Of the four events on the reconfigured Australian CT leg, it feels that the Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro presented by Corona might be feeling just a little neglected. Surf fans have been attracted by the three box-fresh surfboards and seemed to have forgotten about the old faithful gun sitting dusty in the rack.
Torturous analogies aside, Margaret River is the only event in the leg with surf history, both ancient and modern. It's been a regular stop on the pro tour since the early 1980s, and after a brief hiatus, a fixture on the CT schedule since 2013. That means, unlike Newcastle, Narrabeen, and Rottnest, we can look at the past form as a predictor of the future. Here are six surfers who have perennially performed in Western Australia.
Looking to shake a lackluster start in New South Wales, John John will look to familiar waters to regain the form we know he's capable of. It's not only that he has won here the last two times the event was run, but the manner of his victories that makes him the unbackable favorite. In 2017, his performance at Main Break set a competitive power surfing benchmark that has yet to be bettered. In 2019, he steadily built up a head of steam at both The Box and Main Break and dropped his highest heat total of the event in the Final. Add a QS win here in 2012, a CT Final in 2014 and you can see why he's the man to beat.
In 2017 Kolohe Andino and John Florence met in the Finals at Margaret River with Florence coming out on top. Today history repeated itself.
Since Margaret River returned to the CT schedule in 2013, only John John Florence and Carissa Moore have been able to win it twice. A caveat for Moore though would be that she won her back-to-back titles back in 2013 and 2014. Her (relative) lack of results after those victories was perplexing. Moore's aggressive surfing and singular ability to hold her rail through the most powerful of waves seemed tailor-made for success at Main Break. That's why her Semifinal finish in 2019 was a regression to the mean. A win in 2021 would make her the most successful surfer at Margaret River of the modern era. You'd be brave to bet against her making history.
Carissa Moore (HAW) claimed her first ASP Women's WCT event win in over a year, showing how deadly she can be in big and powerful surf.
It's perhaps no surprise that Julian Wilson is third on the list; he shares a similar mix of style, progression, and power as Florence and Andino. It's a Formula 1 fuel ratio that has earned him a Semifinal finish in 2019 and a runner-up in 2016. His versatility means he is equally comfortable at Main Break, The Box, and North Point and, having traveled to Margaret River for the better part of 20 years, knows all the angles on this raw, multi-faceted diamond of a surf destination. 2021 might be the year he turns his previous consistency into a big win.
The Australian managed to handle an unruly wave with finesse for a 9.50 in his QF heat against wildcard Leo Fioravanti.
Tyler Wright has come a long way since she made the Final at Margaret River in 2014. Her journey, both as a competitor and a person, has been one of the most compelling narratives in surfing. Yet throughout a career threatened by injury, Margaret River has been a consistent venue for success. Her win here in 2016 was the platform from which she launched her first World Title win. The following year a runner-up finish reignited her successful defense. At a venue that rewards big turns and big commitment, Wright will always be a huge threat.
As if an 18-plus heat score weren't enough, Tyler Wright added a 9.07 to her scoreline in the final at Margaret River.
It's no surprise that the Australian veteran has been one of the most consistent performers in Western Australia over the last decade. Having grown up on the reefbreaks on the South Coast of NSW, the power of Margaret River has always been a good foil to her technique, fitness and grit. She won the event in 2017, and had Semifinal finishes in 2014 and 2015. It's a venue where experience counts and the 30-year-old will be looking to claim her 12th event win in her 12th year on the CT at one of her favorite stops on tour.
Sally Fitzgibbons got the edge over Stephanie Gilmore in their Semifinal heat, heading to the Finals with Tyler Wright.
Margaret River's Perennial Performers: Five Surfers That Will Have An Impact In West Oz
Ben Mondy
Of the four events on the reconfigured Australian CT leg, it feels that the Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro presented by Corona might be feeling just a little neglected. Surf fans have been attracted by the three box-fresh surfboards and seemed to have forgotten about the old faithful gun sitting dusty in the rack.
Torturous analogies aside, Margaret River is the only event in the leg with surf history, both ancient and modern. It's been a regular stop on the pro tour since the early 1980s, and after a brief hiatus, a fixture on the CT schedule since 2013. That means, unlike Newcastle, Narrabeen, and Rottnest, we can look at the past form as a predictor of the future. Here are six surfers who have perennially performed in Western Australia.
1. John John Florence
Looking to shake a lackluster start in New South Wales, John John will look to familiar waters to regain the form we know he's capable of. It's not only that he has won here the last two times the event was run, but the manner of his victories that makes him the unbackable favorite. In 2017, his performance at Main Break set a competitive power surfing benchmark that has yet to be bettered. In 2019, he steadily built up a head of steam at both The Box and Main Break and dropped his highest heat total of the event in the Final. Add a QS win here in 2012, a CT Final in 2014 and you can see why he's the man to beat.
2. Carissa Moore
Since Margaret River returned to the CT schedule in 2013, only John John Florence and Carissa Moore have been able to win it twice. A caveat for Moore though would be that she won her back-to-back titles back in 2013 and 2014. Her (relative) lack of results after those victories was perplexing. Moore's aggressive surfing and singular ability to hold her rail through the most powerful of waves seemed tailor-made for success at Main Break. That's why her Semifinal finish in 2019 was a regression to the mean. A win in 2021 would make her the most successful surfer at Margaret River of the modern era. You'd be brave to bet against her making history.
3. Julian Wilson
It's perhaps no surprise that Julian Wilson is third on the list; he shares a similar mix of style, progression, and power as Florence and Andino. It's a Formula 1 fuel ratio that has earned him a Semifinal finish in 2019 and a runner-up in 2016. His versatility means he is equally comfortable at Main Break, The Box, and North Point and, having traveled to Margaret River for the better part of 20 years, knows all the angles on this raw, multi-faceted diamond of a surf destination. 2021 might be the year he turns his previous consistency into a big win.
4. Tyler Wright
Tyler Wright has come a long way since she made the Final at Margaret River in 2014. Her journey, both as a competitor and a person, has been one of the most compelling narratives in surfing. Yet throughout a career threatened by injury, Margaret River has been a consistent venue for success. Her win here in 2016 was the platform from which she launched her first World Title win. The following year a runner-up finish reignited her successful defense. At a venue that rewards big turns and big commitment, Wright will always be a huge threat.
5. Sally Fitzgibbons
It's no surprise that the Australian veteran has been one of the most consistent performers in Western Australia over the last decade. Having grown up on the reefbreaks on the South Coast of NSW, the power of Margaret River has always been a good foil to her technique, fitness and grit. She won the event in 2017, and had Semifinal finishes in 2014 and 2015. It's a venue where experience counts and the 30-year-old will be looking to claim her 12th event win in her 12th year on the CT at one of her favorite stops on tour.
Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro presented by Corona
Featuring Gabriel Medina, John John Florence, Liam O'Brien, Yago Dora, Italo Ferreira, Carissa Moore, Griffin Colapinto, Tatiana
Tatiana Weston-Webb was on a roll which displayed the gritty determination which took her all the way to the Rip Curl WSL Finals.
The WSL Photo Dept. offers up some candid moments picked from their thousands of images shot during the four-stop Australian leg of the CT.
The Californian CT surfer didn't want to paddle out for her Elimination Round heat at Main Break, but she did it anyway, and won.
The Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro presented by Corona is in the books ... and here's what you didn't see on the live broadcast.
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