Perfect 10s, Dolphins, and More from Finals Day at Margaret River Pro (Video)

Originally posted on SURFER | By Dashel Pierson | Last updated 4/21/24

Finally, there were waves. Capping off finals day at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro – stop #5 on the World Surf League’s Championship Tour – a moderate (nothing too crazy) swell graced Main Break, allowing competition to close with a bang.

West Oz’s own Jack Robinson won on the men’s side, beating John John Florence; and on the women’s, Hawaii’s Gabriela Bryan beat Sawyer Lindblad in her first CT victory.

“I was coming into this event under the Cut, and now I’m No. 5, which makes a big difference,” Bryan said about the CT’s controversial, dreaded Mid-Season Cut. “It’s just reassuring knowing my surfing belongs on Tour. I’m so happy we got good waves today. Last year, I was eliminated from this event and relied on things going my way to make the Cut, so it was so good to do it myself and do what I needed to do. All the girls put on such a good show today.”

As for a wave in the final heat, in which a pod of dolphins joined her in surfing towards the win, Bryan continued: “When I kicked out of that wave, I knew it was sent to me by someone—with those dolphins riding it—it was amazing.”

For the men, local boy Jack Robinson took the W in the final over an in-form John John Florence, who dropped a Perfect 10 in the semifinals for a searing layback hack.

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“John John fires me so much, and I always look forward to heats with him,” Robinson said. “There’s no one else I’d rather Final with than John. Watching him out here inspired me so much, he set the benchmark. It’s not just me who won, it’s everyone who supports me. It’s an incredible moment. To come back here after traveling all year is special. It’s my home, and it's the best place in the world. And I’m grateful to be here right now.”

Stay tuned; more Margies Pro coverage coming soon.

This article first appeared on SURFER and was syndicated with permission.

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