<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Today, <strong>Gabriela Bryan</strong> (HAW) and <strong>Jordy Smith</strong> (RSA) won the <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/events/2025/ct/326/western-australia-margaret-river-pro/main" target="_blank">Western Australia Margaret River Pro</a>, Stop No. 7 on the 2025 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT). It was a shorter Finals Day, featuring the Semifinals and Finals in slower conditions at Main Break, but still delivered standout moments and performances from the finalists. Bryan earned back-to-back wins at Margaret River with a commanding showing, marking her second event win of the season. Smith also secured his second victory of the year. This is a repeat podium for Bryan and Smith, as they both claimed victory in El Salvador earlier this year. As the only two surfers with two victories this season, their success further solidifies their positions on top of the rankings as the CT heads to Lower Trestles in San Clemente, Calif. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Gabriela Bryan Goes Back-to-Back at Margaret River, Earns Second CT Win of the Season To Stay World No. 1</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Gabriela Bryan</strong> (HAW) made it back-to-back victories at the event that she has come to define in the modern era. The 23-year-old competed in her first CT Final in Margaret River in 2022, doing exactly what she needed to keep herself on Tour and earn the Rookie of the Year title that season. Bryan then earned her first-ever CT event win at the location in 2024, before now backing it up a year later. Having been at risk of the Mid-season Cut in each previous showing, Bryan currently sits in a very different position. In 2025, Bryan returned to Western Australia wearing the Yellow Leader Jersey, largely thanks to her win in El Salvador. Bryan will now retain her status as World No. 1 headed into Stop No. 8, the Lexus Trestles Pro, after her third CT victory today.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"It's incredible, I mean, I tried not to think about going back-to-back, but how cool it would have been to see my name twice on the stairs, one after the other," Bryan said. "So yeah, it's a really cool accomplishment. I don't feel like [the World No. 1]. I am, but yeah, yellow, wow. I try to just tell myself it's red, but I'm getting used to it. Every heat I have with it I get more comfortable. I thought I lost it over at Burleigh and then to come back with a win and now to wear it at Lowers. I can't wait to compete there, I haven’t competed there since I was a junior."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Since sharing their first major Final together in the 2021 US Open of Surfing, the pure power of Bryan and the style and flow of <strong>Caity Simmers</strong> (USA) have been distinct contrasts. Though Simmers’ career has taken a steeper trajectory since winning that event, Bryan went on to win the Challenger Series that year. More than ever, the 2025 season is highlighting the fact that the two are defining modern-day performance in surfing - to the point that for two events running, the pair have been sitting with equal points in the rankings. In a battle for who would break ahead of their deadlock, Bryan opened with a near-perfect 9.50, the highest single-wave score of her career. Earning the score through a series of four full-power gouges, Bryan quickly backed it up with a 7.83, to leave Simmers, the reigning World Champion, in need of a combination of two high-scoring waves to take the lead. Though Simmers had opened up with a 7.17 of her own, the 19-year-old was unable to crack into the elevated range of Bryan, who had also earned an excellent 16.34 heat total in her Semifinal defeat of <strong>Lakey Peterson </strong>(USA).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"I'm honestly speechless, I don't even know what to think," Bryan said. "That 9.50 was just the wave. I turned around and that thing just came right at me. I saw the wave and it had a perfect line. I just kind of went out there, like just got to surf my heart out, and that's what I did on that wave. And then I was lucky enough to get a backup before it went flat. So yeah, I'm so stoked." </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Reigning World Champion Caity Simmers Returns to the Podium in Margaret River</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Caity Simmers</strong> (USA) returned to the podium for the first time since winning the second event of the season, the Surf Abu Dhabi Pro, to appear in her third Final this year. After a strong start in 2025, Simmers had been unable to break out of the Round of 16 in Australia but returned to form in Margaret River. Simmers defeated a series of solid performers, including <strong>Brisa Hennessy</strong> (CRC), <strong>Luana Silva</strong> (BRA), and <strong>Bronte Macaulay </strong>(AUS) to make her first Margaret River Pro Final with the fast, stylish rail work that has come to be expected of the 2024 World Champion.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"It was just cool that we got a couple waves in that heat, because it was pretty inconsistent, and there actually ended up being waves in our heat," Simmers said. "But yeah, I think we have two different styles of surfing, and we both can get good scores from it. That's the beauty of surfing, there's not a straightforward way to do it. And [Gabriela Bryan] just won fair and square, there was no other way to put it. But yeah, it's really fun to watch. I had a perfect view of both of her waves. After I got my waves, I just turned around, and she's getting the 9.50, and then her next wave, too. I literally watched both of them from paddling out, and I was just like, well, whatever." </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Jordy Smith Furthers World Title Campaign with WA Victory, Leads Men’s CT Field Heading Into Lowers</strong> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Competing in his 18th season on Tour, <strong>Jordy Smith </strong>(RSA) has claimed a second CT win within the same season for the first time of his long tenure. Since winning his first CT in eight years in El Salvador, the 37-year-old has continued his exceptional form to now sit with a strong lead in the rankings as World No. 1. Having previously placed runner-up to the World Title in 2010 and 2016, Smith has been in the Title conversation for much of his career, and now sits in the prime position to deliver on that promise. Smith has previously won three of the four remaining regular-season events. Two of those he has won twice, both in locations that he has called home, Trestles and J-Bay.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"It feels incredible, I think it's just a testament to like, every day keep showing up, trusting what you're doing," Smith said. "I can't just say that I've been doing all the work, I've got such a great team of people behind me. For me, this year, it's just really been about have fun and enjoy this because it's not forever. I think everyone's going to be fighting for that top five now, there's a lot of guys that are swinging for it, so that's going to be really exciting. And I think just having that opportunity to kind of push yourself against all the best in the world is all I'm really looking for, and yeah, take every day for what it is and don't think too far down the line."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After moving through an extremely wide range of conditions, from huge, unruly Main Break, to slab perfection at The Box, the men’s Final was decided in small, inconsistent surf that saw only three waves ridden. With two previous Margaret River Pro runners-up, Smith and<strong> Griffin Colapinto</strong> (USA), battling for their first event win, a fiery exchange was expected, but quite the opposite took place. Smith opened with the single defining wave of the Final, an 8.50, earned through a variety of maneuvers, echoing the type of surfing the South African had delivered throughout the event, and across his long career. Meanwhile, after opening early with a 4.83, Colapinto dropped anchor, waiting for a wave that never arrived, and closed his account with just a single score.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"I'm so stoked bru," Smith said. "It's been a lot this week, a lot this last two or three months. Two people I want to dedicate it to, obviously my family first and foremost: my wife, my mother, my father, my sister, and my two sons. And then, this is for Jack McCoy. He passed away just recently. It's someone that's inspired me throughout my whole life. All his movies, his videos, his family. This is for you guys. I'm sending all my love and prayers are with you guys." </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Griffin Colapinto Vaults Back up CT Rankings with First Final of 2025 Season</strong> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Griffin Colapinto</strong> (USA) again proved himself to be one of the most consistent surfers in Western Australia. The 26-year-old has made at least Quarterfinals every season in the event since 2021, finishing runner-up for the first time in 2023. Entering the GWM Aussie Treble ranked 26th and in danger of the Mid-season Cut, Colapinto rose 15 places across the three events to now sit at No. 11, one place outside of the Top 10, after making his first Final of the season. Colapinto delivered a highlight reel of performances throughout the event, including a Perfect 10 for one of the most impressive full rotation air reverses delivered in competition and a 9.00 for a mind-blowing exit from a Box barrel. The Californian will now return home to San Clemente for Stop No. 8, his first chance to compete in a regular-season CT event at his home break of Lower Trestles.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"When we got in the water, I was having flashbacks to when I was, I must have been like 13 or 14 up at like 1am watching [Jordy Smith] win J-Bay," Colapinto said. "And I was staying up watching him win that, and then Modern Collective, and that being like my favorite movie ever. And then to us in a Final together is just a cool chain of events, you know, over time. So yeah, super grateful and psyched to see Jordy back on top and doing his thing again. Guy's one of my favorite surfers. Coming into this event, I was a little bit nervous about the Cut. Both my brother and I were on the bubble. So to get past that, it just feels like we're playing with house money and the weight's off our shoulders. I'm so excited to be going home and feeling that way."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In a repeat of the 2024 MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal, the Colapinto brothers missed out on a shared Final by one heat. In both events, the brothers, Griffin and <strong>Crosby Colapinto</strong> (USA), moved through the event on opposite sides of the draw all the way to the Semifinals, before the younger brother, Crosby, was eliminated and the older, Griffin, progressed into the Final. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Bronte Macaulay Earns Excellent Third-Place Result in Wildcard Run</strong> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The two standout surfers from the women’s Quarterfinals, <strong>Bronte Macaulay</strong> (AUS) and <strong>Lakey Peterson </strong>(USA), were unable to tap into the same rhythm that saw them post some of the highest numbers of the previous round. The strong showing in the event for Macaulay was a fitting finish to the career of the local Wildcard and former CT veteran, who had stated that this would likely be her last time in the competition jersey at the CT level. Currently studying to be a teacher, Macaulay is now pouring her energy into coaching the next generation of women from Western Australia. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Isabella Nichols and Jordy Smith Win Inaugural GWM Aussie Treble</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The GWM Aussie Treble culminated at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro after moving through two other Australian states with the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach and Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro. The inaugural trophies were handed to <strong>Isabella Nichols</strong> (AUS) and <strong>Jordy Smith</strong> (RSA), along with keys to a brand new GWM Tank 300, as the winners of the series that collected points from across the three events.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Winning an event in Australia, let alone winning the Treble, is super, super special," Nichols said. "I couldn't have done it without everyone here supporting me. I want to dedicate this win to my sister, the newlyweds, Helena and George. Also, thanks to my family for being here, Mike McAuliffe for housing us, Kurt [Jacobs], Bottle [Jay Thompson], everyone who's been in my corner. I couldn't have done this without everyone's support. And also everyone here in W.A., thanks for the love. We always love coming here. Thanks for hosting such an incredible event."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For more information and highlights from the 2025 Western Australia Margaret River Pro, please visit <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/" target="_blank">WorldSurfLeague.com</a>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong><a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/athletes/tour/wct?year=2025" target="_blank">Championship Tour Requalification and Relegation</a></strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Western Australia Margaret River Pro marks the final stop before the Mid-season Cut, a pivotal moment in the 2025 CT season where the field is reduced for the back half of the Tour and crucial to determine 2026 CT requalification. Following this event, only the top 22 men and top 10 women on the CT rankings will advance to the next four events, earning their place at iconic venues like J-Bay and Teahupoʻo. For those who make the Cut, it’s a major step toward World Title contention and the WSL Finals in Fiji. For others, it’s the end of their CT run for 2025 and the start of the battle to requalify for 2026 through the Challenger Series.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The 2025 Challenger Series will begin in Newcastle, Australia on June 2, 2025, and hold a competition window through June 8.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/events/2025/cs?all=1" target="_blank">View the 2025 Challenger Series schedule</a>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Women’s</strong> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Made the Cut:</strong> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Gabriela Bryan (HAW)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Caity Simmers (USA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Molly Picklum (AUS)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Isabella Nichols (AUS) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Tyler Wright (AUS) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Caroline Marks (USA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Luana Silva (BRA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Lakey Peterson (USA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Erin Brooks (CAN)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Missed the Cut (Will Not Continue to 2025 CT Backhalf, Qualified for 2026 CT):</strong> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Sawyer Lindblad (USA) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Vahine Fierro (FRA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Bella Kenworthy (USA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Brisa Hennessy (CRC)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Relegated to the Challenger Series:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Johanne Defay (FRA) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Nadia Erostarbe (ESP) </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Men’s</strong> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Made the Cut:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Jordy Smith (RSA) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Italo Ferreira (BRA) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Yago Dora (BRA) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Kanoa Igarashi (JPN)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Barron Mamiya (HAW) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Ethan Ewing (AUS) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Filipe Toledo (BRA) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Jack Robinson (AUS)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Miguel Pupo (BRA) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Griffin Colapinto (USA) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Jake Marshall (USA) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Rio Waida (INA) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Connor O’Leary (JPN) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Marco Mignot (FRA) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Crosby Colapinto (USA) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Alan Cleland (MEX) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Joao Chianca (BRA) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Joel Vaughan (AUS) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Seth Moniz (HAW) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Cole Houshmand (USA) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Alejo Muniz (BRA) </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Missed the Cut/Relegated to Challenger Series:</strong> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Matthew McGillivray (RSA) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Liam O’Brien (AUS) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Jackson Bunch (HAW) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- George Pittar (AUS) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Ian Gouveia (BRA) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Samuel Pupo (BRA) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Imaikalani deVault (HAW)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Deivid Silva (BRA) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Ian Gentil (HAW) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Edgard Groggia (BRA) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Ryan Callinan (AUS) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Gabriel Medina (BRA) - Awarded 2026 WSL Season Wildcard </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For more information, please visit <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/" target="_blank">WorldSurfLeague.com</a>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Western Australia Margaret River Pro Women’s Final Results:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1 - Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 17.33 </div><div style="text-align: justify;">2 - Caitlin Simmers (USA) 12.84</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Western Australia Margaret River Pro Men’s Final Results:</strong> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">1 - Jordy Smith (RSA) 12.00 </div><div style="text-align: justify;">2 - Griffin Colapinto (USA) 4.83</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Western Australia Margaret River Pro Women’s Semifinal Results:</strong> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 1: Caitlin Simmers (USA) 14.00 DEF. Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 9.34</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 2: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 16.34 DEF. Lakey Peterson (USA) 11.64</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Western Australia Margaret River Pro Men’s Semifinal Results:</strong> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 1: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 12.17 DEF. Barron Mamiya (HAW) 7.44</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 2: Jordy Smith (RSA) 14.67 DEF. Crosby Colapinto (USA) 6.67</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Next Stop: Lexus Trestles Pro Presented by Outerknown</strong> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Stop No. 8 on the 2025 WSL Championship Tour will be the Lexus Trestles Pro Presented by Outerknown. The event will hold a competition window from June 9 - 17, 2025. The event will be broadcast LIVE on <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/" target="_blank">WorldSurfLeague.com</a>, and the free <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/world-surf-league/id966709252" target="_blank">WSL App</a>. <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/waystowatch" target="_blank">Check out more ways to watch from the WSL's broadcast partners</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><em>The Western Australia Margaret River Pro is Proudly Supported by Tourism WA, Red Bull, YETI, Surfline, True Surf, Bonsoy, GWM, Stone & Wood, Oakberry, Hydralyte, Bioglan Boost Mobile, Bond University, Fatboy Bikes, Rusty, Shire of Augusta Margaret River, and Spudshed.</em> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For more information, please visit <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/" target="_blank">WorldSurfLeague.com</a>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>