MARGARET RIVER, Western Australia, (Saturday, April 23, 2022) - The Margaret River Pro, the fifth stop on the World Surf League (WSL) 2022 Championship Tour (CT), opens tomorrow with the world's best returning to Western Australia ahead of the first-ever Mid-season Cut. Some of surfing's biggest names will be fighting for their spot on the CT as the surfing world's attention shifts to Western Australia from April 24 to May 4, 2022.
World No. 1s Moore and Toledo in The Hunt for Second Margaret River Pro Title
Two competitors who will not be too concerned about the Mid-season Cut are current rankings leaders Filipe Toledo (BRA) and Carissa Moore (HAW), who come into Margaret River off a first and second result, respectively, at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach. Five-time WSL Champion Moore will be looking for her second Margaret River title eight years, while Toledo will be looking for back-to-back wins at Main Break.
"I'm so happy to be back in Western Australia," Moore said. "It's a place that holds a special place in my heart and I think that even after my time on tour, I'll always come back. The waves are great, it's beautiful and I have great friends here. It's been an interesting year so far with the new format and some new locations so I've been navigating it in a different way but I feel really grateful to be back in the yellow jersey at mid-season." Local Favorites Bronte Macaulay and Jack Robinson Ready for Hometown Event
The state of Western Australia will be cheering on two CT local competitors at this year's Margaret River Pro, Bronte Macaulay and Jack Robinson as well as wildcards Jacob Willcox, Mia McCarthy, and Jack Thomas. Macaulay, who finished equal third at last year's event will be looking to go two spots further this year while CT sophomore Robinson will be hoping to continue his form, coming into his home event ranked 13th in the world.
"I think my favorite part of this event being here is getting to show off the beautiful place I live to the rest of the competitors on tour," Macaulay said. "It's always nice seeing how much everyone from around the world loves coming here and enjoying the region and everything it has to offer. It looks like there are some waves on the way so it should be another awesome week here in the west."
"It feels amazing to be home," Robinson said. "I haven't been here for 10 months so it's good to be back and getting into the swing of things. I feel like coming into this year's event, I am in such a different mental space than last year, I just feel a lot more relaxed and ready, like I belong here. I'm keen to keep the feeling going and enjoy my time back at home and hope the success continues.I just want to put on a show for everyone."
Competitors Brace for New Mid-season Cut
The Margaret River Pro is the last competition before the Mid-season Cut, where surfers below 20th on the men's rankings and below 10th on the women's rankings will be relegated off the CT and will need to requalify through the Challenger Series. With this being the last event before the dreaded cut, it will play a pivotal role in the future of many surfers' careers. Lucca Mesinas (PER) and Ezekiel Lau (HAW) sit just above the line with Conner Coffin (USA) and Owen Wright (AUS) sitting just below it on the men's side, while on the women's side, veterans Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Courtney Conlogue (USA), and Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) are sitting on the cusp of requalification and are in desperate need to fend off their competitors in this competition for a chance to lock themselves in for Tour following the cut.
Gabriel Medina Awarded WSL CT Season Wildcard for Events Following Mid-Season Cut
Gabriel Medina (BRA) has been awarded the men's 2022 WSL season wildcard, which gives him entry into all Championship Tour (CT) events following the Mid-season Cut. The WSL season wildcard also grants entry onto the CT for the following season, therefore Medina will receive a place at the start of the 2023 CT season. The WSL season wildcard is selected by the WSL Tours and Competition team following applications from athletes. The wildcard selection process takes into account competitive performance, such as World Titles, CT and Challenger Series rankings, and event results, as well as a medical evaluation if applicable.
"Gabriel Medina will officially be the men's WSL Season wildcard for all competitions following the Mid-season Cut, starting with the Quiksilver Pro G-Land," said Renato Hickel, WSL Director of Tours and Competition. "With this wildcard, Gabriel will be eligible to qualify for the WSL Final 5, and he will also receive a spot in the 2023 CT season. We still have more wildcards to be determined: one more men's WSL season wildcard for the 2023 season, the the women's 2022 WSL season wildcard following the Mid-season Cut, the women's 2023 season wildcard, as well as the men's and women's wilcards for each competition. We are still reviewing these applications and will have a decision on the season wildcards by May 9."
The WSL season wildcards for the women and the men's 2023 season wildcard will be determined by May 9. The WSL Tours and Competition team are still accepting and reviewing applications for this position.
World's Best Head West For Margaret River Pro
World No. 1s Moore and Toledo On Hunt for Second Margaret River Titles Competitors Brace for New Mid-season Cut Gabriel Medina Awarded WSL CT Season Wildcard for Events Following Mid-season Cut More Available at WorldSurfLeague.com
Pictured: [L-R] Bronte Macaulay (AUS), Carissa Moore (HAW), Filipe Toledo (BRA), and Jack Robinson (AUS) at today's Margaret River Pro Press Conference. Credit: © WSL / Dunbar CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES IMAGES CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD VIDEO NEWSFEEDS MARGARET RIVER, Western Australia, (Saturday, April 23, 2022) - The Margaret River Pro, the fifth stop on the World Surf League (WSL) 2022 Championship Tour (CT), opens tomorrow with the world's best returning to Western Australia ahead of the first-ever Mid-season Cut. Some of surfing's biggest names will be fighting for their spot on the CT as the surfing world's attention shifts to Western Australia from April 24 to May 4, 2022.
World No. 1s Moore and Toledo in The Hunt for Second Margaret River Pro Title
Two competitors who will not be too concerned about the Mid-season Cut are current rankings leaders Filipe Toledo (BRA) and Carissa Moore (HAW), who come into Margaret River off a first and second result, respectively, at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach. Five-time WSL Champion Moore will be looking for her second Margaret River title eight years, while Toledo will be looking for back-to-back wins at Main Break.
"I'm so happy to be back in Western Australia," Moore said. "It's a place that holds a special place in my heart and I think that even after my time on tour, I'll always come back. The waves are great, it's beautiful and I have great friends here. It's been an interesting year so far with the new format and some new locations so I've been navigating it in a different way but I feel really grateful to be back in the yellow jersey at mid-season." Local Favorites Bronte Macaulay and Jack Robinson Ready for Hometown Event
The state of Western Australia will be cheering on two CT local competitors at this year's Margaret River Pro, Bronte Macaulay and Jack Robinson as well as wildcards Jacob Willcox, Mia McCarthy, and Jack Thomas. Macaulay, who finished equal third at last year's event will be looking to go two spots further this year while CT sophomore Robinson will be hoping to continue his form, coming into his home event ranked 13th in the world.
"I think my favorite part of this event being here is getting to show off the beautiful place I live to the rest of the competitors on tour," Macaulay said. "It's always nice seeing how much everyone from around the world loves coming here and enjoying the region and everything it has to offer. It looks like there are some waves on the way so it should be another awesome week here in the west."
"It feels amazing to be home," Robinson said. "I haven't been here for 10 months so it's good to be back and getting into the swing of things. I feel like coming into this year's event, I am in such a different mental space than last year, I just feel a lot more relaxed and ready, like I belong here. I'm keen to keep the feeling going and enjoy my time back at home and hope the success continues.I just want to put on a show for everyone."
Competitors Brace for New Mid-season Cut
The Margaret River Pro is the last competition before the Mid-season Cut, where surfers below 20th on the men's rankings and below 10th on the women's rankings will be relegated off the CT and will need to requalify through the Challenger Series. With this being the last event before the dreaded cut, it will play a pivotal role in the future of many surfers' careers. Lucca Mesinas (PER) and Ezekiel Lau (HAW) sit just above the line with Conner Coffin (USA) and Owen Wright (AUS) sitting just below it on the men's side, while on the women's side, veterans Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Courtney Conlogue (USA), and Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) are sitting on the cusp of requalification and are in desperate need to fend off their competitors in this competition for a chance to lock themselves in for Tour following the cut.
Gabriel Medina Awarded WSL CT Season Wildcard for Events Following Mid-Season Cut
Gabriel Medina (BRA) has been awarded the men's 2022 WSL season wildcard, which gives him entry into all Championship Tour (CT) events following the Mid-season Cut. The WSL season wildcard also grants entry onto the CT for the following season, therefore Medina will receive a place at the start of the 2023 CT season. The WSL season wildcard is selected by the WSL Tours and Competition team following applications from athletes. The wildcard selection process takes into account competitive performance, such as World Titles, CT and Challenger Series rankings, and event results, as well as a medical evaluation if applicable.
"Gabriel Medina will officially be the men's WSL Season wildcard for all competitions following the Mid-season Cut, starting with the Quiksilver Pro G-Land," said Renato Hickel, WSL Director of Tours and Competition. "With this wildcard, Gabriel will be eligible to qualify for the WSL Final 5, and he will also receive a spot in the 2023 CT season. We still have more wildcards to be determined: one more men's WSL season wildcard for the 2023 season, the the women's 2022 WSL season wildcard following the Mid-season Cut, the women's 2023 season wildcard, as well as the men's and women's wilcards for each competition. We are still reviewing these applications and will have a decision on the season wildcards by May 9."
The WSL season wildcards for the women and the men's 2023 season wildcard will be determined by May 9. The WSL Tours and Competition team are still accepting and reviewing applications for this position.
Margaret River Pro Women's Opening Round 1 Matchups: HEAT 1: Brisa Hennessy (CRI), Courtney Conlogue (USA), Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) HEAT 2: Tyler Wright (AUS), Gabriela Bryan (HAW), Bronte Macaulay (AUS) HEAT 3: Carissa Moore (HAW), Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Mia McCarthy (AUS) HEAT 4: Lakey Peterson (USA), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Molly Picklum (AUS) HEAT 5: Johanne Defay (FRA), India Robinson (AUS), Luana Silva (HAW) HEAT 6: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), Malia Manuel (HAW), Isabella Nichols (AUS)
Margaret River Pro Men's Opening Round 1 Matchups: HEAT 1: Callum Robson (AUS), Samuel Pupo (BRA), Imaikalani deVault (HAW) HEAT 2: Barron Mamiya (HAW), Jackson Baker (AUS), Matthew McGillvray (ZAF) HEAT 3: Kelly Slater (USA), Ezekiel Lau (HAW), Ryan Callinan (AUS) HEAT 4: John John Florence (HAW), Lucca Mesinas (PER), Jacob Willcox (AUS) HEAT 5: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN), Conner Coffin (USA), Ben Spence (AUS) HEAT 6: Filipe Toledo (BRA), Owen Wright (AUS), Jack Thomas (AUS) HEAT 7: Italo Ferreira (BRA), Jake Marshall (USA), Jadson Andre (BRA) HEAT 8: Ethan Ewing (AUS), Nat Young (USA), Deivid Silva (BRA) HEAT 9: Caio Ibelli (BRA), Connor O'Leary (AUS), Morgan Cibilic (AUS) HEAT 10: Miguel Pupo (BRA), Kolohe Andino (USA), Joao Chianca (BRA) HEAT 11: Seth Moniz (HAW), Jordy Smith (ZAF), Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) HEAT 12: Griffin Colapinto (USA), Jack Robinson (AUS), Frederico Morais (PRT)