How hot chips and a chat with the boss prepared Kelly Slater for his opening heat at WA’s Margaret River Pro

When the surf’s up in WA’s South West, there are few places better. “It’s unbelievable, look at the weather we have today, it’s just been unbelievable,” World Surf League CEO Erik Logan gushes. “You are always hearing the West is the best and you think it’s some bumper sticker but it’s just indescribable … it’s raw, it’s Jurassic and it’s lovely, the people are just great.” Logan, who lives in Manhattan Beach in southern California, is on his first visit to Western Australia. And it’s fair to say he has been blown away by Margaret River. “The food everywhere is amazing, you can even go to a pub and have this dish you have back home, and it’s some of the best chicken skewers you’ve had in your life,” he said. The meal he was referring to was on Thursday night at the local pub, Settlers Tavern. And at one point he was joined by all-time great Kelly Slater and his wife Kalani Miller, who dropped in for a look … and a couple of hot chips. “A friend was there so I went to say ‘hi’,” Slater said after his impressive opening heat win over world No.1 Joao Chiancia on Friday. “Actually it was our CEO eating there, I dropped into three different restaurants just to see friends and have some food. There’s some pretty good chips there.” Slater, who is facing an uncertain future on the world tour with the looming mid-season cut, needs to make the semifinals or better at the Margaret River Pro to guarantee he doesn’t drop off the elite circuit for the first time in more than 30 years. But he’s not letting that cloud his focus. “I love WA, Kalani and I have a good time over here,” he said. “Great food and just good memories. The air is so crisp and the water is clear and just a lot of nice people here, we are stoked to be here. “I know what I’ve got to do, I’ve got my back against the wall. I’ve got to go out and surf well. I just want to go out and have some fun and with the good conditions I get a lot more excited.” After a slow start Friday morning, the swell picked up by 10am at Main Break for the start of the men’s competition. Fans picked the iconic hill at Pevelly hoping one of the local qualifiers could follow Bronte Macaulay in the women’s draw and cause an upset. But up against stiff competition, Margaret River’s Jacob Willcox and Jerome Forrest and Yallingup’s Jack Thomas were edged out and will now face the elimination round on Saturday. “I think the waves will be a bit bigger and a bit better tomorrow, so I look forward to that,” an upbeat Willcox said. A change in the weather could see the competition put on hold early next week, with organisers having the option to run the event through until April 30.