Hardy, Willcox, and Cox Earn Wildcard Entry to Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro

MARGARET RIVER, Western Australia, Australia (Wednesday, April 28, 2021) – The world’s best surfers are now across the country in Western Australia for the final two stops of the Australian leg of the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), the Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro pres. by Corona and the Rip Curl Rottnest Island Search pres. by Corona.

The Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro pres. by Corona will hold a competition window from May 2 through May 12. As the fourth stop on the WSL CT and third stop on the Australian leg, Margaret River will be a familiar venue for competitors and surf fans alike. Competitors will be tested in diverse conditions as both Main Break and The Box are possible options to run during the event window. 

Yesterday, Surfing Western Australia ran the annual local trials event at Margaret River Main Break. This year’s event wildcards were allocated via the WA Trials, meaning the men’s and women’s winners, along with the men’s runner-up, will be awarded wildcard spots into the event. 

Winning the women’s event was 14-year-old local prodigy Willow Hardy, who will now add this CT event appearance to her already impressive resume of WA under-18 State Champion and Rip Curl Grom Search National Champion. It was a changing of the guard in the women’s trials as the new wave of WA youngsters took charge with Hardy coming out on top ahead of taking on reigning four-time WSL Champion Carissa Moore (HAW) and Nikki Van Dijk(AUS) in Round 1, Heat 3. 

The men’s side saw a familiar result with Margaret River CT hopeful Jacob Willcox cementing himself another wildcard spot at the elite level with a victory over fellow Margaret River up-and-comer Cyrus Cox. The goofy-foot duo battled it out for the top spot, but both first and second were awarded spots into the men’s event. It will be Cox’s first CT appearance and the first time at the elite level that there will be five West Australian representatives in a WSL Championship Tour event. 

The local lads will have their work cut out for them with Cyrus taking on Brazilian World Champions Gabriel Medina (BRA) and Adriano de Souza (BRA) while Willcox will look to upset fellow Margaret River local Jack Robinson (AUS) and Reigning World Champion Italo Ferreira (BRA).

The season-ending, World Champion-crowning Rip Curl WSL Finalscontinues to build momentum as the 2021 WSL CT is halfway through the Australian leg.  The inaugural Rip Curl WSL Finals will take place in San Clemente, Calif. at Lower Trestles. At the conclusion of the regular CT season, the top five men and top five women on the CT rankings will compete in the one-day, winner-take-all World Title event.  All eyes are on the Top 5 heading into the final two events of the Australian leg. The top-ranking surfers before the Rip Curl WSL Finals will have a major advantage over the Top 5 as they will be seeded into the Final Heat of the day for a best-of-three battle. Medina’s and Moore’s current leads will be critical to their campaigns on the road to the Rip Curl WSL Finals.

WSL Women’s Championship Tour Leaderboard Top 5:  1 – Carissa Moore (HAW) 23,885 pts 2 – Caroline Marks (USA) 18,695 pts 3 – Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 16,495 pts 4 – Tyler Wright (AUS) 15,220 pts 5 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 14,235 pts WSL Men’s Championship Tour Leaderboard Top 5:  1 – Gabriel Medina (BRA) 25,600 pts 2 – Italo Ferreira (BRA) 19,405 pts 3 – John John Florence (HAW) 14,650 pts 4 – Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 12,810 pts 4 – Conner Coffin (USA) 12,810 pts

Watch LIVE  The Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro pres. by Coron will open May 2 through May 12. 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.