The Margaret River Pro will be completed at Uluwatu

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
Swellnet Dispatch

Overnight, the WSL announced that the Margaret River Pro, cancelled because of shark activity, will be completed at Uluwatu.

The competition will run immediately after the conclusion of the Corona Bali Pro at Keramas, and be completed no later than June 13th. If Keramas uses up its waiting period that leaves just four days to run the competition.

In the men’s event, 24 competitors remain in the field and competition will recommence with Round 3. In the women’s event, eight competitors remain in the field and competition will recommence with the Quarterfinals.

“As highlighted when we cancelled the Margaret River Pro, there were extenuating circumstances surrounding this season’s event and we committed to trying to finish the competition if possible,” Kieren Perrow, WSL Commissioner, said. “It’s a significant investment for the WSL, but it’s the right thing to do. Uluwatu is a world-class wave and we’re excited to be completing the event there.”

A big beneficiary of the move will be Gabriel Medina who was due to meet wildcard Jack Robinson in Rd 3. Robbo now loses the home turf advantage.

The last time Uluwatu hosted a top tier competition was in 2008 with the Rip Curl Search Bali. Bruce Irons was the victor on that occasion.

Comments

Island Bay's picture
Island Bay's picture
Island Bay Friday, 11 May 2018 at 7:02am

That should be really interesting. I have a suspicion that not all the surfers will find it easy to figure out the shifting moods of Ulus. And there's at least a chance that we'll get to see solid Outside Corner.

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Friday, 11 May 2018 at 7:15am

Yew great news..

simba's picture
simba's picture
simba Friday, 11 May 2018 at 7:18am

margaretwatu.....rather see it at ulus any day......watch out for the killer dugongs.

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Friday, 11 May 2018 at 7:31am

What month was it that The Orca last cruised thru Ulu lineup....he he

goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot's picture
goofyfoot Friday, 11 May 2018 at 8:26am

I’ll be there then, hopefully they don’t go to g-land if there’s a swell

Beagle's picture
Beagle's picture
Beagle Friday, 11 May 2018 at 1:24pm

I wonder how WSL spun this decision to the Western Australian Government, a significant supporter of the event over the years, and what message it sends to other stakeholders who the WSL deals with? No matter which way you look at it, WA got burned.

drodders's picture
drodders's picture
drodders Friday, 11 May 2018 at 9:11am

Wow a left on tour!!! That will freak a few of them out!

The thing I liked about KS Hot tub was seeing the surfers on a left, didn’t realise how good Mick was on his backhand, don’t remember seeing it without a pigdog barrel at Pipe or Chopes.

Maybe the best backhand surfers in the world aren’t Medina, Wilco, Tati or Ace, it’s just they are the ones who have to surf backhand all the time.

channel-bottom's picture
channel-bottom's picture
channel-bottom Friday, 11 May 2018 at 9:16am

I would love to see big Outside Corner and see them have a crack.

tux's picture
tux's picture
tux Friday, 11 May 2018 at 9:52am

If it gets too big they will probably call it off again..a la the Volcom pro in Fiji

mikehunt207's picture
mikehunt207's picture
mikehunt207 Friday, 11 May 2018 at 10:17am

Big ulus is a rare bird. Boring peaky shift shitty ulus now thats pretty normal. Give the pampered pros something else to winge about . No sharks just volcanos and terrorists for little gabby to be scared of.

Gary standen's picture
Gary standen's picture
Gary standen Friday, 11 May 2018 at 10:17am

Plenty of leopard sightings around the camps in Garajagan this past month, fotos to prove it. That should be enough to scare off the WSL from a jungle expedition.

belly's picture
belly's picture
belly Friday, 11 May 2018 at 10:20am

How's that rulebook looking ;-)

BaSz's picture
BaSz's picture
BaSz Friday, 11 May 2018 at 10:50am

No chance of outsides corners uluwatu because padang padangs hidden up their sleeve

Elliedog's picture
Elliedog's picture
Elliedog Friday, 11 May 2018 at 11:18am

Yeah...itll get big...move it to Padang....too big take it Chickens ....too windy take it nth to Sumartra....it may get too hot up there. This whole circus has too much pull. Feel sorry for anyone surfing around Bali at this time.

Swift's picture
Swift's picture
Swift Friday, 11 May 2018 at 1:36pm

Good opportunity for WSL to run a comp with less surfers. Might pave the way for future events.

simba's picture
simba's picture
simba Friday, 11 May 2018 at 2:56pm

so what happens with the fantasy contest

lost's picture
lost's picture
lost Friday, 11 May 2018 at 3:09pm

Good question Simba. I had every surfer thru for the first time ever so I'm pretty keen that they somehow keep it alive as is

lostdoggy's picture
lostdoggy's picture
lostdoggy Friday, 11 May 2018 at 3:27pm

I wouldn't underestimate Jack Robo out there.

lost's picture
lost's picture
lost Friday, 11 May 2018 at 3:49pm

I'm actually positively surprised by this announcement. They could have just as easily not completed the event and handed out points based on round one and two. This looks more practical than returning to WA and we get to see more surfing in indo which has to be a good thing.

truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher Friday, 11 May 2018 at 6:19pm

Maybe WSL could have timed that a bit better... Sharks not on the menu today.
Today back at Margaret River... the scene of the worst mass shooting since Port Arthur. Swellnetonians sending our love to the good folk Of Margaret River W.A. {R.I.P.}

truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher Friday, 11 May 2018 at 7:39pm

NEWS: (Today) re: Margaret River mass shooting.
1996 Hundreds of Surfers paddled out @ scene of an greater Margaret River tragedy.
Disaster Tourism suits every place on Earth just not Margaret River.

Locals as my brother,have a black sense of humour. They're fine with all our jokes.
Survival is the name of their game. Feel free to bat on for them in the comments.(Love W.A).

CryptoKnight's picture
CryptoKnight's picture
CryptoKnight Friday, 11 May 2018 at 7:55pm

They'll probably go right onto the bricks anyway.

simba's picture
simba's picture
simba Saturday, 12 May 2018 at 7:22am

Just looked at the WSL site for Rio and seeing as the mens hasn't started yet how come they have round 2 and 3 sorted....

Round 3
HT
1
Upcoming
+
O. Wright --
W. Carmichael --
HT
2
Upcoming
+
M. Bourez --
C. Coffin --
HT
3
Upcoming
+
J. Smith --
T. Hermes --
HT
4
Upcoming
+
A. de Souza --
G. Colapinto --
HT
5
Upcoming
+
K. Andino --
F. Morais --
HT
6
Upcoming
+
J. Wilson --
P. Gudauskas --
HT
7
Upcoming
+
G. Medina --
J. Mendes --
HT
8
Upcoming
+
M. Wilkinson --
J. Flores --
HT
9
Upcoming
+
I. Ferreira --
C. O'Leary --
HT
10
Upcoming
+
F. Toledo --
K. Igarashi --
HT
11
Upcoming
+
A. Buchan --
S. Zietz --
HT
12
Upcoming
+
J. Florence --
J. Duru

Mort's picture
Mort's picture
Mort Wednesday, 16 May 2018 at 10:33pm

Is that rain measurement readings?

groovie's picture
groovie's picture
groovie Sunday, 13 May 2018 at 8:38am

Glad I'm off to Indo in July after the WSL circus has left for J-Bay. Would love to see the crew take on Outside Crn @ 8ft +

Lanky Dean's picture
Lanky Dean's picture
Lanky Dean Sunday, 13 May 2018 at 2:36pm

I wounder if this is a reaction in regards to the " Waco pool coverage"

Could there be a class action taken against the wsl by the West Australian government?
At least compensation for costs related to the contest then bad publicity?
Someone has to be held accountable.

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Friday, 1 Jun 2018 at 10:40am

The waiting period for the Margs Pro at Uluwatu ends on June 13th. There'll be lots of bread and butter days at Uluwatu - 3, 4, and 5 foot days - but then on the 12th a new swell hits and is currently set to peak at 8ft+ on the 13th - possibly the finals day if they wait for it.

channel-bottom's picture
channel-bottom's picture
channel-bottom Friday, 1 Jun 2018 at 10:58am

Bit jaded by the WSL calls recently.

As much as I would love to see them having a crack at Outside Corner, I can see them wrapping it up in the 4-5 foot stuff.

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Friday, 1 Jun 2018 at 11:01am

Agree. It's already an added expense coming straight from Ziff's hip pocket - no event sponsor etc - and every day added to the waiting period costs more, so if small Racetrack is working they'll send 'em out.