Drug Aware Margaret River Pro 2015
Michel Bourez ripping a massive carve on his way to the final at last years Drug Aware Pro. Credit: WSL/Kelly Cestari
The forecast for the 3rd stop on the World Championship Tour (WCT) and the final leg of the Australian tour is shaping up to be better than Snapper and Bells combined. After 2 event’s with mostly sub par conditions everyone is gnawing at the bit to throw down in some quality waves. The prediction for the contest window right now is anywhere from 6ft to 15ft. A massive storm is brewing out in the Indian Ocean as you read this, if it continues on course, we could be looking at a code red Margaret River. Joy!
With Mick Fanning (AUS) and Filipe Toledo (BRA) sitting pretty in equal first and Adriano De Souza (BRA), Julian Wilson (AUS), Jordy Smith (ZAF) and Josh Kerr (AUS) rounding out the top 5, this event could go anyones way as it’s Margaret River’s second year of being on the WCT.
After two disappointing result’s, last years winner Michel Bourez (PYF) needs a big finish here in order to keep up with the top dog’s, he’ll be pitted against an inform Nat Young (USA) and WCT rookie young gun Italo Ferreria (BRA). Josh Kerr who was runner up will also be hunting for another good result to keep his foot in the World Title door. Taj Burrow (AUS) will be a contender to keep a close eye on, this is his home break and know’s it better than anyone else.
Alejo Muniz has been granted a wild card spot for this event as he is the World Qualifying Series (WQS) leader. Alejo will looking to take some big scalps down!
Carissa Moore (HAW) will be using her momentum from Bells and looking for back to back wins as she won both Bells and Margies last year. She’ll have to get past the whirlwind concoction that is Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Tyler Wright (AUS) and a very inform Silvana Lima (BRA).
The event window runs from Wednesday April 15 to Sunday April 26, 2015 and if you’re not at Margaret River you can catch all the event updates and action live at World Surf League
A world title leader will emerge once the event is complete for the Mens and Womens world titles. We can be sure of that!
Trailer: Stakes Get High At Margaret River
Official Surfline Forecast
Drug Aware Pro Margaret River Mens Round 1 Match Ups
Heat 1: John John Florence (HAW), Wiggolly Dantas (BRA), Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 2: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Jadson Andre (BRA), Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 3: Kelly Slater (USA), Kai Otton (AUS), Riccardo Christie (NZL)
Heat 4: Adriano De Souza (BRA), Sebastian Zeitz (HAW), CJ Hobgood (USA)
Heat 5: Gabriel Medina (BRA), Freddy Patacchia Jr (HAW), Alejo Muniz (BRA)
Heat 6: Mick Fanning (AUS), Matt Wilkinson (AUS), TBD
Heat 7: Josh Kerr (AUS), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Keanu Asing (HAW)
Heat 8: Filipe Toledo (BRA), Miguel Pupo (BRA), Glen Hall (IRL)
Heat 9: Taj Burrow (AUS), Bede Durbidge (AUS), Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Heat 10: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Kolohe Andino (USA), Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 11: Michel Bourez (PYF), Nat Young (USA), Italo Ferreira (BRA)
Heat 12: Owen Wright (AUS), Julian Wilson (AUS), Matt Banting (AUS)
Drug Aware Pro Margaret River Womens Round 1 Match Ups
Heat 1: Lakey Peterson (USA), Johanne Defay (FRA), Nikki Van Diijk (AUS)
Heat 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW), Alessa Quizon (HAW)
Heat 3: Carissa Moore (HAW), Coco Ho, (HAW), TBD
Heat 4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Bianca Buitendag (ZAF), Sage Erickson (USA)
Heat 5: Tyler Wright (AUS), SIlvana Lima (BRA), Laura Enever (AUS)
Heat 6: Courtney Conlogue (USA), Malia Manuel (HAW), Dimity Stoyle (AUS)
Great stuff. Let’s hope that storm hits!
Well folks, batten down the hatches and tie you shoes tight because we’re looking at a solid start for tomorrow morning!
The official forecast from surfline.com is predicting “12-20ft faces with larger set’s”. Looks like we’re in for a cracking event!
Below is the outlook from surf-line for the first few days of the event waiting period.
Good luck to all surfers!
Brief Overview: Very solid, back to back SW groundswells prevail on Wednesday and Thursday, easing a bit on Friday. Another very strong SSW groundswell looks possible for Saturday, and could be even larger than the surf for Wed/Thur. Morning wind conditions look favorable for the next few days, with some periods of side or onshore flow in the afternoons.
Note: Surf sizes below are face heights and focused on Margaret River Main Break.
WEDNESDAY 15th: Very solid SW groundswell (240-220 degrees).
Swell/Surf: 12-20’+ faces with occasional larger sets. Very strong surf all day, but with a slight building trend from early morning to early afternoon.
Wind/Weather: E/ESE wind 6-10kts in the morning, with a little leftover bump/morning sickness possible early from today’s southerly wind. Wind trends to SE late morning and eventually SSE flow builds over the afternoon 10-14kts.
THURSDAY 16th: Very strong SW swell (235-215 degrees) reinforcements rebuild into the afternoon.
Swell/Surf: Very similar size to Wednesday, with a rebuilding trend into the afternoon with continued 12-20’+ faces and some occasional larger sets.
Wind/Weather: E wind 5-10kts through the morning, trending to light/variable wind mid day before rising SSE/S flow later afternoon 8-12kts.
FRIDAY 17th: Strong SW swell (235-215 degrees) trending down through the day.
Swell/Surf: Strongest in the morning, with an easing trend through the day. Still solid 10-15’+ faces, with some 18’+ bombs very possible in the morning.
Wind/Weather: Light E wind in the morning, trending to onshore SW flow by the afternoon 8-10kts+.
SATURDAY 18th: Good potential for another very solid SSW swell (220-200 degrees)
Swell/Surf: Current model guidance indicates that this swell will be as strong, if not stronger, than the swells for Wed/Thur. Stay tuned, this is dependent on storm formation and behavior in the next couple days.
Wind/Weather: Moderate E wind in the morning, trending lighter ENE in the afternoon. Stay tuned.
SUNDAY 19th: SSW swell looks likely to drop off through the day.
Swell/Surf: At this point it looks like swell/surf will quickly drop through the day, although still be in the well overhead range.
Wind/Weather: Building NNE wind possible. Stay tuned.
Mens round 1 is live!!
What a great opening day at Margaret River and The Box! Some cracking heats unfolded with some red hot scores. Most notably Sebastian Zeitz (HAW) with a 9.23 for a moster tube ride and Adrian “Ace” Buchan (AUS) with a 9.57 for his backhand barrel riding skills.
Some heavy wipeouts also took place this morning, Josh Kerr (AUS) for his backflip dismount, Ricardo Christie (NZL) for his detonation and C J Hobgood (USA) for his fall out of the sky trick! That’s just some of the gnarly beatings!!
Drug Aware Pro Margaret River Day 1 Highlights
Margarets Carnage Round 1 Wipeouts
Buchan Goes For Broke
Zeitz Tames Margies
It’s so good to see some proper waves after the disappointing conditions at Bells. 
Owen Wright posts first 10 of the event!
Wrights Perfect Bomb
What a bomb! Nailed it. 
Big upsets today at the Drug Aware Pro, the loss of current world champ Gabriel Medina (BRA) who was taken down by wildcard Jay Davis (AUS) and current joint ratings leader Filipe Toledo (BRA) who was upset in a close one with tour rookie Riccardo Christie (NZL) who took his first heat win today. Both Jay and Riccardo advancing into round 3.
Drug Aware Margaret River Pro Men’s Round 2 Results:
Heat 1: Jay Davies (AUS) 15.17 def. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 7.67
Heat 2: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.90 def. Alejo Muniz (BRA) 11.33
Heat 3: Josh Kerr (AUS) 9.33 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 4.83
Heat 4: Ricardo Christie (NZL) 13.26 def. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 13.07
Heat 5: Taj Burrow (AUS) 13.67 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 7.17
Heat 6: Owen Wright (AUS) 18.50 def. Dusty Payne (HAW) 10.90
Heat 7: Nat Young (USA) 11.50 def. Keanu Asing (HAW) 2.43
Heat 8: Glenn Hall (IRL) 5.44 vs. Kolohe Andino (USA) 4.90
Heat 9: Adam Melling (AUS) 7.53 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 5.47
Heat 10: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 12.26 vs. Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 11.66
Heat 11: Jadson Andre (BRA) 10.83 def. Matt Banting (AUS) 7.17
Heat 12: Kai Otton (AUS) 16.83 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 13.07
Drug Aware Margaret River Pro Men’s Round 3 Match-ups:
Heat 1: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Heat 2: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Kai Otton (AUS)
Heat 3: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Sebastian Zietz (HAW)
Heat 5: Nat Young (USA) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA)
Heat 6: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Jay Davies (AUS)
Heat 7: Adriano de Souza (BRA) va. Ricardo Christie (NZL)
Heat 8: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS)
Heat 9: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Freddy Patacchia Jr. (HAW)
Heat 10: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Italo Ferreira (BRA)
Heat 11: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA)
Heat 12: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Glenn Hall (IRL)
Chances are high that round 1 of the women’s will run tomorrow. Watch this space.
For now enjoy all the highlights from round 2 of the men’s.
Mens Round 2 Highlights
Wrights slab.. 
Holy slabs! What an amazing day of surfing that went down at the Drug Aware Pro. We saw round 3 of the mens get under way at the box this morning. However it wasn’t the first round heat of Jordy Smith (PYF) and Jeremy Flores (FRA) that we were expecting. Jordy sliced open his heel in a free surf yesterday and did a bit of damage to his knee, which resulted in the big man withdrawing from the event and Jeremy getting a free pass into round 4.
Some stand out performances today were Wildcard Jay Davies (AUS) who took down the gold jersy ratings leader Mick Fanning (AUS) in heaving conditions at The Box, Kelly Slater (USA) had a stella performance at Margies main break today posting the events highest heat score total of 19.50 along with getting the second 10 point ride of the event. Taj Burrow also lit up his third round clash posting a 9.33 against Freddy Pataacchia Jr (HAW).
Massive Swells: Mens Round 3 and Women’s Round 1
Round 1 of the women’s also got underway with the top seeds dominating. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Lakey Peterson (USA), Tyler Wright (AUS), Carissa Moore (HAW) and Courtney Conlogue (USA) all coming away with convincing wins.
More Wipeout Mayhem
Kelly Slater’s 10 Point Monster
TB Carves Up Main Break
Wildcard Slays Fanning
Be watching tomorrow for another cracking day with the swell predicted to be its biggest yet!!
The wipeouts coming out of this event are bonkers! Keep it coming! 
Such a good event. The Box was epic.
Such a good event. The Box was epic.
FInals day to come!! Gonna be an epic one!! Yeeww!
Sorry for the late update ladies and gents, busy busy times and not to mention trying to negotiate Bodhi’s 50 year storm thats lashing the East Coast of NSW.
Round 5 and the quarter finals of the mens and Round 3 & 4 of the women’s Drug Aware Pro saw more epic conditions.
In the Mens, the main stand out was Julian Wilson (AUS) in round 5 posting the 2nd highest heat score total of the event with a 2 wave total of 19.06 against Owen Wright (AUS), but came unstuck in the quarters to a WA local and crowd favourite Taj Burrow (AUS), who has a semi final berth. One of the suprisingly big flops was Kelly Slaters (USA) quarter final heat against Adriano De Souza (BRA). Kelly only managed to post a 2 wave combind total of 9.96 after breaking his go to board in 15ft conditions. John John Florence (HAW) who’s the inform surfer of the event breezed through his round 4 heat and took down wildcard Jay Davies (AUS) for his semi final berth.
Big news in the ladies. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) has withdrawn from the event to a knee injury that she sustained during a free surf. More about that here Carissa Moore (HAW) has been tearing Margies apart along with Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS). Both girls are red hot right and I’d say you’ll see both girls battle it out in the final
Drug Aware Margaret River Pro Men’s Round 4 Results:
Heat 1: John John Florence (HAW) 14.60, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.73, Michel Bourez (PYF) 6.77
Heat 2: Nat Young (USA) 16.93, Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 7.90, Jay Davies (AUS) 7.83
Heat 3: Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.17, Julian Wilson (AUS) 12.43, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.30
Heat 4: Kelly Slater (USA) 13.17, Josh Kerr (AUS) 7.10, Owen Wright (AUS) 4.50
Drug Aware Margaret River Pro Men’s Round 5 Results:
Heat 1: Jay Davies (AUS) 17.10 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 16.00
Heat 2: Michel Bourez (PYF) 14.70 def. Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 11.50
Heat 3: Julian Wilson (AUS) 19.06 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 13.00
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 14.83 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 10.66
Drug Aware Margaret River Pro Men’s Quarterfinal Results:
Heat 1: John John Florence (HAW) 17.87 def. Jay Davies (AUS) 13.84
Heat 2: Nat Young (USA) 14.60 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 11.23
Heat 3: Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.27 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 13.67
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 15.73 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 9.96
Drug Aware Margaret River Pro Men’s Semifinal Match-ups:
Heat 1: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Nat Young (USA)
Heat 2: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Adriano de Souza (BRA)
Drug Aware Margaret River Pro Women’s Quarter Final Match-ups:
Heat 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) vs Lakey Peterson (USA)
Heat 2: Carissa More (HAW) vs Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW)
Heat 3: Malia Manuel (HAW) vs Bianca Buitendag (ZAF)
Heat 4: Tyler Wright (AUS) vs Courtney Conlouge (USA)
Courtney Conlouge (USA) is your 2015 Drug Aware Margaret River Pro women’s champion!! She took down Carissa Moore (HAW) in a stella final.
Carissa couldn’t quite find her margies mojo against the power house that is Courtney Conlouge. Carissa posted a 2 wave total of 13.13, Courtney posting a total of 16.93 to take the win. Carissa has had a dream start to the 2015 tour with 2 wins and a runner up. She’ll be hard to catch this year!!
“It’s just phenomenal,” said Courtney. “Carissa’s been on such a stellar run and I was thinking, maybe I can end it. I had a bit of a tricky start to this event and was feeling out of rhythm. On the off days I just went surfing a lot and had a bunch of fun and I think that it got me all psyched and happy for the end of the event.”
Congrats to both surfers!