Jack Robinson the man to beat at Margaret River Pro
He was a shock early exit at the Gold Coast Pro, but Australian surfer Jack Robinson is feeling plenty of love and lapping up the hometown comforts ahead of his Margaret River Pro title defence.
Robinson was feeling on top of the world last month after claiming the Bells Beach title for the first time.
But that euphoria was short lived, with Robinson bombing out in the second round at Burleigh Heads in a result that tumbled him to seventh in the rankings.
Robinson is keen to rebound strongly from that result, and will be one of the hot favourites at his local break of Margaret River.
The 27-year-old has been an unstoppable force there in recent years, winning in 2022 and 2024, with only a knee injury preventing him from strutting his stuff in 2023.
Robinson beat three-time world champion John John Florence in both the 2022 and 2024 finals of the Margaret River Pro.
Given Florence has stepped away from the Championship Tour in 2025, Robinson has one less obstacle to overcome in his bid for a third Margaret River crown.
"It's nice to be in my bed and back home," Robinson said ahead of the opening of the competition window on Saturday.
"I am feeling all the love and support when I get back, it's really great to be here.
"This is where it all started for me. John (Florence) is super inspiring.
"He kind of set the benchmark for that time, and I'm a bit younger than John, so I always was really inspired, and I just wanted to beat him, so it was cool to do that.
"I'm just happy to be here, not really thinking too much about the rankings. Everyone's really close together, so, that'll sort itself out at the end of the year."
There will be plenty at stake in Margaret River given it's the final chance for surfers to make sure they survive the mid-season cut.
Australians Liam O'Brien and George Pittar currently sit marginally outside the cut on the men's side.
Fitzgibbons wound back the clock by reaching the Gold Coast Pro final.
Although that result kept her in 15th place overall, she has closed the gap significantly on her rivals, and a quarter-final appearance in WA might be enough for her to make the cut.
Last year's Margaret River Pro champion, Gabriela Bryan, tops the women's leaderboard, equal on points with defending world champion Caitlin Simmers.
Australians Molly Picklum, Isabella Nichols and Tyler Wright occupy the next three places.
He was a shock early exit at the Gold Coast Pro, but Australian surfer Jack Robinson is feeling plenty of love and lapping up the hometown comforts ahead of his Margaret River Pro title defence.
Robinson was feeling on top of the world last month after claiming the Bells Beach title for the first time.
But that euphoria was short lived, with Robinson bombing out in the second round at Burleigh Heads in a result that tumbled him to seventh in the rankings.
Robinson is keen to rebound strongly from that result, and will be one of the hot favourites at his local break of Margaret River.
The 27-year-old has been an unstoppable force there in recent years, winning in 2022 and 2024, with only a knee injury preventing him from strutting his stuff in 2023.
Robinson beat three-time world champion John John Florence in both the 2022 and 2024 finals of the Margaret River Pro.
Given Florence has stepped away from the Championship Tour in 2025, Robinson has one less obstacle to overcome in his bid for a third Margaret River crown.
"It's nice to be in my bed and back home," Robinson said ahead of the opening of the competition window on Saturday.
"I am feeling all the love and support when I get back, it's really great to be here.
"This is where it all started for me. John (Florence) is super inspiring.
"He kind of set the benchmark for that time, and I'm a bit younger than John, so I always was really inspired, and I just wanted to beat him, so it was cool to do that.
"I'm just happy to be here, not really thinking too much about the rankings. Everyone's really close together, so, that'll sort itself out at the end of the year."
There will be plenty at stake in Margaret River given it's the final chance for surfers to make sure they survive the mid-season cut.
Australians Liam O'Brien and George Pittar currently sit marginally outside the cut on the men's side.
Fitzgibbons wound back the clock by reaching the Gold Coast Pro final.
Although that result kept her in 15th place overall, she has closed the gap significantly on her rivals, and a quarter-final appearance in WA might be enough for her to make the cut.
Last year's Margaret River Pro champion, Gabriela Bryan, tops the women's leaderboard, equal on points with defending world champion Caitlin Simmers.
Australians Molly Picklum, Isabella Nichols and Tyler Wright occupy the next three places.
He was a shock early exit at the Gold Coast Pro, but Australian surfer Jack Robinson is feeling plenty of love and lapping up the hometown comforts ahead of his Margaret River Pro title defence.
Robinson was feeling on top of the world last month after claiming the Bells Beach title for the first time.
But that euphoria was short lived, with Robinson bombing out in the second round at Burleigh Heads in a result that tumbled him to seventh in the rankings.
Robinson is keen to rebound strongly from that result, and will be one of the hot favourites at his local break of Margaret River.
The 27-year-old has been an unstoppable force there in recent years, winning in 2022 and 2024, with only a knee injury preventing him from strutting his stuff in 2023.
Robinson beat three-time world champion John John Florence in both the 2022 and 2024 finals of the Margaret River Pro.
Given Florence has stepped away from the Championship Tour in 2025, Robinson has one less obstacle to overcome in his bid for a third Margaret River crown.
"It's nice to be in my bed and back home," Robinson said ahead of the opening of the competition window on Saturday.
"I am feeling all the love and support when I get back, it's really great to be here.
"This is where it all started for me. John (Florence) is super inspiring.
"He kind of set the benchmark for that time, and I'm a bit younger than John, so I always was really inspired, and I just wanted to beat him, so it was cool to do that.
"I'm just happy to be here, not really thinking too much about the rankings. Everyone's really close together, so, that'll sort itself out at the end of the year."
There will be plenty at stake in Margaret River given it's the final chance for surfers to make sure they survive the mid-season cut.
Australians Liam O'Brien and George Pittar currently sit marginally outside the cut on the men's side.
Fitzgibbons wound back the clock by reaching the Gold Coast Pro final.
Although that result kept her in 15th place overall, she has closed the gap significantly on her rivals, and a quarter-final appearance in WA might be enough for her to make the cut.
Last year's Margaret River Pro champion, Gabriela Bryan, tops the women's leaderboard, equal on points with defending world champion Caitlin Simmers.
Australians Molly Picklum, Isabella Nichols and Tyler Wright occupy the next three places.
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