Rourke Walsh

2 weeks 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.

2 weeks 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.

2 weeks 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.

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

Jack Robinson’s hopes of winning a third Margaret River Pro in four years came unstuck on a day of carnage for the championship tour’s top seeds at Main Break. Robinson, the 2022 and 2024 champion at his home event, was wiped-out on Tuesday in the final heat of the day by world No.32 Imaikalani deVault of Hawaii. His early exit was one of several upsets in pumping 8-10ft conditions, as five of the top-seven were eliminated in the round-of-32.

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

Jacob Willcox returned to Margaret River with one thing in mind following the disappointment of being cut from surfing’s elite tour at his home event last year: Redemption. At Main Break on Tuesday, the local qualifier took another step towards his ultimate goal of re-qualifying for the World Surf League’s championship tour, beating current world No.1 and 2019 world champion Italo Ferreira in pumping 8-10ft conditions.