Defending Champion Advances as Hometown Hero Falls
Defending world champion Molly Picklum has advanced to the quarter-finals of the Margaret River Pro, while hometown hero Jack Robinson faced a disappointing exit on a day of challenging waves that were described as resembling snowboarding conditions.
On Sunday, blustery, onshore winds created bumpy waves at Main Break, which affected the performance of surfers in the round of 16. The highly anticipated match-up between Robinson and Gabriel Medina did not meet expectations due to the difficult conditions.
Medina started strong with a 6.33 ride, putting pressure on Robinson. However, with high-quality waves being scarce, both surfers struggled to display their usual skill. With just 90 seconds left in the heat, Robinson needed a 5.94 to progress. He took off on a wave and celebrated after landing a sharp final turn, but it only earned him a 5.13, eliminating the two-time Margaret River Pro champion in the third round.
This marks another tough start to the season for Robinson, who was also eliminated in the second round at Bells Beach following a controversial interference call. Medina, on the other hand, was relieved to secure a spot in the quarter-finals despite the challenging conditions.
“It was just hard to surf,” Medina said. “I felt like I was trying to survive every wave. It’s hard when it’s windy like this. It looks like we are doing snowboarding or something. I was just wobbling. Jack’s one of the best here, so it feels good to win. I’m a big fan of Jack.”
Australian and Brazilian Surfers Advance
The day saw several Australian and Brazilian surfers progress to the final eight. Ethan Ewing, Joel Vaughan, and George Pittar all secured spots, as did Brazilians Italo Ferreira, Samuel Pupo, and Yago Dora. American Crosby Colapinto had a bittersweet victory after defeating his older brother Griffin Colapinto.
On the women’s side, Molly Picklum thrived despite the poor conditions in her match-up against fellow Australian Sally Fitzgibbons. Picklum started strong with a seven-point ride and later impressed with a two-turn backhand combination, including an air-drop landing and a theatrical “claim,” earning her an 8.50 score and a decisive win over Fitzgibbons.
“I just got asked about my claim. You just kind of let it all out, because it feels the best,” Picklum said. “When you’re just smacking lips and putting everything into each section, it’s like the magical moments. A lot of things are clicking at the moment. Some of them are uncontrollable, so when those things are happening for you, you’re loving it and just taking the ride.”
Women’s Matches Highlight Struggles
The heat between Australian Isabella Nichols and five-time world champion Carissa Moore was particularly challenging, with even achieving a five-point ride proving difficult due to the conditions. Nichols, the 2022 Margaret River Pro winner, needed a 5.76 ride for victory when she took off on her final wave with just 40 seconds remaining. She managed to land the one available section, but it only earned her a 5.07 score.
American Lakey Peterson overcame illness to defeat Erin Brooks, while Gabriela Bryan, aiming for a third straight Margaret River Pro crown, edged past Yolanda Hopkins. Caroline Marks, Sawyer Lindblad, Luana Silva, and Caitlin Simmers also made it through to the final eight.
Quarter-Final Lineup Set
The quarter-finals will feature a strong lineup, with the Simmers versus Moore match-up set to be a highlight. Picklum is set to take on Brazilian Luana Silva. With a strong weather front expected to hit the South West of WA, competition will not resume until Wednesday at the earliest.
