MARGARET RIVER WA/AUS (Friday 10th April 2026), Local pride was on full display at Surfers Point today, as Yallingup’s Jack Thomas and Bronte Macaulay emerged victorious at the Relationships Australia WA Trials, earning their place in the upcoming Western Australia Margaret River Pro, the second stop on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT).
The WA Trials delivered an electric day of competition as 24 of WA’s best male and female surfers battled in quality conditions for the chance to take on the world’s best at one of surfing’s most iconic venues. A day of offshore winds and consistent 3-5ft waves provided the perfect canvas for our 2026 trialists.
In a thrilling men’s final, Jack Thomas (Yallingup) defeated Macklin Flynn (Cowaramup), in a high-stakes showdown that brought the beach to its feet. Thomas, runner-up at last year’s WA Trials, looked sharp and composed throughout the day, drawing on his experience to secure a return to the main event in front of a passionate home crowd.
Thomas opened the heat with a strong 7.50 before sealing the deal with the highest individual score of the day, an 8.93, finishing with a commanding 16.43 heat total (out of a possible 20). Flynn pushed hard with some impressive surfing of his own, but ultimately fell short with a 13.77 two-wave total.
“I came into the comp a bit more relaxed and thought I’m just going to see what happens really, and I feel like it paid off.” said Thomas. “I’ve made the semi finals a couple of times and never won, so it’s nice to finally win one.”
In the Women’s Final, Margaret River’s Bronte Macaulay drew on her Championship Tour experience to claim victory over close friend and fellow local Mia McCarthy, posting a two-wave total of 12.93 (out of a possible 20), just getting the edge over Mia to take 1st place final.
“I wasn’t sure we could surf five heats at this age, but somehow we pulled it off,” joked Macaulay. “It was an epic day and epic conditions.”
A former Championship Tour competitior who retired from full-time competition at the end of 2024, Macaulay has extensive experience at the Margaret River Pro, having competed multiple times both as a CT surfer and wildcard, with a semi-final finish her best result to date.
“Yeah, it’ll be so exciting,” Macaulay said when asked about returning to the Pro. “I just love being a part of it and seeing all my friends from back in the day. I’m pretty pumped.”
The Relationships Australia WA Trials are the pinnacle of Surfing WA’s Pathway to the Pro initiative, providing a direct link between homegrown talent and the world stage. Competitors were selected based on performances in the WSL Qualifying Series (QS), state titles, specialty events, and nominations from local boardriders clubs.
“To compete on the international stage in your own back yard against the best surfers in the world is an amazing opportunity for our best WA talent,” said Surfing WA Chief Operations Officer Matt Wilson. “The level of surfing today was outstanding, and to see Jack and Bronte take that next step onto the Championship Tour is something the whole WA surf community can be proud of”.
For full results, visit www.liveheats.com
The waiting period for the 2026 Western Australia Margaret River Pro begins Thursday 16th April and runs through to Sunday 26th April, as the spotlight of the global surfing world prepares to shines on the southwest corner of WA.
For the latest news on the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, visit www.worldsurfleague.com.
WA LOCAL TRIALS 2026 – MEN’S INVITEES
- Macklin Flynn (Cowaramup)
- Maverick Wilson (Dunsborough)
- Jack Thomas (Yallingup)
- Okie Fraser (Margaret River)
- Ben Spence (Margaret River)
- Jolan Bonelli (Margaret River)
- Ace Flynn (Cowaramup)
- Otis North (Yallingup)
- Fletcher Llanwarne (Trigg)
- Jack Mitchell (Margaret River)
- Finn Lange (Margaret River)
- Josh Cattlin (Yallingup)
WA LOCAL TRIALS 2026 – WOMEN’S INVITEES
- Willow Hardy (Margaret River)
- Olive Hardy (Margaret River)
- Isi Campbell (Denmark)
- Ruby Berry (Margaret River)
- Bronte Macaulay (Margaret River)
- Kaleisha Launders (Margaret River)
- Leila Fraser (Margaret River)
- Rosie Gillett (Dunsborough)
- Ily Fraser (Margaret River)
- Mia McCarthy (Margaret River)
- Grace Cook (Cowaramup)
- Stella Annesley (Margaret River)
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