- Event Window Opens Sunday, May 2
- Select Your Margaret River Picks Now for WSL CT Fantasy
- More Available at WorldSurfLeague.com
The world’s best surfers are back in the west for the Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro pres. by Corona, the fourth stop on the 2021 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT). With promising swell on offer during this year’s holding period from May 2 to May 12, the competitors will be preparing for huge surf on the opening days of competition, making for an exciting return to one of the tour’s most iconic locations.
Two-time WSL Champion John John Florence (HAW) has not had the start to the Australian leg of the CT that would be expected of a competitor with his credentials. Fortunately for Florence, he has arrived in a part of the world where he has seen much success, winning the last two events to run in Margaret River and putting down arguably some of the best big wave performances ever in a CT jersey.
“I’m so happy to be back in West Aus,” Florence said. “I have a lot of great memories here and it’s a place that really suits my surfing. I’ve already had some fun waves and am settling in well. It looks as if the opening days of the window will have some solid surf, which is exciting. Hopefully, we get a good mix between each spot and have a great event.”
Fresh off a win at the recent Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic, Floridian Caroline Marks (USA) arrives in West Aus placed third on the WSL rankings. Having banked three CT victories all in beach break conditions, Marks looks forward to the challenge that big Main Break will bring in the opening days of competition.
“I love coming to Western Australia,” Marks said. “It always brings such a different and new challenge to all of the competitors with big surf and wild conditions, which is really cool especially after the two beach break events on the east coast. I’ve already been tested with a big wipeout, my board broke in four places, but it’s cool to get a challenge and get prepared for this next event here in the West.”
The men’s Championship Tour is on notice in 2021 with two-time WSL Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA) having his best start to a season of his career. The Brazilian superstar will be looking for a fourth final appearance in a row when he takes to the water at Main Break this week.
“I’ve never had a good result here, but I’m keen to keep my momentum going from this strong start I’ve had,” Medina said. “I’m looking forward to the solid surf that is coming for the event. I don’t like heats where there isn’t opportunity for everyone so with big surf everyone gets a chance to show what they have got. I’m ready for anything, I’m not scared of anyone, I just want to perform well. I just want to play the game, and I’m looking for a good result.”
The state of Western Australia will be cheering on five local competitors at this year’s Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro: Full-time CT competitors Bronte Macaulay and Jack Robinson, alongside event wildcards Willow Hardy, Jacob Willcox, and Cyrus Cox. This year’s CT has seen big shake-ups by wildcards and injury replacements, and Margaret River could continue that trend with names like Willcox already having a history of taking names at the top level. One thing’s for sure and that’s when the surf gets solid, Macaulay comes into her own.
“This is such an exciting year for the locals with five competitors from Margaret River competing in the event,” Macaulay said. “That’s pretty much unheard of having that many locals in a CT event, so it’s super cool to have it happen here. It feels great to be home again after the last few months. When the event is on, it’s like being anywhere else but on the lay days and in the lead up, I’m on my normal routine which is really nice. It looks like we’ll have some solid surf to start with, which is super exciting and will be a big challenge for everyone.”
Select Your Margaret River Picks Now for WSL CT Fantasy
WSL CT Fantasy is open for the Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro pres. by Corona. With this year’s new features, players still have time to not just get in the action, but to win the title. Sign up, create your team, and start playing now.
Players can register now at ctfantasy.worldsurfleague.com and on the WSL app.
Follow the Road to the Rip Curl WSL Finals
The season-ending, World Champion-crowning Rip Curl WSL Finalscontinues to build momentum as the 2021 WSL CT is halfway through the Australian leg.
The inaugural Rip Curl WSL Finals will take place in San Clemente, Calif. at Lower Trestles. At the conclusion of the regular CT season, the top five men and top five women on the CT rankings will compete in the one-day, winner-take-all World Title event.
All eyes are on the Top 5 heading into the final two events of the Australian leg. The top-ranking surfers before the Rip Curl WSL Finals will have a major advantage over the Top 5 as they will be seeded into the Final Heat of the day for a best-of-three battle.
Watch LIVE
The Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro pres. by Coron will open May 2 through May 12. The event will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app. Also, check local listings for coverage from the WSL’s broadcast partners.
For fans wishing to attend the event in person, event entry will be first-come, first-serve starting at 7:00 a.m. AWST on each ‘on’ day of competition. The venue capacity will be limited to a maximum of 2,500 people at one time, adhering closely to WA state government guidelines. There will be opportunities to enter throughout the day as spots will open when guests leave.
The Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro pres. by Corona is proudly supported by our partners Boost Mobile, Tourism Western Australia, Corona, Red Bull, Oakley, Hydro Flask, Rip Curl, Harvey Norman, Bonsoy, Dometic Outdoor, Bond University, Oakberry, Healthway and Shire of Augusta Margaret River.
Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro Women’s Seeding Round 1 Matchups:
Heat 1: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), Keely Andrew (AUS), Macy Callaghan (AUS)
Heat 2: Caroline Marks (USA), Malia Manuel (HAW), Amuro Tsuzuki (JPN)
Heat 3: Carissa Moore (HAW), Nikki Van Dijk (AUS), Willow Hardy (AUS)
Heat 4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Isabella Nichols (AUS), Brisa Hennessy (CRI)
Heat 5: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Tyler Wright (AUS), Sage Erickson (USA)
Heat 6: Courtney Conlogue (USA), Johanne Defay (FRA), Bronte Macaulay (AUS)
Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro Men’s Seeding Round 1 Matchups:
Heat 1: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN), Seth Moniz (HAW), Alex Ribeiro (BRA)
Heat 2: Filipe Toledo (BRA), Peterson Crisanto (BRA), Connor O’Leary (AUS)
Heat 3: John John Florence (HAW), Michel Bourez (FRA), Mikey Wright (AUS)
Heat 4: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Jadson Andre (BRA), Reef Heazlewood (AUS)
Heat 5: Italo Ferreira (BRA), Jack Robinson (AUS), Jacob Willcox (AUS)
Heat 6: Gabriel Medina (BRA), Adriano de Souza (BRA), Cyrus Cox (AUS)
Heat 7: Conner Coffin (USA), Wade Carmichael (AUS), Matthew McGillivray (ZAF)
Heat 8: Griffin Colapinto (USA), Jack Freestone (AUS), Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)
Heat 9: Ryan Callinan (AUS), Morgan Cibilic (AUS), Adrian Buchan (AUS)
Heat 10: Frederico Morais (PRT), Julian Wilson (AUS), Miguel Pupo (BRA)
Heat 11: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Owen Wright (AUS), Deivid Silva (BRA)
Heat 12: Yago Dora (BRA), Caio Ibelli (BRA), Ethan Ewing (AUS)
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
COVID-19 Updates
The WSL continues to work closely with the West Australian Government and WA Police Department to monitor the COVID-19 situation both in WA, where competitors and staff are currently located, and in New South Wales, where they have traveled from. The Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro is prepared to operate in a ‘bubble’ should it be required. As a result of the COVID-19 contingency plans, there is no option to run the event at a mobile location outside of the main event site of Main Break and The Box, such as North Point in Gracetown.
The WSL will implement a robust and thorough COVID-19 health and safety plan for each event during the Australian leg of the CT in accordance with federal and state guidance. The WSL’s health and safety plan includes enhanced high-touch cleaning at the event site, contact tracing procedures, sanitizer stations throughout the event site, and minimal personnel on-site. All traveling athletes and support staff completed the mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine and received medical clearance from public health officials before entering the general community.
Due to COVID-19, the Australian CT events will run based on state border closures, strictly adhering to federal and state government guidelines and restrictions. All tour stops and dates subject to change due to applicable COVID-19 related restrictions, including global travel restrictions.
About the WSL
Established in 1976, the World Surf League (WSL) is the home of the world’s best surfing.
A global sports, media and entertainment company, the WSL oversees international tours and competitions, a studios division creating over 500+ hours of live and on-demand content, and via affiliate WaveCo, the home of the world’s largest high performance, human-made wave. Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, the WSL has regional offices in North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and EMEA.
The WSL annually crowns the men’s and women’s surfing World Champions. The global Tours and Competition division oversees and operates more than 180 global contests each year across the Championship Tour, the development tiers, including the Challenger, Qualifying and Junior Series, as well as longboard and big wave properties.
Launched in 2019, WSL Studios is an independent producer of unscripted television projects, including documentaries and series, which provide unprecedented access to athletes, events, and locations around the world. WSL events and content are distributed on linear television in over 743M+ homes worldwide and across digital and social media platforms around the world, including WorldSurfLeague.com.
WaveCo includes the Surf Ranch Lemoore facility and the utilizing and licensing of the Kelly Slater Wave System.
The WSL is dedicated to changing the world through the inspirational power of surfing by creating authentic events, experiences, and storytelling to inspire a growing, global community to live with purpose, originality, and stoke.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
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