Local surfers’ chance at the big time in Margs Pro

While Margaret River’s entries in this year’s Pro had a reality check early in this year’s contest, the locals saluted their chance at the big time. World Surf Tour competitors Jack Robinson and Bronte Macaulay were joined by wild-card entrants Willow Hardy, Jacob Willcox and Cyrus Cox. At the time of going to press, Macaulay remained the only Margaret River (Gracetown) surfer with a (goofy) foot in the comp, while armchair critics told the Times Robinson “was robbed” after a narrow pipping by French veteran Jeremy Flores. Both surfers went head-to-head in round 32 on hollow right-handed waves, and those same armchair critics said the tiny point difference was because Flores had years of surf industry support on his side. After the match-up, Flores complimented the local product. “It feels good to know I can still match it with a young beast like Jack Robinson.” While much was made of incoming swell, the sizeable waves — which petered out before the Times went to press, and were expected to return for the weekend finals — didn’t match the hype. Willow Hardy barely got the chance, crashing out in an early heat, and was perhaps unfortunate to face off against seven-time world champ Stephanie Gilmore in a seeding round. Fourteen-year-old Hardy put a positive spin on the experience, which allowed her to rub shoulders and get moral support from leading women surfers including Carissa Moore. This year’s Pro was “literally everything I’ve ever dreamt of,” the young gun told the ABC. "It's definitely a great taste of what it would be like to be a professional surfer and I'll just keep working towards that dream and maybe one day it could be a reality." Robinson was philosophical about his close exit from the Pro. He told a WSL podcast he was happy for the chance to sleep in his own bed after eight months on the road with the championship tour. He also gave a behind-the-scenes look at the tour. Despite constant labelling as the tour’s “rookie,” Robinson and the other full-time competitors took to Main Break the moment they had the chance. “We surfed all day. Everyone was out there,” he said. Wednesday’s lay day finally gave the still-competing surfers like No.1 ranked Gabriel Medina the chance to explore the region. At a surprise media appearance outside Margaret River Coles, Medina and wife Yasmin Brunet were driving a sponsored car and preparing to hit the scenic route and visit some local wineries, he said. Other Pro surfers told the Times the stunning landscape and local wineries held strong appeal. Before the competition began, Undalup Association cultural elders Wayne Webb and Yindjibarndi man Simon Zuvich made the non-Aboriginal competitors “culturally safe” in a ceremony and lecture at the The Rivermouth.