LOCAL surfers pitted themselves against each other in hope to win a spot in the Margaret River Pro through the Trials held on Tuesday.
Only two males and one female could go on to join the ASP World Top 34 and Top 17 surfers in the Pro, completing the field for the event.
The contest included Margaret River’s Josh Burke, Jacob Willcox, Jack Robinson, Dino Adrian and Jerome Forrest battling among a total of 16 in the men’s trials. Cowaramup’s Yadin Nicol, who was on the ASP World Championship Tour last year, also competed.
Other contenders included Jake Paterson of Yallingup, who won the trials and qualified last year. Mark Occhilupo, 1999 ASP World Champion, was originally scheduled to compete in trials but withdrew following a back injury.
In the women’s trials, Margaret River’s Bailee Hastie and Laura and Bronte Macaulay were set to take on five others, including Mikaela Greene of Yallingup and Perth’s Felicity Palmateer.
Margaret River Boardriders Club member Brett Hardy commented on the strength of local talent ahead of rthe event.
“Looking at the conditions, it’s going to be pretty solid,” he said.
“Jacob Willcox has got to be looking pretty good, and probably Jack Robinson.”
Hardy himself was the other successful entrant to the Pro last year, along with Jake Paterson. He said the competition was on a whole new level among ASP WCT surfers, whom he described as “hungry”.
“It was pretty radical, being out there with Joel Parkinson [2012 ASP World Champion] and the others,” he said,
“They were just throwing themselves at every wave.”
To see who qualified and for updates on this year’s Drug Aware Margaret River Pro, check margaretrivermail.com.au
The is the second stop on the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour (WCT).
