Gilmore Finals & Macaulay Equals Best In West At Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro pres. by Corona

Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) has earned the second CT event win of her career after besting seven-time WSL Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) in the Final. The 25-year old posted an excellent 16.23 two-wave score (out of a possible 20) to Gilmore’s 15.00 for the win at Main Break in Margaret River. 

“I can’t explain how incredible this feels,” Weston-Webb said. “Steph is one of the best surfers of all time and was always someone I looked up to so much, so it was incredible to come up against her in a Final. You don’t often get to surf against a seven-time WSL Champion so this feels amazing. I’m just thankful I took a win after a second-place finish at the last event.” 

En route to her Final victory, Weston-Webb eliminated local hero Bronte Macaulay (AUS) in the Semifinals. 

“I want to say that this win is for the Macaulay family,” continued Weston-Webb. “I came up against Bronte earlier today and seeing her show up for her heat was so brave. I can’t imagine what she has been going through. They are an amazing family with so much love and are such a big part of surfing here in the West and my condolences are with them.”

Following today’s win, Weston-Webb has secured the best start to a CT season and now jumps to World No. 2 on the leaderboard. With the new Rip Curl WSL Finals format, Weston-Webb has put herself in a strong position to lock herself into the Final 5 for a chance to win the 2021 World Title. 

Seven-time WSL Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) earned her best result of the season and her highest placing in Margaret River with a runner-up finish today at Main Break. In her 47th Final appearance, Gilmore was looking to clinch her 32nd CT victory, but it wasn’t to be as Weston-Webb pulled out one of her bigger performances to overcome Gilmore. Gilmore will now head to the Rip Curl Rottnest Search sitting in third place on the world rankings as she looks for her first victory since 2019. 

“At the start I let Tatiana take that good one when I had priority and she got an 8.50,” Gilmore said. “That threw me off from the start, but I did keep positive that I could do it. I know I can get a 9.50 at this spot, but Tatiana is such a tough competitor and amazing surfer so I’m really just stoked to have made the Final out here. This is not a strong location for me, so I’m just stoked to have made the Final here for the first time. Tatiana is such an amazing competitor and her backhand is so strong especially on the closeout section here at Main Break, she was always going to be tough to beat. I’m looking forward to heading to Rottnest now and hopefully get past the Quarterfinals once again.” 

Bronte Macaulay Equals Career-Best Result on Home Soil

The opening women’s Semifinal saw Bronte Macaulay (AUS) paddle out with huge support from the surfing world and local community. Macaulay showcased incredible commitment and courage throughout her heat, posting the highest single wave of the matchup but was unable to find a backup. Weston-Webb won the heat to progress into the Final, while Macaulay took her best result at Margaret River and the equal-best result of her career along with gaining huge admiration from her fellow competitors and surf fans around the world. 

Up Next: Rip Curl Rottnest Search pres. by Corona
Competitors will now shift their focus to the fifth event of the Championship Tour, the Rip Curl Rottnest Search presented by Corona, with the event window opening on May 16 and running through May 26. The event will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app. Also, check local listings for coverage from the WSL’s broadcast partners. 

Although Rottnest Island will remain open for visitors while hosting the event, spectators will not be permitted at Strickland Bay as this will be a broadcast-only event.