It’s on again, for it’s 22nd year, and with new sponsors, a new name, and a stellar field. The Margaret River Pro was secured in January after the Western Australian Government increased funding to ensure Western Australia remained on the international surfing event calendar. Formerly known as the ‘Margaret River Masters’, the event has undergone a name change this year to bring it into line with other international surfing tournaments.

“We have re-branded the event to give it a fresh name that reflects other high-calibre ASP events around Australia and the globe.  Like the ‘Rip Curl Pro’ and others, the Margaret River event is now known as the ‘Margaret River Pro’,” said General Manager of ASP Australasia, Glenn Best.

Given the massive benefits the sport, and this event, pump back into the state, we’re ready to congratulate the government for their choices of where to put some sponsorship money, and O’Neill Australia, the world’s leading wetsuit supplier and a major supporter of Australian surfing and ASP events worldwide.

Competition starts on 27 March (yep, any minute now), and according to Event Director Tim Thirsk, the contest has drawn a high-quality field of hungry competitors from both the WQS and WCT (World Championship Tour) circuits.

		“As well as some of the best in the business, the event will see some talented, emerging surfers in action as they put their skills to the test at a professional WQS competition level,” Mr Thirsk said. A capacity crowd is expected to witness the legendary Mark Occhilupo take to the surf, in his first time back to Margaret River since 2001.  Occy is well poised to serve it up to the younger competitors, who are literally half his age. Having begun his professional campaign as a 15-year-old way back in 1983, this year he turns 40,
but is showing no signs of slowing down.  He boasts one of the most impressive careers in ASP history, including an incredible comeback in the late ‘90s to claim a world title at the age of 33.

Occy contemplated retirement in 2005, before changing his plans and then finishing 19th on the WCT.  His track record at Margaret’s includes a title victory in 1985, when he defeated four-time world champion Mark Richards.

Backed by enviable local knowledge of Surfers Point, Yallingup’s Taj Burrow (currently ranked 7th in the world) and Jake Paterson (ranked 13th) will be tough to beat.  Former ASP world number-two-ranked Taj returns from three months of rehabilitation from a foot injury and is back to his exhilarating best after putting in a quality performance at the Quiksilver Pro on the Gold Coast this week.

Other West Aussies in the Margaret River Pro field include WQS surfers Yadin Nichol from Margaret River and Ry Craike from Kalbarri, both aged 20.

The event will be televised to over a billion people and seen in more than 48 countries around the world, and in another show of how dynamic the internet is becoming, millions more will watch it live on the internet via a webcast in real-time, which will include interactive commentary with viewers around the world. All this capacity to see the surfing on the TV, and on line is fantastic, but if you live in, or near the South West, there’s really nothing like getting to the contest yourself, and see the best competitors in the world, taking on one of the great breaks.  You’d be one of thousands and the atmosphere is fantastic.

Also announced this week is the entertainment line-up for the ninth annual ‘Mainbreak’ concert, to be held on Saturday, April 1 at Margaret River Oval.  Mainbreak will feature a kaleidoscope of live sounds, including the multi-platinum king of pop n roll, Ben Lee in his only WA show, alongside international drum and bass superstars Pendulum, plus Butterfingers, Bodyjar, Cowtown, Raggabeats, Fdel, Armee, Cooker and Adema.