Following success at Bells, three Aussie surfers are in the frame for title tilts, as the tour now moves west for the Margaret River Pro.
Australian surfing is certainly no stranger to world titles. But it’s been a bit of a drought, particularly on the men’s side.
Steph Gilmore climbed to the summit for a 7th time in 2018, ending Tyler Wright’s run of two straight, but the last Aussie male to claim surfing’s crown jewel was Mick Fanning in 2013 (his third).
So let’s take stock, following another memorable Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach.
Women’s Tour
Tyler Wright’s breakthrough win at Bells Beach over Easter, a ‘dream come true’ for the 28-year-old, promoted her to second in the title race, jumping five spots.
The Margaret River Pro is up now, the fifth of 11 women’s tour events, setting Wright up for a great opportunity at her third World Championship.
After the full 10,000 ranking points in Victoria, she only trails Hawaii’s Carissa Moore by 855 points. Moore, of course, will ensure any potential challengers are made to earn it.
The five-time world champ was runner-up, as Wright claimed her maiden Bells title, in a sign this year could be yet another arm wrestle between the pair.
It was third time lucky for Wright after losing the final at Bells Beach in 2013 and 2014, with both defeats coming against Moore. And her battle with post-viral syndrome, missing half of 2018 and almost all of ‘19, made the win both extraordinary and also emotional.
“It’s taken all of me, it’s unbelievable,” she revealed after iconically ringing the bell.
“There’s been so many times I wanted to give up on getting back to this sort of form.”
The 34-year-old seven-time champ Steph Gilmore isn’t out of the hunt, either, up five spots to 9th.
And rookie India Robinson looms as a dark horse, enjoying an outstanding debut season and sitting in 8th.
Men’s Tour
As for the Men’s, three emerging Aussies made it to the final four – Ethan Ewing, Callum Robson and Jack Robinson – with Robson and Ewing heading to Margaret River inside the top 10.
Callum Robson, 20, ended up losing the final to Brazilian Filipe Toledo, but rose to 6th in the standings. He is the top-ranked Australian, rocketing up nine places, in his first season on the premier circuit.
23-year-old Ethan Ewing is another surfer on the rise, climbing six positions on the rankings ladder to sit inside the top 10.
Notably, three-time world champion Mick Fanning came out of retirement and was given a wildcard entry at Bells Beach, making it through to the round of 16 before losing to Robson.
The Margaret River Pro event window is April 24 – May 4, before the tour heads to Indonesia.
