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Margaret River Pro: Mid-season cut looms at crucial WSL event

Margaret River Pro
MARGARET RIVER, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 27: Margaret River lineup prior to the Men’s Opening Round at the Margaret River Pro on April 27, 2022 at Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia. (Photo by Aaron Hughes/World Surf League)

The Margaret River Pro in Western Australia is all set to determine the fate of surfers in the 2024 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) as they gear up for the stop on the 2024 tour.

This event holds importance as it will decide who continues on the CT and who gets relegated to the Challenger Series.

The ongoing 2024 CT season has been action-packed, showcasing performances from history-making performances in Hawaii to incredible battles in Portugal to the 61st running of the iconic Bells Beach, where newcomer Cole Houshmand and WSL rank #1 Caitlin Simmers won the prestigious Bells trophy.

Leading into Margaret River, Californians Caitlin Simmers and Griffin Colapinto are currently sporting the Yellow Leaders jerseys.

Griffin Colapinto
MARGARET RIVER, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 28: Griffin Colapinto of the United States surfs in the Final at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro on April 28, 2023 at Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia. (Photo by Cait Miers/World Surf League)

Known for its open ocean swell, Western Australia offers an environment that truly tests a surfer’s skills.

The competition will mainly unfold at the Margaret River Main Break, where surfers must make equipment choices and display perfect timing.

Smooth driving manoeuvres, open-face carves, and dynamic end-section hits over the exposed reefs are essential for scoring points, with opportunities for perfect barrels also present.

In addition, The Box serves as a backup location, with technical barrels that stand out among global surfing spots.

During the competition, surfers will be under a lot of pressure to perform well and avoid being cut mid-season.

Each athlete is expected to bring their A game to tackle the challenging waves along Australia’s west coast.

Apart from the event, the Think Mental Health WA Trials took place recently, where Bronte Macaulay and Otis North emerged as winners and will receive entry in the Margaret River CT.

North will be making his debut on the Championship Tour at Margaret River.

George Pittar, ranking as the third-highest Australian surfer in the Challenger Series, will receive the WSL Wildcard.

Reef Heazlewood will step in for Joao Chianca, who is injured.

Reef Heazlewood
MARGARET RIVER, AUS – MAY 2: Reef Heazlewood of Australia surfing in Heat 4 of Round 1 of the Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro presented by Corona on May 2, 2021 in Margaret River, WA, Australia.(Photo by Matt Dunbar/World Surf League via Getty Images)

The Margaret River Pro is scheduled from April 11 to 21, where top surfers from around the world will compete for points and a shot at keeping their dreams of winning the Championship Tour alive.

The top surfing bookmakers currently have no odds for Margaret River Pro as of April 10, 2024.

WA 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)
  • WA 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)

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