Margaret River Pro put on hold as World Surf League organisers await bigger swell on Tuesday
Competition has been put on hold at the Margaret River Pro for two days as organisers await the arrival of big swell and more favourable winds mid-week.
The championship tour event started Saturday when the 10-day window for competition opened with both men's and women's opening rounds completed in 4-6ft conditions at Main Break.
But with smaller conditions on offer Sunday, and the prospect of 6-8ft swell on Tuesday and Wednesday, World Surf League officials opted to wait to resume. The next call will be made at 7am on Tuesday.
'After we had a good look at the conditions, we decided to call the event off for the day,' WSL deputy commissioner Renato Hickel said.
'The swell is declining and the Cape Naturaliste buoy had declined since 4.30 am this morning, and there is not much energy on the swell, really weak waves, 2-3ft max.
'With the swell on offer for the remainder of the waiting period, we decided to wait for the next swell, which looks like it's going to be this coming Tuesday.
'Potentially a really big powerful swell with the chance for running heats at The Box, so fingers crossed.'
The prospect of heats running at The Box, a slab wave a few hundred metres north of Main Break that offers deep barrels with the right conditions, will please local favourite Jack Robinson, who called for organisers to take advantage of the iconic break ahead of this year's event.
'I think it's calling for it, and I think it's about time we ran there,' Robinson said on Friday. 'Everyone wants to see it and I think it would be great to watch.'
When competition does resume, veteran Aussie Sally Fitzgibbons will face a must-win elimination round heat to keep her hopes of avoiding the mid-season cut alive.
The 12-time winner on tour and three-time world title runner-up needs a deep run in Margaret River to have any hope of staying on tour but was relegated to the elimination round after a heartbreaking loss in the dying seconds of her opening round heat on Saturday. She will face recent Gold Coast Pro winner Bettylou Sakura Johnson and teenage local qualifier Willow Hardy in the elimination round.
On the men's side, qualifier Jacob Willcox will be hoping for a better heat in his home conditions after struggling to find the right waves in his opening round loss. The crowd favourite will face fellow Aussie Ryan Callinan and Barron Mamiya of Hawaii for the chance to advance to the round-of-32.
Watch the WSL Margaret River Pro live and free on
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WOMEN'S ELIMINATION ROUND
Heat 1:
Bettylou Sakura Johnson HAW v Sally Fitzgibbons AUS v Willow Hardy AUS
Heat 2:
Erin Brooks CAN v Lakey Peterson USA v Nadia Erostarbe BAK
MEN'S ELIMINATION ROUND
Heat 1:
Ryan Callinan AUS v Barron Mamiya HAW v Jacob Willcox AUS
Heat 2:
Seth Moniz HAW v Imaikalani deVault HAW v Winter Vincent AUS
Heat 3:
Alejo Muniz BRA v IAN Gentil HAW v Mikey McDonagh AUS
Heat 4:
Deivid Silva BRA v Crosby Colapinto USA v Edgard Groggia BRA
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