s sure to be fireworks in their preliminary heat. They will face Deivid Silva (BRA), who is currently far below the Cut and will need to make big moves to climb back into contention for the move into the second half of the season.

11-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) has given hints throughout the Australian leg that he needs to find success here in Margaret River before the Cut to continue his professional pursuits full-time. He will face Jake Marshall (USA) and Ramzi Boukhiam (MOR) in Heat 3.

Watch the competition LIVE at WorldSurfLeague.com.

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Women’s Opening Round Matchups:
Heat 1: Molly Picklum (AUS), Luana Silva (BRA), Alyssa Spencer (USA)
Heat 2: Johanne Defay (FRA), Lakey Peterson (USA), Sophie McCulloch (AUS)
Heat 3: Caitlin Simmers (USA), Sawyer Lindblad (USA), Bronte Macaulay (AUS)
Heat 4: Caroline Marks (USA), Gabriela Bryan (HAW), India Robinson (AUS)
Heat 5: Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW), Tyler Wright (AUS), Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
Heat 6: Brisa Hennessy (CRC), Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), Isabella Nichols (AUS)

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

EARLIER UPDATES BELOW

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Competition Window Opened Thursday
Competition window of April 11 – 21, 2024. West OZ is 18 hours ahead of us so the Call will be 7am in West Oz on Thursday…or 1pm Wednesday HI time. It’s looks promising.

Rankings’ Leaders Colapinto and Simmers Aim to Add Margs to Win List in 2024
Robinson, Willcox, and Macaulay Lean Into Local Support on Home Soil
World No. 2 Johanne Defay Eager to Continue Stellar Run on the 2024 CT
Last Opportunity for Surfers on the Bubble Before the Mid-Season Cut
There’s plenty swell through the holding period with swell of 6′ 14 sec Thursday (day one) and more SW a notch bigger Sunday. A large SW likely last day of holding period if model fantasy pans out.

Pictured: [From Left to Right] Jack Robinson (AUS), Jacob Willcox (AUS), Johanne Defay (FRA), Bronte Macaulay (AUS), Griffin Colapinto (USA), and Caity Simmers (USA) at the press conference for the Western Australia Margaret River Pro. Credit: © WSL / Beatriz Ryder

MARGARET RIVER, Western Australia, Australia (Wednesday, April 10, 2024) – The world’s best surfers have arrived in Margaret River ahead of World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) Stop No. 5, the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, which will open tomorrow and hold a competition window through April 21, 2024.

The powerful peak of Main Break will offer top seeds a chance to move further ahead in their quest for the WSL Final 5, whilst for those sitting low on the rankings, this event is the last chance to bank a big result to avoid the Mid-Season Cut and relegation to the Challenger Series.

Rankings’ Leaders Colapinto and Simmers Aim to Add Margs to Win List in 2024

California duo Griffin Colapinto (USA) and Caitlin Simmers (USA) have taken 2024 by storm with Simmers already earning two CT victories from four events and Colapinto a first and a second-place finish, which has given both competitors the yellow Leader jerseys leading into Margaret River. If they’re to keep the momentum going, they’ll need to break through at Main Break.

“I’m here in Western Aus with my filmer, my manager, and my brother,” said Simmers. “We don’t have wifi at our spot and my mom’s been pissed that my brother hasn’t been doing his school work. But, he loves it that he can’t do the work, so we’ve been having a great time. Bells was crazy. It was kind of a crazy way to win. It’s one of those things where you don’t really believe it happened because I would just trip on how crazy our sport is where stuff like that can happen in the last 20 minutes. You’re so dependent on something so undependable. It’s been nice getting some good waves here.”

Colapinto is proven at this location with the 25-year-old finishing runner-up here to Gabriel Medina (BRA) in 2023 as well as Equal 5th place in 2022 and 3rd in 2021. With another year of experience under his belt, Colapinto believes if he’s on the right waves, the Western Australia Margaret River Pro is an event he can win.

“The ocean is so unpredictable and you need to be able to read it right to be on the right waves,” Colapinto said. “I feel like if I’m on the right waves, my surfing is good enough to win this contest. I have a really good bond with this wave and all of the open ocean waves on Tour like Bells, Sunset, and here. This is a place where you need to feel in touch with nature and I feel like I have that connection when here. I’m feeling good on Tour this year. I feel like my surfing is evolving and getting stronger, and I’m personally growing every year, the only thing that hasn’t changed is my determination. That’s always been strong.”

World No. 2 Johanne Defay Eager to Continue Stellar Run on the 2024 CT

Johanne Defay (FRA), the 30-year-old from Reunion Island, is on a roll with her career-best start to the CT season. Defay kicked off her 2024 CT campaign with two 5th-place finishes on the Hawaii leg, followed by a win in Portugal, and a runner-up finish at Bells. Defay has been a longstanding contender amongst the world’s best surfers for the last ten years, but her momentum this season makes her one to watch for the WSL Final 5 and the World Title. Excelling in waves of consequence, Defay has taken the week to settle into Main Break on its smaller days but is ready should the conditions ramp up during the event window.

“We’ve been surfing Main Break pretty much every day and it’s not been too big, not too crazy, so it’s been nice and kind of relaxing and good weather too,” said Defay. “I don’t really have pressure just being good in the rankings but right before the Cut, we do one throw away so if I want that to count for anything I need to make at least the Semifinals. I’ll just focus on my surfing and try to push it a little bit and not play it too safe, which I feel like I’ve done in the last couple of events. Maybe with less stress on a result, it’ll give me that confidence to stay out the back and just wait for that beautiful wave. Or even perform on the medium size waves, I did that layback at Bells so maybe try to push that harder and also hold my rail longer like Molly did to get that high score on the big carve and really just focus on those big maneuvers.”

Robinson, Willcox, and Macaulay Lean Into Local Support on Home Soil

In 2022, Jack Robinson (AUS) became the first local to win the Western Australia Margaret River Pro in almost three decades, much to the delight of the hometown crowds who lined the cliffs above Main Break. This year, Robinson is joined on the CT by fellow Margaret River local Jacob Willcox (AUS), who will look to join Robinson on the winner’s list as he works to move up the rankings to avoid the Mid-season Cut in his Rookie season.

“I missed last year and there’s just nothing like it, is there?” said Robinson. “I wasn’t in the event last year, and Gabriel was in the event, but he didn’t go against the defending champion, so I still am [laughs]. It was a special moment winning this two years ago, especially with watching this event growing up. Jacob and I have been watching this event since we were into surfing, so to have that moment and to look back and see everyone supporting, it was just a real full-circle moment. I am looking forward to a great event and I am happy to be home.”

There will be two more West Aussie representatives at this year’s event with former CT competitor Bronte Macaulay (AUS) from Gracetown winning the Think Mental Health WA Trials along with Yallingup youngster Otis North (AUS). For North, it will be his first CT appearance whilst Macualy, a former Semifinalist at Main Break, this will be her seventh time competing on the CT in front of a home crowd at Margaret River.

“I know I’ve got my work cut out for me, but I’m excited to get into the event,” said Macaulay. “The last few months have been really nice to enjoy beautiful Margaret River. I’ve been doing a bit of uni online, which has been a chance, but I’ve just been trying to surf as much as I can. This event means so much. Coming here as a little kid, I’ve always been so inspired. I used to caddy for Sally Fitzgibbons back in the day, and that was a really cool experience for me. I am obviously a big fan of Jack and Jacob and have been watching all their heats. It’s great to have the Tour back here in WA.”

Pictured: Hometown hero Bronte Macaulay (AUS) is back in the draw after winning the event trials. She will compete against California’s Caitlin Simmers (USA) and Sawyer Lindblad (USA) when the Western Australia Margaret River Pro commences. Credit: © WSL / Aaron Hughes

Last Opportunity for Surfers on the Bubble Before the Mid-Season Cut

The competition in Western Australia will see a number of surfers battling for their spot on the CT with the Mid-Season Cut in play. The lowest-ranked surfers (five women and ten men) will lose their spot for the second half of the season and will need to requalify through the Challenger Series. As well as up-starts and CT Rookies, some of surfing’s biggest names are desperate for their best result of the season in Margaret River, including World Champions Gabriel Medina (BRA), Italo Ferreira (BRA), Tyler Wright (AUS) and Kelly Slater (USA), as well veterans Lakey Peterson (USA), Miguel Pupo (BRA), and Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS).

Check out the WSL CT rankings, which will be updated live through the event, to stay updated on the Mid-Season Cut qualifications and scenarios.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

EARLIER UPDATES BELOW

It’s All On The Line at The Western Australia Margaret River Pro
The Stunning Western Australia Coast Awaits World’s Best Surfers
Margaret River to Host the Final Event Before the Mid-Season Cut
Event Wildcards and Injury Replacements Announced
Competition window of April 11 – 21, 2024 (18 hours ahead of us) Call will be 7am in West Oz on Thursday… (1pm Wednesday HI time)
There’s plenty swell through the holding period with swell of 6′ 14 sec Thursday (day one) and more SW a notch bigger Sunday. A large SW likely last day of holding period if model fantasy pans out.

MARGARET RIVER, AUS – MAY 6: Griffin Colapinto of the United States surfing in Heat 2 of Round 4 of the Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro presented by Corona on May 6, 2021 in Margaret River, WA, Australia.(Photo by Matt Dunbar/World Surf League via Getty Images)

Pictured front page: The raw and powerful peak of Main Break will play host to the world’s best for stop No. 5 of the 2024 Championship Tour, The Western Australia Margaret River Pro, which holds a window from April 11 – 21, 2024. Credit: © WSL / Cestari

MARGARET RIVER, Western Australia, Australia (Monday, April 8, 2024) – The Australian leg of the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) will continue with Stop No. 5, the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, during its competition window of April 11 – 21, 2024. As the last event before the Mid-Season Cut, Margaret River will be the final decider of who continues on Tour and who will be relegated to the Challenger Series.

Already nearing the halfway mark, the 2024 CT season has delivered non-stop action. From the history-making performances in Hawaii to the incredible battles witnessed in Portugal to the 61st running of the iconic Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, 2024 is proving to be one for the books.

After four action-packed events, held in an array of conditions, Californians Caitlin Simmers (USA) and Griffin Colapinto (USA) head to Western Australia wearing the Yellow Leaders jerseys.

Next Up: The Stunning Western Coast of Australia Awaits

Long regarded as an arbiter of a surfer’s mettle when it comes to powerful, open-ocean swell, Western Australia is now also the test of an athlete’s mental fortitude as they face the chopping block of the Mid-Season Cut.

Historically competed on the left of Margaret River Main Break, recent competition has primarily shifted the action to the other side of the peak, on the shorter, steeper rights. Dialling equipment and perfecting timing are necessary elements of preparation for the world’s best surfers to take on the large southern swells that wrap into the breathtaking south-western coast of Australia. Driving, open-face carves, and dramatic end-section hits over exposed reefs tend to define excellent scores in the primary location, along with the occasional barrel. Meanwhile, the backup location of The Box is entirely centred around deep, technical barrels, the quality of which is unrivalled by many other locations on the planet.

When competition kicks off, we will discover who will rise to the occasion and who will buckle under the pressure.

One thing is guaranteed: each and every surfer present will be bringing their A-game in the challenging and dynamic canvas of Australia’s rugged western coast.

Event Wildcards and Injury Replacements Announced

On the weekend, the Think Mental Health WA Trials ran at Main Break and were taken out by former women’s CT Competitor Bronte Macaulay (AUS) and up-and-comer Otis North (AUS), who will make his maiden CT appearance.

George Pittar (AUS) will receive the WSL Wildcard as the third-highest Australian surfer on the Challenger Series rankings while Reef Heazlewood (AUS) takes the Injury Replacement spot for Joao Chianca (BRA).

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.