Two Up in Margaret River

CUTTING IT FINE: Jordy Smith held out against Julian Wilson to go through. Photo WSL / Dunbar

The 4th stop on the 2021 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) saw World #1 Gabriel Medina (BRA), World #4 Kanoa Igarashi (JPN), and Olympic qualifier Julian Wilson (AUS) eliminated from the draw in the Round of 16. The women completed the Quarterfinals to narrow the field down to the last four competitors: Bronte Macaulay (AUS), Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), Carissa Moore (HAW), and Stephanie Gilmore (AUS).

Saffa rookie Matthew McGillivray guaranteed the best result of his career with a close victory over Kanoa Igarashi (JPN). On the first wave of the heat, Igarashi made a priority interference against McGillivray and lost half of his second score, leaving McGillivray a seemingly easy path to the Quarterfinals. Although Igarashi looked out of contention, he kept battling back and even briefly took the lead until the rookie eventually slammed the door shut and progressed into his first final at the elite level.

“I was a bit confused to see him on that wave,” said McGillivray. “It was an unfortunate way to start the heat and I feel bad for Kanoa. He was surfing better and had better scores, but that’s just the way the heat went, everyone makes mistakes. I don’t feel like I surfed well in that heat and I could have put on a better performance. I feel like I have been surfing well in my free surfs but free surfs don’t win you heats, so I’m hoping to lift my game ahead of the next heat. I’m stoked to be in the Quarterfinals.”

FAST LEARNER: Matt McGillivray has a unique Saffa combo of skill and humilty. Photo WSL / Dunbar

Igarashi and Conner Coffin (USA) were tied for World #4 on the rankings so their eliminations gives opportunities for surfers like Jordy Smith (ZAF), Filipe Toledo (BRA), and Griffin Colapinto (USA) to jump into the Final 5 on the road to the Rip Curl WSL Finals.

Smith advanced to the quarters after an extremely narrow win over Australian Olympic team member Julian Wilson. It was a nail-biting finish, with Smith needing a small score with time running out. He found a wave with about 5 seconds to spare and got the score needed to advance. Smith will face He found a wave with about 5 seconds to spare and got the score needed to advance.Ryan Callinan (AUS) in Quarterfinal 2. Griffin Colapinto (USA) took down CT veteran Jeremy Flores (FRA) in Heat 2 of the R/16, and will face Florence in the opening Quarterfinal. Toledo defeated Jadson Andre (BRA) in the final heat of the R/16 and will face Ferreira in Quarterfinal 4.

CT sophomore Seth Moniz (HAW) upset the competition by taking down current World #1 Gabriel Medina (BRA) in Heat 5 of the Round of 16. The heat was bound to be a close matchup with Medina’s solid performances so far at Main Break and with Moniz’s affinity for the powerful open ocean waves of WA after growing up on the North Shore of Hawaii. The matchup became a scrappy battle with Moniz narrowly winning with a modest two-wave combination of 9.84 (out of a possible 20). Medina’s 9th place finish is his worst result of the season, as he’s made the Finals at every event leading up to Margaret River. The win marks Moniz’s best result of his season and he will now face rookie Matthew McGillivray (ZAF) in the Quarterfinals.

BRONTE SISTER: Local girl Bronte Macaulay took down Johanne Defay. Photo WSL / Dunbar

Gracetown local Bronte Macaulay’s dream run at her home event continued today with the stylish goofy-footer booking herself a spot into the Semifinals. Macaulay won her heat over form-surfer Johanne Defay (FRA) with both surfers finishing on the same heat total of 11.83 and Macaulay winning on a count back with the highest single wave of 6.83. Macaulay has now guaranteed her best finish in Margaret River and has already equalled her career best result with a spot in the Semifinals, where she will take on Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA). In the following heat, Weston-Webb eliminated two-time WSL Champion Tyler Wright (AUS) in their Quarterfinal matchup.

There will be no competition tomorrow, Friday, May 7, due to poor wind conditions. Event organisers will reassess the conditions and make the next call on Saturday, May 8, at 7:15 am AWST (11.15pm Friday, May 7, SA time). The event will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app. For more info, please visit www.WorldSurfLeague.com

Men’s Round of 16
HEAT 1: John John Florence (HAW) 13.50 DEF. Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 8.97
HEAT 2: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 14.66 DEF. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 8.33
HEAT 3: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 10.10 DEF. Julian Wilson (AUS) 9.23
HEAT 4: Ryan Callinan (AUS) 14.86 DEF. Frederico Morais (PRT) 10.36
HEAT 5: Seth Moniz (HAW) 9.84 DEF. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 9.53
HEAT 6: Matthew McGillivray (ZAF) vs. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN)
HEAT 7: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 16.57 DEF. Caio Ibelli (BRA) 10.83
HEAT 8: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 11.83 DEF. Jadson Andre (BRA) 9.47

Men’s Quarterfinal
HEAT 1: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Griffin Colapinto (USA)
HEAT 2: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Ryan Callinan (AUS)
HEAT 3: Seth Moniz (HAW) vs. Matthew McGillivray (ZAF)
HEAT 4: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Filipe Toledo (BRA)

Women’s Quarterfinal
HEAT 1: Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 11.83 DEF. Johanne Defay (FRA) 11.83
HEAT 2: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 16.23 DEF. Tyler Wright (AUS) 14.17
HEAT 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) 14.57 DEF. Isabella Nichols (AUS) 10.33
HEAT 4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.73 DEF. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 14.17

Women’s Semifinal
HEAT 1: Bronte Macaulay (AUS) vs. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA)
HEAT 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)

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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.