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Fantasy Surfer: The Cut Comes to Margaret River

Originally posted on SURFER | By Ray Bergman | Last updated May 15, 2025 5:33 PM ET

Urgency.

Quite the word on tour heading into Margaret River. Urgency to secure a solid result and vault up the Australian Triple Crown standings. Urgency to make it to the Top 5 for the championship event (the last year of the Championship 5 event). But also, as it has been for the past few years, urgency to make the mid-year cut and qualify for the final 3 regular events of 2025.

So, while West Australia is for the most part a very relaxed environment where there doesn't seem to be an extremely fast-paced lifestyle, this event location has spent the last several years causing a sense of dread or urgency from tour competitors. Prior to 2025, Margaret River was event no.5 every year and the cut-off event for the remaining events for the year. This year there's a twist – it's the 7th event of the year – but still the mid-year cut-off event. The surfers seem to be a little sharper, a little more focused, and a little less jovial and playful. Serious poker faces from this point forward.

But with all that tension, there are many who have already secured their spot in the back half of the year and aren't biting their fingernails in anticipation. 10 of the 22 spots for the second half have been secured already for the men. And on the women's side, 4 of the available 10 spots have already been locked down.

Surfers to keep an eye on and expect big things from in this event include: former Margaret River winners Jack Robinson, Filipe Toledo, Gabriela Bryan, Isabella Nichols, and a red-hot Sally Fitzgibbons.

With the event likely to be run at Main Break for the majority of the waiting period, do keep an eye out for possible event relocation to The Box if possible. A nearly square barrel when it is on, The Box can easily throw the bracket stage of the heat draw into total chaos.

Don’t forget to log on to FantasySurfer.com and select your team for the upcoming Western Australia Margaret River Pro!

Who: The 2025 Men’s and Women’s Championship Tour

When: May 17-27, 2025

Where: Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia

Time Zone: Queensland is 12 hours ahead of the US East Coast and 15 hours ahead of the US West Coast. This means that 8am May 17th in Margaret River is 8pm May 16th in New York City, and 5pm May 16th in Los Angeles. Plan accordingly!

Upcoming Round 1 Heats:

MEN:

Round 1 Heats:

Heat 1: Filipe Toledo, Connor O'Leary, Imakalani deVault

Heat 2: Ethan Ewing, Matthew McGillivray, Ryan Callinan

Heat 3: Kanoa Igarashi, Alan Cleland, Edgard Groggia

Heat 4: Jordy Smith, Joao Chianca, Mikey Mcdonagh

Heat 5: Yago Dora, Liam O'Brien, Winter Vincent

Heat 6: Italo Ferreira, George Pittar, Jacob Willcox

Heat 7: Jack Robinson, Marco Mignot, Ian Gentil

Heat 8: Barron Mamiya, Cole Houshmand, Samuel Pupo

Heat 9: Miguel Pupo, Alejo Muniz, Ian Gouveia