Opening Day of Western Australia Margaret River Pro

Opening Day of Western Australia Margaret River Pro

Pictured: Teenager Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) took down Australian favorites Tyler Wright and Sally Fitzgibbons in the Opening Round, Heat 5 of the Western Australia Margaret River Pro today. Credit: © WSL / Beatriz Ryder

The Western Australia Margaret River Pro, Stop No. 5 on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), kicked off today and completed the women’s Opening Round. As the last event before the Mid-Season Cut, the surfers now face a pivotal time in the season that will determine who advances on the CT and who risks relegation to the Challenger Series. Opening day hosted slower conditions in the two-to-four-foot range, seeing a mix of surfers on the bubble sent to the Elimination Round and some mixed results for the top seeds.

World No. 1 Simmers and No. 3 Picklum Advance to Round of 16, No. 2 Defay Goes to Elimination Round for First Time in 2024

Molly Picklum (AUS), currently ranked World No. 3, emerged victorious over her opponents Luana Silva (BRA) and 2024 CT rookie Alyssa Spencer (USA). Despite a low-scoring affair, Picklum's ability to stay busy and capitalize on scoring opportunities secured her the win. Silva's defeat sends her to the elimination round, a critical juncture as she currently sits at No. 10, just above the Cut line, making an early exit potentially detrimental to her 2024 CT campaign.

“It was a little bit slow out there, but conditions are so clean, and I’m happy to have made it for sure,” Picklum said. “I had a really strong start to the year, then had to readjust my sails a bit in Portugal and then Bells was a bit of a whirlwind, so it’s good to be over here in the west, chasing different waves and re-setting just to be stoked on surfing again.”

Current World No. 8 Lakey Peterson (USA) defeated World No. 2 Johanne Defay (FRA) and Injury Replacement Sophie McCulloch (AUS) in Heat 2. Peterson noted drawing inspiration from Defay's impressive season so far, especially as they have similar tenures on the CT. Defay’s third-place finish in the heat puts her in the Elimination Round for the first time this season.

“I got last place at Pipe, so it’s nice to keep that as my throw-away and avoid the elimination round,” Peterson said. The waves were slow out there, which made it pretty scary, so I’m really proud of myself and how I handled it. It was good to come up against Johanne; I’ve been really inspired by her this year. We’ve been on tour for a similar amount of time, so it’s cool to see her having a career-best year this year. I feel like I can be right there winning events as well. I just need to put it together and also have a few chips fall my way. With this size, there are lefts and rights on offer, and it was good to utilize both.”

Heat 3 of the women’s Opening Round witnessed a super tight matchup between current World No. 1 Caitlin Simmers (USA), 2024 CT Rookie Sawyer Lindblad (USA), and Trials Winner Bronte Macaulay (AUS). After a massive lull in conditions saw a heat restart, the heat began to build momentum, starting with Simmers posting back-to-back scores for a mid-range heat total of 11.57, leaving Lindblad and Macualy to battle it out for the second progressing spot. Both surfers had a score in the bank but needed something more to solidify their spot, and they each earned an opportunity with only seconds left, with the Rookie getting the better of the exchange, leaving Macaulay to head to the Elimination Round. Although Simmers took the win, there was just 0.61 of a point separating the three surfers at the end of the heat.

Surfers Below the Cut Eye Big Results Following Opening Heats

The last heat of the day saw two former western Australia Margaret River Pro event winners, Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) (2021) and Isabella Nichols(AUS) (2022), overcome Brisa Hennessy (CRC) in a pivotal matchup. Hennessy has officially made the Cut, but Weston-Webb and Nichols are both on the hunt for solid results here and today, they took a step in the right direction, progressing into the Round of 16 and relegating Hennessy to the Elimination Round. In 2022, Nichols claimed the crucial win in Margaret River to save herself from the Cut and will need to find similar success again in the West to continue her 2024 CT season.

“It’s nice to get a win and go home to sleep knowing you won’t be back in here into one of the first heats of the day potentially,” Nichols said. “This place is very emotionally fuelled for me. I’ve had some of the most incredible experiences here. Obviously, making the Cut with a win was the best day of my life, and last year, not making the cut was heartbreaking. I’m really trying to tap in to the feelings I felt in 2022 and using it as inspiration and hoping I can get those same feelings again. This is genuinely one of my favorite places in the world, I want to live here. The food is great, the waves are fun, and I just want to have a good time, and whatever comes with it, I’m open to it.”

Reigning World Champion Caroline Marks (USA) and Gabriela Bryan (HAW) had a close call in their Opening Round matchup with India Robinson (AUS), with all three surfers holding the lead at different times in the last four minutes with a flurry of waves being surfed as the clock wound down. Robinson left it late to get started but eventually posted the highest single-wave score of the heat but was unable to back it up and will head to the Elimination Round, where she will take on Hennessy and Luana Silva (BRA) and fight for a result here in Margaret River and their spot on the CT.

Aussie veterans Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) and Tyler Wright (AUS) are both in the hunt for a big result in Magaret River as they look to avoid the Mid-season Cut. For Fitzgibbons, it’s her second straight year sitting below the line coming into Stop No. 5. The pair came up against an in-form Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW), who looked most in rhythm with Main Break, running away with the lead and leaving the two New South Wales South Coasters to battle it out for the second progressing spot. Fitzgibbons came back strong at the end of the heat, but it wasn't enough to get over the line, and she will now set her focus on an Elimination Round matchup with Johanne Defay (FRA) and Bronte Macaulay (AUS)

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Women’s Opening Round Results:
HEAT 1: Molly Picklum (AUS) 11.33 DEF. Alyssa Spencer (USA) 10.66, Luana Silva (BRA) 8.67
HEAT 2: Lakey Peterson (USA) 10.73 DEF. Sophie McCulloch (AUS) 9.60, Johanne Defay (FRA) 9.57
HEAT 3: Caitlin Simmers (USA) 11.57 DEF. Sawyer Lindblad (USA) 11.00, Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 10.96
HEAT 4: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 10.90 DEF. Caroline Marks (USA) 10.67, India Robinson (AUS) 10.37
HEAT 5: Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) 12.33 DEF. Tyler Wright (AUS) 11.83, Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 11.57
HEAT 6: Isabella Nichols (AUS) 10.34 DEF. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 9.56, Brisa Hennessy (CRC) 8.60

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Women’s Elimination Round Matchups:
HEAT 1: Johanne Defay (FRA) vs. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) vs. Bronte Macaulay (AUS)
HEAT 2: Brisa Hennessy (CRC) vs. Luana Silva (BRA) vs. India Robinson (AUS)

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Men’s Opening Round Matchups:
Heat 1: Barron Mamaiya (HAW), Imaikalani DeVault (HAW), Eli Haneman (HAW)
Heat 2: Jack Robinson (AUS), Gabriel Medina (BRA), Deivid Silva (BRA)
Heat 3: Jake Marshall (USA), Ramzi Boukhiam (MOR), Kelly Slater (USA)
Heat 4: John John Florence (HAW), Ian Gentil (HAW), George Pittar (AUS)
Heat 5: Ethan Ewing (AUS), Kade Matson (USA), Reef Heazlewood (AUS)
Heat 6: Griffin Colapinto (USA), Seth Moniz (HAW), Otis North (AUS)
Heat 7: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN), Italo Ferreira (BRA), Callum Robson (AUS)
Heat 8: Cole Houshmand (USA), Ryan Callinan (AUS), Caio Ibelli (BRA)
Heat 9: Crosby Colapinto (USA), Yago Dora (BRA), Frederico Morais (POR)
Heat 10: Jordy Smith (RSA), Matthew McGillivray (RSA), Jacob Willcox (AUS)
Heat 11: Rio Waida (IDN), Connor O’Leary (JPN), Samuel Pupo (BRA)
Heat 12: Liam O’Brien (AUS), Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA), Miguel Pupo (BRA)

2024 Scottish Nationals highlights

2024 Scottish Nationals highlights

Open Mens-
1st – Craig McLachlan
2nd – Craig Sutherland
3rd – Mark Boyd
4th – Dylan Fogarty-Macdonald

Open Women’s 
1st – Phoebe Strachan 
2nd – Robyn Larg
3rd – Lola Mitchell 
4th – Callie Cruikshank 

Masters 
1st – Mark Cameron 
2nd – Mark Boyd
3rd – Chris Clarke 
4th – Craig Sutherland 

Ryan Crosby appointed as the new WSL CEO

Ryan Crosby appointed as the new WSL CEO

The World Surf League (WSL) announces the appointment of Ryan Crosby as its new Chief Executive Officer effective May 13, 2024.  A proven leader with a career spanning more than two decades in marketing and technology, Crosby brings a wealth of experience and a deep-rooted passion for fostering brand love to professional surfing.

Crosby comes to the WSL from Riot Games where he served as the President of Publishing. There, he led the global product management, marketing and community teams that engaged hundreds of millions of gamers all over the world. His tenure at Riot Games, a leading force in the gaming industry, is marked by authentic leadership and strategic focus.

Prior to his role at Riot Games, Crosby held prominent positions managing and building brands such as Call of Duty, Hulu, Xbox, and Netflix, demonstrating his ability to drive creativity and fan engagement in the digital landscape.

“I am deeply honored to join the World Surf League family,” said Ryan Crosby. “What I love about surfing is that it’s an incredible competitive sport, but it’s also much more than that. It’s a way of life, a passion, and a deeply committed global community. I am excited to leverage my experience to elevate the WSL brand, deepen our connection with fans, and continue building something that surfers can be proud of.”

Crosby’s appointment follows an extensive search process aimed at identifying a leader who shares the WSL’s dedication to the sport of surfing. His enthusiasm for the ocean and commitment to fostering a sense of community aligns with the WSL’s core values.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ryan Crosby as the new CEO of the World Surf League,” said Dirk Ziff, WSL Principal Investor and Board Member. “Ryan’s exceptional track record across some of the most important media platforms, his authentic, approachable manner, and his genuine passion for surfing make him a great fit to lead the WSL into its next chapter of growth and innovation.”

In addition to his professional endeavors, Crosby is an avid supporter of environmental conservation efforts, notably collaborating with organizations like the Surfrider Foundation to protect our oceans and coastlines. His personal connection to surfing underscores his dedication to preserving the natural environments that serve as the backdrop for the sport’s most iconic moments.

As he embarks on this new journey with the WSL, Crosby remains committed to championing the world’s best surfers, further developing the sport of competitive surfing, and elevating the elite athletes acro

Horrifying Reef Ledge Experience

Horrifying Reef Ledge Experience

This wave was said to be the biggest wave paddled into in Indonesia. After a moment of glory I was violently sent up and planted on top of the coral rock ledge that was raised out of the water in the 2004 earth quake.

I was left shaking, bloody and feeling lucky to be in one piece @mattbromleysurf

SoCal Sweep At Bells

SoCal Sweep At Bells

California’s Caitlin Simmers (USA) and Cole Houshmand (USA) have claimed victory at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy, Stop No. 4 on the World Surf League (WSL) 2024 Championship Tour (CT). The two first-time Bells winners were the ones to beat on Finals Day as the Bowl dished up semi-clean surf in the three-to-four-foot range. It was a historical day of competition, with a number of firsts taking place on the 61st Finals Day at Bells and the 50th with Rip Curl as the title partner.

California's Houshmand and Simmers Add Names to Illustrious List of Bell Ringers

San Clemente locals and childhood friends Cole Houshmand (USA) and Griffin Colapinto (USA) came into the Final of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach guaranteed to make history. With either of them winning, they’d be the first Californian male to hoist the Bell since Richie Collins (USA) in 1992, and with the form they displayed, it was either surfer that could take it. Houshmand started strong, posting a 7.00 (out of a possible 10) point ride on his opener and finally backing it up with a 6.50 for a 13.50 (out of a possible 20) two-wave total. Colapinto, who was the form surfer of the event, struggled to get going until the last few minutes of the match-up, and although he started to build, it wasn’t enough to overcome Houshmand. Houshmand got the win, becoming only the seventh goofy-footer to win the event in 61 years, joining names like Occhilupo, Carrol, Hardman, Lynch, Wilkinson and Ferreira.

“I'm speechless, and this is unreal,” said Houshmand. "I honestly don’t think it’s gonna sink in for a while. I’ve been visualizing this every day for the last two weeks, ringing that Bell, and I guess it works. I’m excited for the whole year. My biggest goal was to make it to Fiji as a Rookie, and now I have my sights set on a bigger goal. The Cut is out of my vision and there are bigger things for me to achieve now. The year really starts now. I told Griffin, 'This is what we've dreamed of since we were kids competing,' and I really wanted to enjoy it. It's not often you get a Final with your best friend and mentor, but then again, there’s no one I want to beat more and no one I’d rather lose to. This is probably the best day of my life.”

Houshmand came into the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach sitting below the Mid-season Cut Line with an equal ninth as his best result in his rookie season. His maiden CT victory has rocketed him 18 spots up to eighth on the rankings within aim of the WSL Final 5 heading into the second half of the season.

Coming into the Final sitting in first and second on the rankings, whoever claimed the win between Caitlin Simmers (USA) and Johanne Defay (FRA) would leave Bells Beach wearing the yellow Leader Jersey as World No. 1. CT veteran Dafay came into the Final with the most momentum, and it showed as she took control early. With two mid-range scores, Defay held the lead for almost the entire Final. With just three minutes remaining, Simmers took a set wave with priority, scoring a 6.10 to get herself back into contention. With less than one minute remaining, Simmers forced Defay into a closeout, leaving Simmers out the back with sets rolling in. Taking her last chance with seconds remaining, Simmers put together a range of critical maneuvers to score a 6.67, receiving the last-minute news that she had won her maiden Bell on the sand after the buzzer.

“I was just thinking on my last wave, ‘This could be it,'" said Simmers. “In this sport, you always have to believe in yourself because that stuff happens. I still don’t believe it, and it doesn't feel real. At this high of a level, you have to figure out ways to have an edge. There’s so much for me to think about, and it feels amazing to get the win. This wave is really difficult to work out, so it feels awesome. Yeah, wow, No. 1 in the world sounds great.”

Simmers made history today, becoming the youngest woman to ever win at Bells. Simmers took out her maiden Final at Bells Beach and her second Final of the year after winning stop No. 1 at Pipeline. Simmers rings the Bell as World No. 1 and wears the yellow Leader Jersey heading into the Western Australia Margaret River Pro.

Johanne Defay and Griffin Colapinto Continue Stellar Run With Runner-Up Finishes

Fresh off a win at the Meo Rip Curl Pro Portugal, Johanne Defay (FRA) came into CT Stop No. 4 full of confidence and with her sights on grabbing the Yellow Jersey for the first time in her career. Defay looked to be the woman to beat, posting some of the highest scores in each round to become the first European competitor to contest the Bells Final. With her back-to-back Finals appearances, Defay will now head to the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, sitting solidly in second place on the rankings.

“It feels amazing to make the finals, and I felt good out there. Too bad I made that mistake at the end,” said Defay. “I guess this is what surfing is, you’re out in the ocean, and there’s no certainty. It is what it is, and I have to swallow it, but I’m also happy to place second too. Knowing I’ve made history as the first French person to make the final at Bells feels special.”

Similar to Defay, Griffin Colapinto (USA) arrived at Bells fresh of a win in Portugal and carried plenty of that momentum into Stop 4, posting the highest heat total of the Semifinals, Quarterfinals and the event. Although disappointed, he wasn’t able to clinch his maiden win at Bells. Griffin was over the moon to share the Final with a good friend after seeing his Brother and CT Rookie Crosby Make the Cut and good friend Kade Matson (USA) earn the best result of his Rookie season, ending a great week of results for the San Clemente and Southern Californian contingent of CT surfers. Colapinto will hold onto the World No. 1 position and the yellow Leaders Jersey as he heads into Stop No. 5 at Margaret River.

“That was bittersweet for sure,” Colapinto said. “You always want to win it, especially when you’re in the final. I don’t want to ruin this moment, though – I’m so happy for Cole. We have surfed together since we were ten, so it’s crazy to be standing up here at Bells after going at it in the final. I feel like all of the crew from San Clemente are building momentum and finding their feet on tour, which is so good. We’re all staying together in West Aus, so it will be cool to have the two Bells there next to each other.”

Semifinalists Get Season Back on Track at Bells

Rio Waida (INA) earned his career-best CT result, finishing equal third at Bells Beach. Sitting right on the Cut-line coming into this event, a Semifinal finish at Bells jumps Waida up ten spots on the rankings to World No. 11. Matthew McGillivray (RSA) equaled his career-best CT result with a Semifinal finish at Bells. An equal third moves McGillivray up to World No. 14. Both surfers now head to Margaret River with a lot less pressure on them and their spot on tour ahead of the Mid-season Cut.

Brisa Hennessy (CRC) and Caroline Marks (USA) both earned equal third-place finishes this year at Bells. This is Hennessy’s third and Mark’s second Semifinal finish of this year.

For highlights from the 2024 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy Women’s Final Results:
1 - Caitlin Simmers (USA) 12.77
2 - Johanne Defay (FRA) 11.60

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy Men’s Final Results:
1 - Cole Houshmand (USA) 13.50
2- Griffin Colapinto (USA) 12.80

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy Women’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Johanne Defay (FRA) 13.53 DEF. Brisa Hennessy (CRC) 12.10
HEAT 2: Caitlin Simmers (USA) 13.93 DEF. Caroline Marks (USA) 9.24

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy Men’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Cole Houshmand (USA) 13.14 DEF. Matthew McGillivray (RSA) 7.77
HEAT 2: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 16.83 DEF. Rio Waida (INA) 14.53

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.