Raw Power Awaits as Western Australia Margaret R

Raw Power Awaits as Western Australia Margaret River Pro Set to Kick Off Tomorrow Past Winners Lead a Star-Studded Field in Western Australia Bells Champion Pupo Looks to Carry Fairytale Form to Margaret River Robinson Returns Home Hungry for Redemption Local Trio to Represent South West With Wildcard Spots First Call: Tomorrow, April 16 at 6:50 A.M. AWST More Available at WorldSurfLeague.com

Pictured: (L-R) Isabella Nichols (AUS), Miguel Pupo (BRA), Jack Robinson (AUS), Gabriela Bryan (HAW) and Bronte Macaulay (AUS) at the press conference of the Western Australia Margaret River Pro. Credit: WSL / Hannah Anderson

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MARGARET RIVER, Western Australia, Australia (Wednesday, April 15, 2026) - The Western Australia Margaret River Pro, Stop No. 2 of the 2026 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), is set to begin tomorrow, April 16, with a competition window through April 26. The world’s best surfers have travelled across Australia to arrive in Margaret River ready to take on the raw power of the West Coast. With a solid swell already pouring into Main Break, the second stop of the GWM Aussie Treble is looking to get off to a quick start. The first call will be tomorrow morning, Thursday, April 16 at 6:50 a.m. AWST for a potential 7:05 a.m. start with a full day of action expected to take place.

Past Winners Lead a Star-Studded Field in Western Australia For the second season in a row, Gabriela Bryan (HAW) has arrived in Western Australia wearing the Yellow Leaders Jersey. Having rung the famous Bell for the first time after a win in the opening event of the season, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, the back-to-back Western Australia Margaret River Pro winner is looking to continue her hot streak and create a large lead in the World Title race. Out of four events in which Bryan has competed in Western Australia, the 24-year-old has made the Final three times. Her next-level power surfing, honed at home in Kaua‘i, is the perfect match for the open ocean swells of the West. “It’s amazing to be back here in such a happy place for me,” Bryan said. “To win at Bells and be on such a high and then come to one of my favourite places in the world is a bit of a trip to be honest. I feel so lucky to do what I do and it be part of my work to come to a place like Margaret River. I’m happy to be back here, I have so many good memories here and want to keep making more – I’d love to know what it feels like to win an event three times in a row. The power of this wave really allows me to put my back foot into it which I love. It reminds me a lot of home. It’s been a strong start to the season for sure and I’d love to say this could be my year to go all the way but it’s a long season and I don’t want to get ahead of myself.”  The only surfer to defeat Bryan in a Final at Margaret River is Isabella Nichols (AUS), who claimed victory in 2022 to provide the exact results that both surfers needed to avoid the Mid-season Cut. The two seasons following saw Nichols fall victim to the dreaded Cut at the event, before she took out the inaugural GWM Aussie Treble in 2025 to last leave Margaret River driving away in a brand new GWM Tank 300. With the Cut now removed and the 28-year-old coming off the back of her best season yet, Nichols is off to a flying start in 2026 and looking to carry that momentum once again in Western Australia. “I’ve had so many massive emotions at this place, it’s wild,” Nichols said. “The biggest highs and lowest lows, so I have plenty of life experience here. I have family here now and just feel right at home. I could easily live here and just enjoy good food and wine and amazing waves for the rest of my life. I felt good at Bells and am keen to keep building momentum here. It’s really cool to be starting the year in Australia like this so hopefully I can get a roll on.”

In 2025, Jordy Smith (RSA) tapped into a level he hadn’t seen in some time, winning back-to-back events in El Salvador and Margaret River, his first CT victories in eight years, to claim the Yellow Leaders Jersey and take out the GWM Aussie Treble. The South African carried that form through the remainder of the season to finish the year in No. 3, his seventh Top 5 finish out of 17 seasons on Tour. The longest-standing member on the men’s side and the defending event winner, Smith harnesses the repertoire required for Margaret River with his large frame aiding his powerful approach. “It feels good to be back, I absolutely love the West,” Smith said. “It’s so similar to the Western Cape in South Africa in terms of landscape and climate. There's so much on offer here, obviously incredible waves, the people are so warm and welcoming, amazing food with lots of great wineries. The wave itself is a big heavy deep water wave that suits my style of surfing so I love it. Hopefully it’s a good week for us all over here.”

Bells Champion Pupo Looks to Carry Fairytale Form to Margaret River A fairytale run through the draw at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach saw veteran Miguel Pupo (BRA) claim the second CT victory of his career, landing him in the Yellow Leaders Jersey for the very first time. In his 14th season on Tour, the 34-year-old father of four feels like he is only just hitting his stride. Pupo has yet to make Finals Day after nine previous showings in Margaret River, but 2026 is proving to be a different year for the stylish and precise goofy-footer. “I came here for the first time in 2009 when it was a QS event and I was so scared of the big waves,” Pupo said. “I’ve had a lot of experience here now and feel a lot more comfortable but it is still such a challenging wave. It is very different to most other waves on Tour and that’s what I like about it. I went to my locker this morning and looked at the yellow jersey for the first time and it looked really amazing. I like the look of it and of my name with the number one next to it.”

Robinson Returns Home Hungry for Redemption The pride of Western Australia, Jack Robinson (AUS), returns ready to set his 2026 season on track. Robinson entered Bells Beach as the defending event winner, fully recovered from a lingering injury, but bombed out of his very first heat of the season following an interference call. The 28-year-old won his home event in 2022 and 2024 with combinations of searing rail carves and giant airs and now looks to right his World Title campaign by becoming the first man to claim three CT victories in Margaret River. “It feels good to be back at home where it all began,” Robinson said. “I feel so confident surfing this wave and know it better than anyone. Even the crew who live here would go to surf up and down the coast and I would just surf here because it was easy. I’d surf here and just paddle across to The Box. I think I’ve surfed here more than anyone. I’ve been doing this a while now and feel comfortable with all of the highs and lows so I’m keen to start my year here and now. That’s a good feeling knowing that it all starts now.”

Pictured: A four-time Semifinalist, former CT surfer Bronte Macaulay (AUS) won the Relationships Australia WA Trials to compete in her 10th Western Australia Margaret River Pro. Credit: WSL / Cait Miers

Local Trio to Represent South West With Wildcard Spots Three further West Australians will compete at Margaret River, with Relationships Australia WA Trials winners Bronte Macaulay (AUS) and Jack Thomas (AUS) joining event Wildcard Jacob Willcox (AUS) in the draw. Following seven prior appearances, Willcox, a former CT surfer, delivered his best performance in 2025 when he placed in the Quarterfinals. Thomas returns for a third time, following showings in 2022 and 2023. Over the past decade, Macaulay has proven herself to be one of the standouts in her home event, making the Semifinals four times, including in 2025. Having largely retired from competition, the 32-year-old is still willing to pull the jersey on at home. “It’s been so nice seeing everyone again and catching up with them,” Macaulay said. “I did this and travelled the world for 10 years and now I haven’t left the state for two years which I love. Life definitely looks different now but that’s how I like it. I do love to compete so getting this opportunity is amazing. I feel like I get the best of both worlds. I’m looking forward to the challenge and hope I can still mix it with the best.” Following the withdrawal of two-time World Champion Tyler Wright (AUS) due to injury, Sophie McCulloch (AUS) will replace her in the draw. With WSL Replacement Surfer Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) out with injury herself, McCulloch is both next in line on the Challenger Series rankings and the highest-ranked Australian.

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Women’s Round One Matchups HEAT 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) vs. Tya Zebrowski (FRA) HEAT 2: Brisa Hennessy (CRC) vs. Yolanda Hopkins (POR) HEAT 3: Bella Kenworthy (USA) vs. Francisca Veselko (POR) HEAT 4: Vahine Fierro (FRA) vs. Nadia Erostarbe (ESP) HEAT 5: Sawyer Lindblad (USA) vs. Anat Lelior (ISR) HEAT 6: Alyssa Spencer (USA) vs. Carissa Moore (HAW) HEAT 7: Erin Brooks (CAN) vs. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) HEAT 8: Sophie McCulloch (AUS) vs. Bronte Macaulay (AUS) Western Australia Margaret River Pro Men’s Round One Matchups HEAT 1: Oscar Berry (AUS) vs. Jacob Willcox (AUS) HEAT 2: Mateus Herdy (BRA) vs. Jack Thomas (AUS) HEAT 3: Callum Robson (AUS) vs. Liam O'Brien (AUS) HEAT 4: Luke Thompson (RSA) vs. Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR)

The Western Australia Margaret River Pro will run at Main Break Margaret River from April 16 - 26, 2026. The competition will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app. Also, check out more ways to watch from the WSL’s broadcast partners. The Western Australia Margaret River Pro is proudly supported by Tourism Western Australia, Shire of Augusta Margaret River, I-SEA, Red Bull, Surfline, True Surf, YETI, Florence Marine X, Surfboard Empire, Hydralyte, Bonsoy, Boost Mobile, Stone & Wood, Bioglan, Bond University, Fatboy Bikes, GWM, YETI, eero, Relationships Australia, Spudshed. For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.