Latest news with #JacobWillcox
The Advertiser
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Surfers wait on Margs waves while Slater makes big call
With surfers fighting to stay on the Championship Tour, the Margaret River Pro will remain on hold for a second day in the hope of better conditions arriving. The men's field managed to complete their round of 16 on Wednesday, with local wildcard Jacob Willcox the sole Australian survivor following the shock exits of defending champion Jack Robinson and Queensland star Ethan Ewing. The Margaret River gun, who earlier eliminated top-ranked Italo Ferreira, backed it up by getting barrelled at The Box, en route to a win over another Brazilian in Joao Chianca. It's his first quarter-final appearance in seven starts in the West. Competition was moved later Wednesday back to Main Break, but the rising onshore wind and increasing swell quickly changed conditions, leading to a decision to delay the women's round of 16. The women haven't surfed since Tuesday, when Australian veteran Sally Fitzgibbons advanced through the elimination heats. Next in wait lies is current world No.1 and defending Margaret Pro champion Gabriela Bryan with Fitzgibbons needing at least a quarter-final appearance to avoid a third straight top- 10 mid-season cut. Holding down her No.14 ranking will at least ensure she keeps her place on the Championship Tour in 2026, with the women's field expanding. In a stacked Aussie field, Molly Picklum, Tyler Wright, Isabella Nichols, who are safe above the cut-line, and local wildcard Bronte Macaulay will also contest the round of 16 with the next call early Saturday morning. Meanwhile, the WSL announced 11-time world champion Kelly Slater will return as a wildcard in the next tour stop at Lower Trestles in San Clemente, California. "I'm excited to surf Lowers after having a few months of downtime with family and watching the events online," Slater said in a statement. "Trestles has been an ongoing great memory for the past 35 years since I won my first event as a professional there ... it's a second home to me. "I'm looking forward to competing as a wildcard and surf against a top seed or two straight away." The 53-year-old Slater competed as a wildcard in the first event of the 2025 season, the Pipe Pro in Hawaii. Lower Trestles has been home to the WSL Finals since 2021, with Cloudbreak in Fiji given the honour of crowning the world champions this year. It was also recently announced surfing venue for the LA 2028 Olympics. With surfers fighting to stay on the Championship Tour, the Margaret River Pro will remain on hold for a second day in the hope of better conditions arriving. The men's field managed to complete their round of 16 on Wednesday, with local wildcard Jacob Willcox the sole Australian survivor following the shock exits of defending champion Jack Robinson and Queensland star Ethan Ewing. The Margaret River gun, who earlier eliminated top-ranked Italo Ferreira, backed it up by getting barrelled at The Box, en route to a win over another Brazilian in Joao Chianca. It's his first quarter-final appearance in seven starts in the West. Competition was moved later Wednesday back to Main Break, but the rising onshore wind and increasing swell quickly changed conditions, leading to a decision to delay the women's round of 16. The women haven't surfed since Tuesday, when Australian veteran Sally Fitzgibbons advanced through the elimination heats. Next in wait lies is current world No.1 and defending Margaret Pro champion Gabriela Bryan with Fitzgibbons needing at least a quarter-final appearance to avoid a third straight top- 10 mid-season cut. Holding down her No.14 ranking will at least ensure she keeps her place on the Championship Tour in 2026, with the women's field expanding. In a stacked Aussie field, Molly Picklum, Tyler Wright, Isabella Nichols, who are safe above the cut-line, and local wildcard Bronte Macaulay will also contest the round of 16 with the next call early Saturday morning. Meanwhile, the WSL announced 11-time world champion Kelly Slater will return as a wildcard in the next tour stop at Lower Trestles in San Clemente, California. "I'm excited to surf Lowers after having a few months of downtime with family and watching the events online," Slater said in a statement. "Trestles has been an ongoing great memory for the past 35 years since I won my first event as a professional there ... it's a second home to me. "I'm looking forward to competing as a wildcard and surf against a top seed or two straight away." The 53-year-old Slater competed as a wildcard in the first event of the 2025 season, the Pipe Pro in Hawaii. Lower Trestles has been home to the WSL Finals since 2021, with Cloudbreak in Fiji given the honour of crowning the world champions this year. It was also recently announced surfing venue for the LA 2028 Olympics. With surfers fighting to stay on the Championship Tour, the Margaret River Pro will remain on hold for a second day in the hope of better conditions arriving. The men's field managed to complete their round of 16 on Wednesday, with local wildcard Jacob Willcox the sole Australian survivor following the shock exits of defending champion Jack Robinson and Queensland star Ethan Ewing. The Margaret River gun, who earlier eliminated top-ranked Italo Ferreira, backed it up by getting barrelled at The Box, en route to a win over another Brazilian in Joao Chianca. It's his first quarter-final appearance in seven starts in the West. Competition was moved later Wednesday back to Main Break, but the rising onshore wind and increasing swell quickly changed conditions, leading to a decision to delay the women's round of 16. The women haven't surfed since Tuesday, when Australian veteran Sally Fitzgibbons advanced through the elimination heats. Next in wait lies is current world No.1 and defending Margaret Pro champion Gabriela Bryan with Fitzgibbons needing at least a quarter-final appearance to avoid a third straight top- 10 mid-season cut. Holding down her No.14 ranking will at least ensure she keeps her place on the Championship Tour in 2026, with the women's field expanding. In a stacked Aussie field, Molly Picklum, Tyler Wright, Isabella Nichols, who are safe above the cut-line, and local wildcard Bronte Macaulay will also contest the round of 16 with the next call early Saturday morning. Meanwhile, the WSL announced 11-time world champion Kelly Slater will return as a wildcard in the next tour stop at Lower Trestles in San Clemente, California. "I'm excited to surf Lowers after having a few months of downtime with family and watching the events online," Slater said in a statement. "Trestles has been an ongoing great memory for the past 35 years since I won my first event as a professional there ... it's a second home to me. "I'm looking forward to competing as a wildcard and surf against a top seed or two straight away." The 53-year-old Slater competed as a wildcard in the first event of the 2025 season, the Pipe Pro in Hawaii. Lower Trestles has been home to the WSL Finals since 2021, with Cloudbreak in Fiji given the honour of crowning the world champions this year. It was also recently announced surfing venue for the LA 2028 Olympics.
West Australian
23-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Surfers wait on Margs waves while Slater makes big call
With surfers fighting to stay on the Championship Tour, the Margaret River Pro will remain on hold for a second day in the hope of better conditions arriving. The men's field managed to complete their round of 16 on Wednesday, with local wildcard Jacob Willcox the sole Australian survivor following the shock exits of defending champion Jack Robinson and Queensland star Ethan Ewing. The Margaret River gun, who earlier eliminated top-ranked Italo Ferreira, backed it up by getting barrelled at The Box, en route to a win over another Brazilian in Joao Chianca. It's his first quarter-final appearance in seven starts in the West. Competition was moved later Wednesday back to Main Break, but the rising onshore wind and increasing swell quickly changed conditions, leading to a decision to delay the women's round of 16. The women haven't surfed since Tuesday, when Australian veteran Sally Fitzgibbons advanced through the elimination heats. Next in wait lies is current world No.1 and defending Margaret Pro champion Gabriela Bryan with Fitzgibbons needing at least a quarter-final appearance to avoid a third straight top- 10 mid-season cut. Holding down her No.14 ranking will at least ensure she keeps her place on the Championship Tour in 2026, with the women's field expanding. In a stacked Aussie field, Molly Picklum, Tyler Wright, Isabella Nichols, who are safe above the cut-line, and local wildcard Bronte Macaulay will also contest the round of 16 with the next call early Saturday morning. Meanwhile, the WSL announced 11-time world champion Kelly Slater will return as a wildcard in the next tour stop at Lower Trestles in San Clemente, California. "I'm excited to surf Lowers after having a few months of downtime with family and watching the events online," Slater said in a statement. "Trestles has been an ongoing great memory for the past 35 years since I won my first event as a professional there ... it's a second home to me. "I'm looking forward to competing as a wildcard and surf against a top seed or two straight away." The 53-year-old Slater competed as a wildcard in the first event of the 2025 season, the Pipe Pro in Hawaii. Lower Trestles has been home to the WSL Finals since 2021, with Cloudbreak in Fiji given the honour of crowning the world champions this year. It was also recently announced surfing venue for the LA 2028 Olympics.
Perth Now
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Surfers wait on Margs waves while Slater makes big call
With surfers fighting to stay on the Championship Tour, the Margaret River Pro will remain on hold for a second day in the hope of better conditions arriving. The men's field managed to complete their round of 16 on Wednesday, with local wildcard Jacob Willcox the sole Australian survivor following the shock exits of defending champion Jack Robinson and Queensland star Ethan Ewing. The Margaret River gun, who earlier eliminated top-ranked Italo Ferreira, backed it up by getting barrelled at The Box, en route to a win over another Brazilian in Joao Chianca. It's his first quarter-final appearance in seven starts in the West. Competition was moved later Wednesday back to Main Break, but the rising onshore wind and increasing swell quickly changed conditions, leading to a decision to delay the women's round of 16. The women haven't surfed since Tuesday, when Australian veteran Sally Fitzgibbons advanced through the elimination heats. Next in wait lies is current world No.1 and defending Margaret Pro champion Gabriela Bryan with Fitzgibbons needing at least a quarter-final appearance to avoid a third straight top- 10 mid-season cut. Holding down her No.14 ranking will at least ensure she keeps her place on the Championship Tour in 2026, with the women's field expanding. In a stacked Aussie field, Molly Picklum, Tyler Wright, Isabella Nichols, who are safe above the cut-line, and local wildcard Bronte Macaulay will also contest the round of 16 with the next call early Saturday morning. Meanwhile, the WSL announced 11-time world champion Kelly Slater will return as a wildcard in the next tour stop at Lower Trestles in San Clemente, California. "I'm excited to surf Lowers after having a few months of downtime with family and watching the events online," Slater said in a statement. "Trestles has been an ongoing great memory for the past 35 years since I won my first event as a professional there ... it's a second home to me. "I'm looking forward to competing as a wildcard and surf against a top seed or two straight away." The 53-year-old Slater competed as a wildcard in the first event of the 2025 season, the Pipe Pro in Hawaii. Lower Trestles has been home to the WSL Finals since 2021, with Cloudbreak in Fiji given the honour of crowning the world champions this year. It was also recently announced surfing venue for the LA 2028 Olympics.
Perth Now
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Willcox ‘boxes on' to Margs quarterfinals
Just surfing in competition at iconic Margaret River slab wave 'The Box' was a dream come true for local charger Jacob Willcox. Adding an 8.17 barrel ride en-route to another upset heat win was the bonus. Willcox, the local trials qualifier who has already taken out world No.1 Italo Ferreira, added another Brazilian to his victory list on Wednesday, beating Joao Chianca in deep 6-8ft barrel conditions. 'I've dreamt of that moment for a long time,' Willcox said after winning their Margaret River Pro round-of-16 heat with a two-wave score of 12.50 to Chianca's 4.07. 'When I heard they were pretty keen to go to The Box, I was so fired up. It's probably not the best Box ever but just being able to compete out there was so special. 'Getting to watch the comp out there a few times but not be involved in it, I was just wishing to get a go.' The Box, a right-hand slabbing barrel about 700m north of Main Break, is the only wave of its type on the World Surf League championship tour circuit, but hasn't been used in competition since 2019. Willcox said he had surfed it a lot growing up and felt at home inside the tubes. 'On the backhand, I'm just looking for something that's going to let me in because as soon as you disconnect on you backside it's so hard to get traction again through the barrel,' he said. 'My first surf ever out there, I went one of these south ones and ate s..., broke my toes and ripped my wet-suit. 'Since then I've been building up the relationship a bit. 'That was a pretty fun heat, I don't think I did as good as I could have done out there. 'It was kind of hard trying to balance getting the best wave and then trying to compete as well. 'Joao is such a hard competitor, especially for a wave like that. He got one at the start that if he had made this could have been a different story. I guess I had a bit of local luck on my side.' Willcox had already knocked out the world No.1 on Tuesday Credit: World Surf League Making the quarterfinals is already Willcox's equal-best CT result and he said he wanted to ride the momentum into this year's Challenger Series in the hope of re-qualifying surfing's elite tour. The 27-year-old was a rookie on tour in 2024 after years of qualification near-misses but was cut after only a few months following his early exit from last year's Margaret River Pro. 'I feel like it (my career) has had some ups and downs but it is so character building,' he said. 'I feel like I've almost fallen in love with that side of it. It makes you resilient and makes you want to keep pushing. I'm super-motivated for this year. I've had six months off competing and getting to come back now and compete back home, it's the perfect warm-up for the year to come.' Willcox will face young American Crosby Colapinto in the quarterfinals. Colapinto secured his place on tour just beat beating Hawaiian Jackson Bunch in a win-or-miss-the-cut heat. Griffin Colapinto of the United States surfs in Heat 1. Credit: Cait Miers / World Surf League Earlier, Colapinto's older brother Griffin rode one of the waves of the day, a deep barrel that saw him emerge from from the foam and raise his arms in amazement before scoring a 9.00 on his way to beating Australian wild-card Mikey McDonagh. 'I feel like that is one of the best heats of my life,' he said. 'Getting barrelled in the jersey is the dream. 'That 9.00, I was kind of baffled myself. I got the the bottom and thought I could stand tall and cruise and next thing the wave was so fast the foam ball just lifted me up and you can kind of see my fin come out and I was almost going 180 degrees backwards and I thought I blew it . . . but then it shot me back out.' Leonardo Fioravanti of Italy, Connor O'Leary of Japan/Australia and Barron Mamiya of Hawaii also advanced to the quarterfinals before organisers made the call to move competition back to Main Break. Watch the WSL Margaret River Pro live and free on 7PLUS MEN'S ROUND-OF-16 RESULTS HEAT 1: Griffin Colapinto USA 16.00 (9.00, 7.00) def. Mikey McDonough AUS 2.43 (1.50, 0.93) HEAT 2: Leonardo Fioravanti ITA 12.16 (6.83, 5.33) def. Miguel Pupo BRA 7.04 (5.17, 1.87) HEAT 3: Connor O'Leary JPN 8.50 (5.67, 2.83) def. Kanoa Igarashi JPN 2.50 (1.50, 1.00) HEAT 4: Barron Mamiya HAW 15.17 (8.00, 7.17) def. Jake Marshall USA 5.73 (3.33, 2.50) HEAT 5: Jacob Willcox AUS 12.50 (8.17, 4.33) def. Joao Chianca BRA 4.07 (3.70, 2.17) HEAT 6: Crosby Colapinto USA 6.53 (4.50, 2.03) def. Jackson Bunch HAW 3.34 (2.17, 1.17) HEAT 7: Jordy Smith RSA v Marco Mignot FRA HEAT 8: Alan Cleland MEX v Imaikalani deVault HAW
Perth Now
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Willcox takes out world No.1 Ferreira in huge Margs upset
Jacob Willcox returned to Margaret River with one thing in mind following the disappointment of being cut from surfing's elite tour at his home event last year: Redemption. At Main Break on Tuesday, the local qualifier took another step towards his ultimate goal of re-qualifying for the World Surf League's championship tour, beating current world No.1 and 2019 world champion Italo Ferreira in pumping 8-10ft conditions. Willcox, a Margaret River local who grew up surfing the region's famous breaks, had to do it the hard way just to earn his spot in the field, winning last week's trials. And after a nightmare opening round defeat to Ferreira, in which his posted just two scores of 2.50, Willcox was left questioning everything, laid up in bed with a head cold for two lay days, before coming out firing in the elimination round earlier on Tuesday and saving his best for a rematch with the Brazilian powerhouse. 'After this event last year I felt so disappointed, so heartbroken,' he said. 'Redemption: that was my one word for this week. I just want to compete and hopefully this result leads me into a good campaign on the challenger series. I'm so fired up to get back on the tour.' Willcox looked a different surfer to Saturday's rough start, putting it down in part to an equipment switch. He scored an excellent 8.33 for a wave that included sticking a massive vertical drop, three turns and a tough finish, adding to a solid 6.67 to post a 15.00 two-wave total. Ferreira put up a 6.87 and 6.00 for a 12.87 total but was always chasing and couldn't find the big number he needed. 'I had such a shocker that first day, I rode the wrong board and couldn't even get off the bottom so it felt good just to get out there on the right board and do a turn,' Willcox said. 'I was stoked to surf against Italo, he is one of my favourite surfers and so amazing to watch out there, it got me so fired up. To beat him was epic. 'I'm knackered after those two heats, it's pretty draining conditions with a lot of swell. I've been sick as a dog the past few days. It's good just to be back in the water.' Jacob Willcox of Australia surfs in Heat 9. Credit: Cait Miers / World Surf League The 27-year-old has now surfed the Margaret River Pro eight times but never previously made it to the round of 16. With his best result at home already locked in, he hopes local knowledge can help him land a few more upsets. 'I feel like it's almost anyone's game out there, you just need to be able to pick the good waves and being a local definitely helps,' he said. 'It's cool to be able to compete against these guys in the big event and beat them. I know I can do it, sometimes it just happen how you think. 'It's a blur out there when you ride out of that end section but you can hear everyone getting behind you. I'm so happy to have an event here at home to compete in front of all my friends and family.' WSL Champion Italo Ferreira has been knocked out. Credit: Beatriz Ryder / World Surf League Willcox took six months away from competition to re-group following the disappointment of being cut from his rookie year on the CT and failing to re-qualify on the CS. He admitted feeling burnt out after his decade-long attempt to make it on surfing's elite tour, only to have it ripped away at the mid-season cut, only a few months in. 'I'm just trying to put some good heats together and set myself up for a good year,' he said. 'I've had about six months off with no competing and I feel like that's given me a lot of energy to come into this year pretty hungry.' Watch the WSL Margaret River Pro live and free on 7PLUS
