MARGARET RIVER PRO
Margaret River will always be famous for two things, wine and surf. There is so much more to the area, but you’ll never get away from the two biggies. These are why Perth is known in many circles as the place with the airport you have to fly to, to reach Margaret River.
Part of the mystique is the annual round of the surfing world tour. This year the Margaret River Pro, presented by O’Neill is the Drug Aware Pro. As always, some of the world’s great surfers will be at one of the world’s great breaks, and the carnival is rolling into town as I write.
Massive names are all around in the Drug Aware Pro. Just as importantly on a tour of this magnitude, we see stellar performances by newcomers. Watching the action from the beach, you may see the ride that catapaults some youngster into the world of elite surf. Here’s some background on one surfer who seems to be already making her run. |
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Current Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Junior Champion, 17-year-old Sally Fitzgibbons is firming as a red hot favourite in next week’s Women’s Drug Aware Pro Margaret River, presented by O’Neill, April 7 to 13, Surfers Point, Margaret River.
The teenage sensation from Gerroa, New South Wales is the current clear leader on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS), after winning the Arrive alive Central Coast Pro in March.
The event saw Fitzgibbons in devastating form, not losing a heat through the entire contest. The victory was her second WQS win of the year, providing the youngster with a massive ratings lead.
The diminutive surfer will line up in the Round of 48, from a field of 60 women, in the Drug Aware Pro Margaret River, vying for a share of AUD$37,500 (US$30,000) in prize money. In the Men’s contest, 192 surfers will contest a prize purse of AUD$168,750 (US$135,000).
Fitzgibbons said she was keen to test her skills for the first time at Margaret River’s Main Break.
“I’ve only ever been to the airport in Perth, so the Drug Aware Pro will be my first trip to Margaret River. It’s a great wave and it’s always been one of my goals to surf there.
“I’m enjoying every minute of my surfing at the moment. My past two results have given me an awesome springboard for the rest of the year. I’m feeling confident going into this comp, even though I’ve never surfed Margaret River before.
“The contest has really good backing and support from sponsors, which is fantastic. And heaps of the (World Tour) CT girls will be there, which will be a great opportunity for me and the other WQS girls to surf against them.”
Fitzgibbons will compete against the likes of experienced World Tour campaigners Melanie Redman-Carr (Dunsborough, WA) and Claire Bevilacqua (City Beach, WA), 18-year-old WQS current No. 2 Bethany Hamilton (Hawaii), plus many of the Women’s World Tour Top 17. Among them are Samantha Cornish (QLD), Amee Donohoe (NSW), Rebecca Woods (NSW), Megan Abubo (Hawaii), plus 2007 Drug Aware Pro Women’s Champion Jacqueline Silva (Brazil) and Runner-up Jessi Miley-Dyer (NSW).
In the Men’s division, competitors include former World Champion Sunny Garcia (Hawaii), current World No. 4 Jeremy Flores (France), crowd favourite and 2004 contest champion Neco Padaratz (Brazil) and Drug Aware Pro reigning champion, former World No. 6 Kieren Perrow (NSW).
Representing WA is 1998 contest champion and local legend Jake Paterson (Yallingup) and his brother Paul Paterson, along with Ry Craike (Kalbarri), Jay Davies (Yallingup) and Margaret River locals Yadin Nicol, Tom Innes and 1989 contest champion Dave Macaulay.
As well as intense action in the surf, Saturday, April 12 features a massive ‘Party on the Point’. From 2.30pm, there is free entertainment overlooking the ocean at Surfers Point.with The Simon Kelly Band, Operation Beehive and The Remedials performing live on stage, plus vert ramp aerial demos by BMX rider Chris Jones and pro-skaters Darren Pryor and Cliffy.
Major sponsors of the 2008 Drug Aware Pro Margaret River include Healthway / Drug Aware, EventsCorp and O’Neill. Support sponsors include SupaShake by Brownes, Nova 93.7, Department of Sport & Recreation, Surftech Australia, Odyssey 2020, The Sunday Times, Margarets Beach Resort, Leeuwin Estate, Corona, Pump Water, MR Law, Tracks Magazine, Shire of Augusta Margaret River, Tracks, Surfersvillage.com, Surfing WA and ASP Australasia.
Entry is free all week and just $5 per person on the Finals weekend (April 12 and 13). Admission is free for children 12 and under. Free bus transfers available to and from Surfers Point.
April 2008
