WA surfer Willow Hardy has no regrets despite Margaret River Pro elimination
After the event was placed on hold for two days due to a lack of swell, surging waves over 3 metres have challenged world champions and broken boards.
Undaunted, Margaret River teenager Willow Hardy claimed one of the biggest waves of the day, jumping on it less than one minute into her elimination heat.
An untimely wipeout, followed by a tight heat, resulted in the 18-year-old just missing out with a total score of 7.97, but she lost no respect as the global surfing community watched on in awe.
"I made the drop so I was starting to think about doing a turn and then I just went headfirst, crayfish diving," she said.
"I don't really know what happened, I want to see it back. It didn't feel that big, but everyone said it was solid."
Also making Margaret River proud was Jacob Willcox, coming out on top in a head-to-head heat against world number one Italo Ferreira just hours after surviving the elimination round.
"It's almost anyone's game out there you just need to be able to pick the good waves," he said.
Australian surfing icon Sally Fitzgibbons posted 8.33, nabbing a crucial second place in the heat to avoid dropping out of the tour altogether.
She said it was an emotional day in the water.
"I don't really mind it being big and chunky, it's just the whole scenario and riding the highs and lows of it," she said.
"Your board snaps and there's like three minutes to go and you hear other people getting waves and you're like, 'I think that's it for me'.
"So it's a bit of an emotional rollercoaster and then you come in and then they say you made it and you live to see another day."
While the swell put world champions to the test and broke boards, it was business as usual for Margaret River's locals.
Brody Mulik, 14, has already mastered the break.
"I definitely was a little bit nervous when I was first paddling out but I kind of got used to it," he said.
"You can just like feel your heart pounding when you come off the wave. It's really short but really intense."
Mulik said the main challenge was the take-off point which was "really tight", meaning making the most of priority position would be key for competitors.
"You can't be a little bit wide, you cant be a little bit deep. You have to be in the right spot," he said.
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