MARGARET RIVER, Western Australia, Australia (Monday, May 10, 2021) – Filipe Toledo (BRA) and Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) claimed victory today at the Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro pres. by Corona, the fourth stop on the 2021 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT). It was a massive day of action as Main Break turned on super clean four-to-six foot surf as 2021 saw two fresh faces holding the winner’s trophies for the fourth stop of the CT season.
Tatiana Weston-Webb Claims Second CT Win, Jumps to World No. 2
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.
Filipe Toledo Takes Down Jordy Smith In Main Break Final
Filipe Toledo (BRA) was in searing form on Finals Day, building momentum through each heat he surfed and saving his best performance for last, posting a two-wave combination of 17.33 (out of a possible 20), one of the highest of the event and the 76th excellent heat total of his career. Toledo’s trademark frontside power-hacks seemed to match the Main Break grunt pound-for-pound as the exciting natural-footer gouged and sliced his way to victory with the equal second-highest total of the entire event.
This result sees Toledo rocket from 8th to 3rd on the rankings as he eyes a spot at the WSL Rip Curl Finals later this year.
“This has been a really fun week,” Toledo said. “There have been such amazing waves and amazing surfing from everybody so to come out on top feels so good. This one is for my son Koa, it’s his birthday today and he asked me to win the trophy. I promised him I would and I could not break the promise, so this one’s for you son, I love you. This win will be a huge jump on the rankings for me which I needed. This Tour is all about consistency and if you’re not showing up in the Finals often, you won’t make that Final 5, and that’s my biggest goal for the year, to give myself that chance.”
Jordy Smith (ZAF) snuck his way into the Finals at Margaret River with a number of narrow margins separating him from his opponents. It wasn’t until his Semifinal that he showed everyone that he was a solid chance at taking victory at Main Break, a wave that has always suited his style of surfing. In the Final, Smith was unable to find an answer back to Toledo’s massive scores but the South African was still stoked to find himself back in the mix on Finals Day for the first time on the 2021 Australian leg.
“What a week,” Smith said. “I always enjoy coming to West Aus and it’s because it offers up waves like we’ve had here for this entire contest. I had a good time today and was stoked to make it into a Final for the first time in who knows how long. Next, I just need to win one of these things. I’m just excited to try and keep some momentum and head over to Rottnest Island and hopefully go one better over there.”
Finals Breakthrough for 7x WSL Champion Stephanie Gilmore
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.
Reigning World Champions Ferreira and Moore Fall Short on Finals Day
Carissa Moore (HAW), who led the rankings heading into this event, looked certain to progress into her third Final of the season as she tore through the field posting massive heat totals in every round but the semifinals where she was pipped at the post by eventual runner-up Gilmore. Similar to Moore, the men’s reigning World Champion Italo Ferreira (BRA) was unable to progress through his Quarterfinal heat with compatriot Filipe Toledo. Although he finished in equal 5th place, Ferreira hangs on to the second position on the 2021 WSL rankings.
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.
The Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro pres. by Corona is proudly supported by our partners Boost Mobile, Tourism Western Australia, Corona, Red Bull, Oakley, Hydro Flask, Rip Curl, Harvey Norman, Bonsoy, Dometic Outdoor, Bond University, Oakberry, Healthway and Shire of Augusta Margaret River.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro Women’s Final Results:
1 – Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 16.23
2 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.00
Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro Men’s Final Results:
1 – Filipe Toledo (BRA) 17.40
2 – Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.23
Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro Women’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 12.27 DEF. Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 9.00
HEAT 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 12.24 DEF. Carissa Moore (HAW) 12.00
Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro Men’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.33 DEF. Griffin Colapinto (USA) 15.16
HEAT 2: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 15.16 DEF. Matthew McGillivray (ZAF) 13.74
Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro Men’s Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: Griffin Colapinto (USA) DEF. John John Florence (HAW) INJ
HEAT 2: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 11.00 DEF. Ryan Callinan (AUS) 10.90
HEAT 3: Matthew McGillivray (ZAF) 15.43 DEF. Seth Moniz (HAW) 9.73
HEAT 4: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 13.90 DEF. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 13.73
WSL Women’s Championship Tour Leaderboard Final 5:
1 – Carissa Moore (HAW) 29,970 pts
2 – Tatiana Weston Webb (BRA) 26,495 pts
3 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 22,035 pts
4 – Caroline Marks (USA) 21,305 pts
5 – Tyler Wright (AUS) 19,965 pts
WSL Men’s Championship Tour Leaderboard Final 5:
1 – Gabriel Medina (BRA) 28,920 pts
2 – Italo Ferreira (BRA) 24,150 pts
3 – Filipe Toledo (BRA) 20,735 pts
4 – John John Florence (HAW) 19,395 pts
5 – Jordy Smith (ZAF) 19,185 pts
COVID-19 Updates
The WSL continues to work closely with the West Australian Government and WA Police Department to monitor the COVID-19 situation both in WA, where competitors and staff are currently located, and in New South Wales, where they have traveled from. The Boost Mobile Margaret River Pro is prepared to operate in a ‘bubble’ should it be required. As a result of the COVID-19 contingency plans, there is no option to run the event at a mobile location outside of the main event site of Main Break and The Box, such as North Point in Gracetown.
The WSL will implement a robust and thorough COVID-19 health and safety plan for each event during the Australian leg of the CT in accordance with federal and state guidance. The WSL’s health and safety plan includes enhanced high-touch cleaning at the event site, contact tracing procedures, sanitizer stations throughout the event site, and minimal personnel on-site. All traveling athletes and support staff completed the mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine and received medical clearance from public health officials before entering the general community.
Due to COVID-19, the Australian CT events will run based on state border closures, strictly adhering to federal and state government guidelines and restrictions. All tour stops and dates subject to change due to applicable COVID-19 related restrictions, including global travel restrictions.
