A record six WA surfers are preparing to line up against the world’s tops surfers at the 2016 Drug Aware Margaret River Pro. Yesterday saw Margaret River surfers Jacob Willcox and Felicity Palmateer nab the final wildcard spots in the competition, joining Jack Robinson who was named as a wildcard earlier in the week.
The roster of West Aussie surfers is sure to catch the interest of spectators with record crowds expected as the action heats up over the weekend. Gracetown’s Bronte Macaulay and Jay Davies of Yallingup were called up to the event as injury replacements. Both will look to make the most of their familiarity with the break alongside home town favourite Taj Burrow.
Round 1 heats began on Friday morning with Palmateer only managing a 9.43 against the might of the USA’s Courtney Conlogue and Hawaiian Alessa Quizon. Bronte Macaulay will line up against six time world champ, Australian Stephanie Gilmour and France’s Johanne Defray later in the day.
The WA group will compete alongside the top 34 ranked male and top 16 ranked female surfers to take out the coveted title.