No project challenges me more creatively and physically; making these films is the absolute honour of a lifetime.

filmed on a Red Weapon, using a Nikon 14mm F/2.8 and 35mm f/1.4 lens in a SPL water-housing

filmed in: Tahiti, Indonesia, Hawaii, Australia, Barbados, Maldives, Philippines and California

@morganmaassen

• Lau, Coffin and Fioravanti Find Form at Snapper Rocks 
• Simmers and Rapoza Lead The Charge for the Next Gen on Day 3
• Event Big Names Eye off Finals Day on Gold Coast
• More Available at WorldSurfLeague.com

The Boost Mobile Gold Coast Pro presented by Rip Curl, stop one of the 2022 World Surf League Challenger Series (CS), has seen a wet and drizzly day with more epic waves. Snapper Rocks has continued to deliver yet again with waves in the three-to-four foot range running down the point for surfers in the the Men’s Round of 48 and women’s Round of 32. 

Ezekiel Lau, Conner Coffin and Leonardo Fioravanti Find Form at Snapper Rocks
Fresh off the disappointment of falling below the Mid-season Cut line and losing their spot on the Championship Tour, Ezekiel Lau (HAW) and Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA above) have come into the first stop of the Challenger Series looking like they mean business. Today was a big day for both competitors as they each claimed impressive heat wins and progressed into the Round of 24 and closer to the business end of competition. For Fioravanti, it seemed to be a cruisy win as the lightning fast natural footer found a few long walls to dispatch of 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) in what was a bitter-sweet victory for the Italian.

“That heat really went to plan for me and I’m stoked how it played out,” said Fioravanti. “To surf against Kelly Slater is always an honor and I want to say now a big thank you to Kelly Slater – he has been my inspiration and he has done so much for the sport for a long time. I’m also very appreciative of all the support here from the Italian community who have turned up to support me – It’s fantastic.”

For Lau (above), there was a little more work needed as he came up against event standout Jorgann Couzinet (FRA) and Brazilian duo Lucas Silveira (BRA) and Matheus Navarro (BRA) in what ended up being a tight clash. With three surfers claiming excellent scores, Lau needed something big towards the end of the heat to guarantee his spot in the next round, and that is what he got, dropping into a thick tube behind the Snapper Rock and disappearing from sight before flying out and laying several of his trademark frontside gouges to post a near perfect 9.57. Lau ended up winning the heat with a two-wave total of 18.07 (out of a possible 20) which was the highest of the event so far.

“That was a crazy heat” said Lau. “I was patient early and had to wait quite a while for my first wave and my competitors were getting good scores but then I got a great score and then managed to get that late final ride and take the heat at the end but it was a stressful heat throughout.  I’ve scored well here in past years and the waves are great so I’m feeling good and confident to keep going here for sure.”

Conner Coffin (USA, above) looked in incredible step with the waves at Snapper Rocks with the Santa Barbara local taking a convincing win in his Round of 48 heat. Coffin will be hoping to build momentum through the event as he looks to build confidence ahead of the rest of the 2022 CS season.

Next Generation Step Up to the Plate
Being the battleground to qualify for the Championship Tour, the Challenger Series is the first opportunity the world gets to lay eyes on the next generation of elite level competitive surfers and today in pumping waves at Snapper Rocks a handful of the next gen put on impressive displays to move closer to Finals Day and get their Qualification Campaigns off to a great start.

Adur Amatriain (EUK), Dylan Moffat (AUS above), Timothee Bisso (FRA), Oscar Berry (AUS), Maxime Huscenot (FRA) and Nolan Rapoza (USA) were some of the main names that stood out with their scores and results on Day 3 of competition. Moffat was impressive with an excellent two-wave heat total to win his heat whereas it was the composure of Californian Rapoza to claim a heat win over an inform Julian Wilson that really impressed surf fans today.” 

“I’m so stoked to be surfing the Challenger Series and putting myself up against surfers like Julian Wilson who has been an idol of mine for many years,” said Rapoza. “I need to surf against and beat these guys to get to where I want to be, which is onto the Championship Tour and I’m definitely up for the challenge.”

Another young Californian who continues to impress is Caitlan Simmers (USA above) who progressed through her Round of 32 heat today in second place behind form surfer Malia Manuel (HAW). It was an epic matchup with Manuel taking on two prodigy’s in Simmers and Sierra Kerr (AUS) who earned her spot through winning the trials. Kerr looked in good touch but it was Simmer’s who was able to find the best waves when it mattered, claiming the second spot behind Manuel. 

“I am really enjoying competing in waves like this – these are easily the best competition waves I’ve ever surfed in,” said Simmers. “ My goals this season are about enjoying all these locations that we get to surf more than anything – qualification is a goal but enjoying the experience is the most important and I’m loving the Gold Coast.”

Big Names Come to Play at Snapper Rocks
Jadson Andre (BRA), Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS, above), Nikki Van Dijk (AUS), Isabella Nichols (AUS), Conor O’Leary (AUS), Jackson Baker (AUS) and Julian Wilson (AUS) were some of the more established names that saw success on Day 3 at Snapper all finding their way into the next Round of competition.

For some, this success is all about building confidence ahead of the rest of the CT season whilst for others, it’s a fantastic opportunity to grab an early result on the Challenger Series while they look to reinstate themselves at the elite level.

Watch LIVE
All Challenger Series events will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com, WSL’s YouTube channel, and the free WSL app. Check local listings for coverage from the WSL’s broadcast partners. For fans watching in Brazil, coverage of the competition’s Quarterfinals and beyond will continue exclusively on WorldSurfLeague.com and SporTV.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Growing up on Quobba Station, home to one of the best waves on Australia’s west coast, Imogen started surfing in her mid-teens alongside her father and three brothers. With a surfing style learned at The Bluff, a steep, fast and powerful left hander, Imogen quickly showed signs of surfing greatness. Her fearless nature and sheer determination has since led her to surf some of the heaviest barrels that Australia’s coastline has to offer.

South Swell 12 second period 6-7 feet, high-tide in the morning and almost all day North-West wind was a good call for Playgrounds Zone, specially for Rifles, aka Kandui Right!

The morning started slow, busy lineup, long waiting, but as mid to low-tide hit the clock and most boats left for a lunch break we got an epic one hour window with still some bombs and barley any people out!

Around 1 pm a storm came in and the session was over and evening time got even more busy and less good waves.

The Margaret River Pro, the fifth stop on the World Surf League (WSL) 2022 Championship Tour (CT), resumed in solid eight-to-twelve foot surf today with men’s Opening Round. The Margaret River Pro is the final event before the Mid-season Cut, and the upcoming Elimination Rounds will be critical for the competitors’ futures on the 2022 CT season. With the competitors’ careers on the line in these next elimination heats, the WSL Tours and Competition team will be eyeing more favourable winds tomorrow morning to resume the Elimination Round. The next call will be tomorrow, Saturday, April 30, at 7:15 a.m. for a possible start at 7:35 a.m. AWST. 

John John Florence Leads Standout Performers at Main Break

As expected, the standout performance of the opening day went to two-time WSL Champion John John Florence (HAW) who posted the highest two-wave combination of the Opening Round in his heat against WSL wildcard Jacob Willcox (AUS) and Lucca Mesinas (PER). The 2021 Margaret River Pro saw Florence putting down some of the most incredible performances in modern surfing memory before injuring his knee in the Quarterfinal and sitting out the rest of the season. This year, Florence is back, and let it be known with an epic heat win in challenging conditions, to progress into the Round of 32.

“It’s super challenging out there this morning as there is so much energy out in the ocean,” Florence said. “The swell is massive and there has been a lot of wind over the last few days but it’s cleaning up now and there are some great waves out there. I’m stoked that the waves are big today – it’s fun going fast. I love it here, you take off and have so much speed and just have these massive walls in front of you, it’s a lot like some waves we have in Hawaii. My injury here last year was unfortunate but that’s just what happens in sport, especially when surfing waves like this. I’m just happy to be back surfing, and surfing here in West Aus.” 

Other standouts in the Opening Round were Ezekiel Lau (HAW above), Connor O’Leary (AUS), and Jackson Baker (AUS), who all earned excellent single-wave scores in their matchups to claim heat wins and progress into the Round of 32. It was essential for both Lau and Baker to grab results as they both sit on the Cut-line here at Margaret River.

Surfers Dig Deep in Opening Round to Avoid Mid-season Cut

A number of surfers who are sitting just above or just below the Mid-season Cut were desperate to avoid the Elimination Round and were able to do so successfully with second-place finishes in their Opening Round Heats. 2022 CT rookie Lucca Mesinas (PER) along with veterans Owen Wright (AUS), Conner Coffin (USA above), and Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) all snuck through to the Round of 32 as they look to save their spots on tour, heading into the Quiksilver Pro G-Land. 

Another rookie in need of a big result at Margaret River Joao Chianca (BRA), who has been turning heads all season with some of the best performances to not win heats. Today, Chianca took a step in the right direction, claiming victory over Kolohe Andino (USA) and countryman Miguel Pupo (BRA) in Heat 10 of the Opening Round.  

“The main goal here is to go all the way to Finals Day,” Chianca said. “I’m going to need a lot to turn things around. I have been trying not to think too much about the cut line here and have just been cruising. WA is such a beautiful and special place. I have got good friends here so it’s been good to help settle my nerves. The tour is tough but I’m going to try and focus my energy on the positive things and see where that takes me.” 

WA’s Local Wildcard and Injury Replacements Face Elimination Round, Robinson Through to Round of 32

The Western Australia fans anxiously awaited Jack Robinson’s (above) debut in the 2022 Margaret River Pro as their local hero looked to back up his equal third-place finish at Bells Beach with another big result here on home soil. Robinson was able to sneak into the Round of 32 with a narrow second-place finish over Frederico Morais (PRT).

WSL Wildcard and Margaret River local Jacob Willcox (AUS) has found himself in the Elimination Round after he was unable to overcome Lucca Mesinas (PER) and John John Florence (HAW) in their Opening Round match-up. 

Local Trials winner and runner-up Ben Spence (AUS) and Jack Thomas (AUS) were dispatched to Elimination Round 2 after losing their opening round heats at Main Break. The pair will get one more chance when competition resumes as they move into the dreaded Elimination Round. 

Margaret River Pro Men’s Opening Round 1 Results:

HEAT 1: Callum Robson (AUS) 12.17 DEF. Imaikalani deVault (HAW) 10.00, Samuel Pupo (BRA) 9.83
HEAT 2: Jackson Baker (AUS) 12.03 DEF. Barron Mamiya (HAW) 10.77, Matthew McGillivray (ZAF) 10.17
HEAT 3: Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 15.00 DEF. Ryan Callinan (AUS) 13.37, Kelly Slater (USA) 9.20
HEAT 4: John John Florence (HAW) 15.60 DEF. Lucca Mesinas (PER) 8.93, Jacob Willcox (AUS) 8.44
HEAT 5: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 13.10 DEF. Conner Coffin (USA) 8.50, Ben Spence (AUS) 7.70
HEAT 6: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 13.00 DEF. Owen Wright (AUS) 9.63, Jack Thomas (AUS) 6.90
HEAT 7: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 14.17 DEF. Jake Marshall (USA) 13.26, Jadson Andre (BRA) 6.17
HEAT 8: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 13.70 DEF. Nat Young (USA) 10.90, Deivid Silva (BRA) 7.63
HEAT 9: Connor O’Leary (AUS) 13.80 DEF. Morgan Cibilic (AUS) 12.90, Caio Ibelli (BRA) 9.24
HEAT 10: Joao Chianca (BRA) 12.43 DEF. Kolohe Andino (USA) 11.87, Miguel Pupo (BRA) 6.27
HEAT 11: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 11.33 DEF. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 11.17, Seth Moniz (HAW) 6.50
HEAT 12: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 14.07 DEF. Jack Robinson (AUS) 11.47, Frederico Morais (PRT) 11.43

Margaret River Pro Men’s Elimination Round 2 Matchups:
HEAT 1: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA) vs. Jack Thomas (AUS)
HEAT 2: Caio Ibelli (BRA) vs. Deivid Silva (BRA) vs. Ben Spence (AUS)
HEAT 3: Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Frederico Morais (PRT) vs. Jacob Willcox (AUS)
HEAT 4: Seth Moniz (HAW) vs. Samuel Pupo (BRA) vs. Matthew McGillivray (ZAF)

Margaret River Pro Women’s Elimination Round 2 Matchups:
HEAT 1: Lakey Peterson (USA) vs. Luana Silva (HAW) vs. Mia McCarthy (AUS)
HEAT 2: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) vs. Gabriela Bryan (HAW) vs. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW)

The WSL Acknowledges the Wadandi people as the Traditional Owners of the Margaret River region and thank them for welcoming us to their Boodja (Country). We pay our respects to the Wadandi community and their Elders past and present. The WSL is committed to ongoing learning about local history, culture, and language of Wadandi Boodjar (Saltwater People’s Country). They have asked all of us to walk together softly on county and respect the ocean and waterways. We wish to also extend this Acknowledgement and respect to other First Nations Peoples who join us in person and online.

Watch LIVEThe event window for the Margaret River Pro is now open and holds a competition window through May 4. The event will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com, WSL’s YouTube channel, and the free WSL app. Check local listings for coverage from the WSL’s broadcast partners. For fans watching in Brazil, coverage of the competition’s Quarterfinals and beyond will continue exclusively on WorldSurfLeague.com and SporTV.