Defending Margaret River champion Isabella Nichols cut from Championship Tour

After enjoying the best day of her life at Margaret River last year Isabella Nichols suffered her worst on Thursday.

MARGARET RIVER, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 20: Eight-time WSL Champion Stephanie Gilmore of Australia surfs in Heat 4 of the Opening Round at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro on April 20, 2023 at Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia. (Photo by Aaron Hughes/World Surf League)

Australian Isabella Nichols‘ title defence at the Margaret River Pro ended on the opening day as she also lost her spot on tour as a raft of her compatriots enhanced their chances of surviving the mid-season cut.

Only the top 10 women will qualify for the final five events of the WSL season after Margaret River and Nichols, hanging to the 10th spot as competition began, was eliminated after losing her opening heat and coming last again in the elimination rounds.

Nichols, 25, survived the mid-season cut last year by winning at Margaret River but was unable to repeat those heroics this time on an otherwise good morning for the Aussies, with their results sealing her fate.

“It was a terrible heat from me and the culmination of some of the emotions I have been dealing with over the last couple of weeks,” Nichols said.

“It’s pretty crazy to go from having one of the best days of my life here last year and now probably the worst day. That’s competitive sport for you.

“I have a lot to work on. All in all, it’s a surf contest, life goes on.”

Isabella Nichols at Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia. (Photo by Cait Miers/World Surf League)

Tyler Wright, Steph Gilmore, Sally Fitzgibbons, Sophie McCulloch and current rankings leader Molly Picklum all made it through to the round of 16 with only the opening two rounds of surfing completed on the opening day of competition in Western Australia.

Fitzgibbons, who didn’t make the mid-season cut last year, started the event ranked number 12 and needs to keep progressing to maintain her spot on the tour beyond Margaret River.

Molly Picklum at Margaret River (Photo by Aaron Hughes/World Surf League)

The men’s event is expected to get underway on Friday, albeit without world No.2 and local hero Jack Robinson who had to withdraw through injury.

Veteran superstar Kelly Slater faces the prospect of his career-ending at Margaret River should he miss the mid-season cut.

Slater, the 11-time world champion, sits 26th in the rankings and would need to make at least the semi-finals to avoid elimination for the first time in more than 30 years on tour.

Originally published as Defending Margaret River champion Isabella Nichols cut from Championship Tour