Rourke Walsh

2 weeks ago | amrtimes.com.au | Rourke Walsh |Warren Hately

Margaret River surfing mainstay Jacob Willcox has earnt his first win on the Challenger Series to top the World Surf League rankings. Sunday’s contest at Newcastle’s Surfest followed Willcox’s impressive run as a local qualifier all the way to the quarterfinals at last month’s Margaret River Pro. Willcox and women’s competitor Francisca Veselko from Portugal overcame a massive crowd of contestants all eager to use the series as a launch pad back to the top-rated Championship Tour.

2 weeks ago | thewest.com.au | Rourke Walsh

Meet Joe Turpel, the voice behind the soundtrack to professional surfing for the past two decades

1 month ago | thewest.com.au | Rourke Walsh

Sally Fitzgibbons’ bid to automatically re-qualify for next year’s world tour is on hold until at least Friday, and likely through to next week, after conditions at the Margaret River Pro deteriorated on Wednesday. The veteran is locked in a tense battle with Lakey Peterson of the USA and Brisa Hennessy of Costa Rica to stay inside the top-14 who will get a spot on the 2026 World Surf League championship tour as part of the expanded women’s field.

1 month ago | thewest.com.au | Rourke Walsh

When Barron Mamiya wanted intel on surfing at The Box, he knew exactly where to look. With 6-8ft conditions pumping at the iconic slab wave about 700m north of Main Break, Hawaiian Mamiya paddled out before dawn on Wednesday to watch local guru Jack Robinson free surfing the break he knew so well. “I hadn’t surfed there in two or three years,” Mamiya said, adding he’s maybe only been out two or three times total.

1 month ago | thewest.com.au | Rourke Walsh

Just surfing in competition at iconic Margaret River slab wave “The Box” was a dream come true for local charger Jacob Willcox. Adding an 8.17 barrel ride en-route to another upset heat win was the bonus. Willcox, the local trials qualifier who has already taken out world No.1 Italo Ferreira, added another Brazilian to his victory list on Wednesday, beating Joao Chianca in deep 6-8ft barrel conditions.