Fitzgibbons forced to wait in bid to avoid cut in Margs
Sally Fitzgibbons' bid to automatically re-qualify for next year's world tour is on hold until at least Friday, and likely through to next week, after conditions at the Margaret River Pro deteriorated on Wednesday.
The veteran is locked in a tense battle with Lakey Peterson of the USA and Brisa Hennessy of Costa Rica to stay inside the top-14 who will get a spot on the 2026 World Surf League championship tour as part of the expanded women's field.
All three also remain an outside chance to jump into the top 10 and keep their place for the rest of this season.
But they all face tough round-of-16 heats when competition does resume, with Fitzgibbons up against current world No.1 Gabriela Bryan, Peterson two-time world champion Tyler Wright and Hennessy reigning world champion Caitlin Simmers. MARGARET RIVER, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA - MAY 20: Sally Fitzgibbons of Australia after surfing in Heat 1 of the Elimination Round at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro on May 20, 2025 at Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia. (Photo by Cait Miers/World Surf League) Cait Miers Credit: Cait Miers / World Surf League
With so much on the line and rising onshore winds and swell, organisers called off plans to run the women's heats on Wednesday afternoon, adding that Thursday would also be a lay day.
Onshore winds are also forecast through to Sunday, meaning competition will likely resume next week with the window open until Tuesday.
Fitzgibbons, a 12-time CT winner and three-time world title runner-up (2010, 2011, 2012), has had to fight her way back on tour via the challenger series after missing the cut the past two years and survived only via a wild-card the year before that. MARGARET RIVER, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA - MAY 20: Lakey Peterson of the United States after surfing in Heat 2 of the Elimination Round at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro on May 20, 2025 at Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia. (Photo by Cait Miers/World Surf League) Cait Miers Credit: Cait Miers / World Surf League
She became emotional after a drama-filled elimination round heat on Tuesday, telling of her burning desire to keep fighting for her place on tour.
'It's just a lot,' a teary Fitzgibbons said. 'I just want to keep fighting and trying my best. It's the whole scenario of riding the highs and lows of it.'
Local wild-card Bronte Macaulay and Australian title contenders Molly Picklum and Tyler Wright will also be in action when women's heats resume.
A call on whether that will be Friday will be made tomorrow.
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