The Margaret River Pro has been extended again until at least 2021 with Tourism WA announcing the coup for Western Australia’s prized surf event.
The World Surf League is backing the state sponsored event after some criticism of the water safety from Brazilian surfers.
Last year two non-fatal shark attacks in one day threw the future of the event into doubt. WA surfers Alejandro Travaglini and Jason Longrass were attacked on the same day during the competition's waiting period.
Gabriel Medina and Italo Ferreira both publicly voiced their concerns.
"Safety is the main thing…there is risk," Medina said, "but I don't want to wait for something to happen to us. I don't think it's safe to surf."
Only last year there was talk that the Margaret River Pro was once again on the WCT calendar but at a later date.
The normal time frame of March/early April slot was shifted back to late May due to the shark threat.
The WSL and WA Government were also in discussions to move the event up north to either Kalbarri or Gnarloo which resulted in much disapproval from local NW surfers and the Kalbarri Boardriders Association.
The extension announcement will keep the world tour event in the South West for another three years and is welcomed by most of the top surfers who thrive in the powerful surf such as John John Florence.
With the option to run the contest at Main Break, The Box and North Point – why wouldn’t they be stoked?
Meanwhile in Yallingup, WA’s best longboarders were greeted with an awesome three-metre swell at Mainbreak last Sunday for the finals of the first round of the state titles.
Local riders used their intimate knowledge of the reef to carve into the best waves and had some great results.
Open Men's Longboard
1st Jarrad Davies (Cowaramup) – 14.17
2nd Jack Medland (Marmion) – 13.170
3rd Ryan Clark (Dunsborough) – 13.44
4th Daniel Holding (Dunsborough) – 9.63
Open Women's Longboard
1st Georgia Young (Perth) – 11.30
2nd Lauren Williams (Yallingup) – 8.64
3rd Gidget Neunuebel (Denmark) – 8.13
4th Zali Corry (Mandurah) – 1.00
Over 40 Women's Longboard
1st Amanda Curley (North Beach) – 17.13
2nd Claire Edward's (Dunsborough) – 17.08
3rd Belinda Le Grice (East Fremantle) – 14.13
4th Jane Frigeri (Heathridge) – 3.80
* results based off 2x finals
Over 45 Men's Longboard
1st Kevin Anderson (North Fremantle) – 12.30
2nd Alfonso Puzzarini (Yallingup) – 11.00
3rd Brendan Collins (Mandurah) – 7.97
4th Neil Thompson (Scarborough) – 3.50
Over 55 Men's Longboard
1st Mike Neunuebel (Denmark) – 11.27
2nd Barrie McKinnon (Dunsborough) – 10.76
3rd Brett Merifield (Dunsborough) – 9.24
4th Neil Anthony Heyward (Heathridge) – 8.80
Over 60 Men's Longboard
1st Richard Wain (Dunsborough) – 10.54
2nd Barrie McKinnon (Dunsborough) – 9.93
3rd Bill Gibson (Margaret River) – 9.53
4th Mike Neunuebel (Denmark) – 9.17
Over 70 Men's Longboard
1st Tony Harrison (Albany) – 23.50
2nd Mick Marlin (Dunsborough) – 7.60
* results based off 2x finals
Forecast:
There’s a new three-metre swell arriving on Friday with some SSW winds.
Saturday looks cleaner with SSE winds and a solid 2.5m swell, while Sunday looks great with offshore ESE winds and a two-metre swell.
