Stephanie Gilmore, Julian Wilson ready to make mark at Margaret River Pro
STEPHANIE Gilmore and Julian Wilson enter the Margaret River Pro as top dogs. But can they retain the position? Guide to the latest in world surfing.
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IT’S the third leg of the World Tour and the last event to be held in Australian this year.
So Australian surfers are extra keen to make their mark at the Margaret River Pro.
Today we take a look at the top seeds, the wildcards, who traditionally shines at the annual event and some of the moments that have mattered in the past.
RING-A-DING: How Mick Fanning helped Steph Gilmore win Bells
SALLY FITZGIBBONS: Over the moon at Margaret River Pro
MIKEY WRIGHT: Goes wild in the west
SWOOP GUIDE to the women’s and men’s Margaret River Pro surfing tournament..
TOP DOGS
Australian surfers will both be in yellow when the event starts.
Stephanie Gilmore snared the world No. 1 ranking with her victory at Bells Beach in round two.
Julian Wilson held onto his at Bells Beach but will share the honour with Rip Curl Po winner Italo Ferreira.
MARGARET RIVER PRO: Mikey Wright in, Kelly Slater out
INJURY REPLACEMENT: Teen Macy Callaghan gets third call-up
HOW THE AUSSIES WOMEN ARE LOOKING
For once, we are looking better in the men’s circles than the women’s heading into the third leg of the tour.
Gilmore is actually the only Australian female in the top five after disappointing starts to the season by two-time world champion Tyler Wright and multiple world tour event winner Sally Fitzgibbons.
HOW THE AUSSIE MEN ARE LOOKING
Pretty good actually. Mick Fanning might have bowed out at world No. 3 but Wilson goes in as No.1.
Owen Wright holds the No. 4 ranking and Ace Buchan is world No. 6
SALLY’S WIN: How Fitzgibbons fought her way back to the top at Margies
OLYMPIC DEBUT: Aussies heading to wave pool for Tokyo training
CAN SALLY FITZGIBBONS DEFEND
This is her big chance to put her world title campaign right back on track.
Fitzgibbons has produced some ripper heats this year and been a little unlucky in others.
But she showed a year ago she likes what is on offer at Margaret River and her arsenal has been expanded since so she should be a major player at the 2018 event.
WHY WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS WILDCARD
Because it’s Mikey Wright. And Mikey Wright took down two world champions at the Quiksilver Pro in March.
Wright has earned a guernsey as the top surfer of the WQS.
He earned a reputation as a danger man when he beat both John John Florence and Gabriel Medina at the event.
CHEERS MICK: One last act of sportsmanship
UPSET: Tyler Wright toppled
HOW ARE THE WORLD CHAMPS LOOKING
Hopefully a lot better after this event.
The Margaret River Pro should suit both Wright and Florence, who is the defending men’s champion.
Going into the event Wright is sitting in eighth place on the world rankings with a fifth and ninth place.
Florence has more work ahead of his with the world champion languishing in 26th spot after a 25th and 13th in the opening two event.
MICK FANNING TRIBUTE: From scrawny kid to sport legend. How it happened
WRIGHT ON: Mikey making his mark
WHO TO WATCH
Mikey Wright of course.
But in the women’s it’s the 16-year-old Caroline Marks making big waves.
She appears untroubled by nerves, is gritty, determined and exciting to watch.
Stay tuned.
THE VENUE
Surfers love the event because of the potential for high performance - and big - waves.
The main venue is the aptly named Main Break which is a left hand and right hand reef break.
The other location is The Box, renown for its squarish wave.
CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR HISTORY
The event has been on and off the world tour and been run in various incantations.
Right now it is the final Australian leg of the World Tour.
SURF GUIDE 2018: Women to cheer, men to follow
BELLS BEACH GUIDE: Results, news and views
PAST WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS
2017: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
2016: Tyler Wright (AUS)
2015: Courtney Conlogue (USA)
2014: Carissa Moore (HAW)
2013: Carissa Moore (HAW)
1996: Pam Burridge (AUS)
1993: Pam Burridge (AUS)
1992: Jodie Cooper (AUS)
1990: Wendy Botha (AUS)
1989: Wendy Botha (AUS)
PAST MEN’S CHAMPIONS
2017: John John Florence (HAW)
2016: Sebastian Zietz (HAW)
2015: Adriano de Souza (BRA)
2014: Michel Bourez (PYF)
1990: Barton Lynch (AUS)
1989: Dave Macaulay (AUS)
1987: Tom Carroll (AUS)
1986: Tom Carroll (AUS)
1985: Mark Occhilupo (AUS)