Though he won’t compete, this is Occy, mid-way through a classic bottom turn at Margaret River. Photo: ASP/ Robertson
The 2014 Drug Aware Margaret River Pro, the second tour stop of the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP Men’s and Women’s World Championship Tour, is scheduled to start on April 2nd with a waiting period that extends through April 13th.
As the title sponsor for this event, Drug Aware’s message will be prominently on display for its targeted Western Australian youth, as well as for the live streaming worldwide audience, namely helping all to gain a better understanding of the risks involved with the misuse of drugs. In Drug Aware’s own words: “Drug Aware is a program that targets young people with messages that focus on prevention of harm. The program also guides and develops strategies to create environments that support the prevention of drug related harm for young people where they may be at risk.”
The southern hemisphere’s early autumn running of the 2014 Drug Aware Margaret River Pro sets the event up for the region’s prime swell season, matched with the area’s optimum weather conditions, hopefully resulting in well-groomed peaks for the event.
Facing directly into a consistent and long-uninterrupted swell fetch on the southwest corner of Australia, Margaret River has all the potential to produce excellent surf for the 2014 Drug Aware Margaret River Pro. Margaret River’s limestone reef is predominantly a left, which produces powerful thick peeling sections ending with a challenging slabby bowl. The Margaret River event may very well see competing surfers utilizing equipment with a slight increase in volume, in an attempt to generate longer, more powerful turns on the complex waves on offer. The world’s best surfers will be rigorously tested looking for the winning combination to unlocking victory.
Women’s defending champion Carissa Moore will be keenly focused to both defend last year’s event title, and to retain her position as world #1 on the Women’s ASP WCT, whereas men’s defending champion Dusty Payne will be unable to give a defense of last year’s event title, having failed to re-qualify for the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP Men’s WCT.
As winners of the last nine ASP World Championship Tour titles, Mick Fanning, Kelly Slater, and Joel Parkinson have suitably been given the moniker of “the usual suspects.” As such, each of these World Champions will be poised to position themselves to stand atop the podium at the 2014 Drug Aware Margaret River Pro.
Jordy Smith, John John Florence and Julian Wilson are all dynamic surfers with world title talent and aspirations who will look to turn things around in a big way after their shocking early round losses at Tour Stop #1 – the 2014 Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast.
Conversely, after a strong performance and result at the 2014 Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, semifinalist Taj Burrow will be more than stoked to combine his local knowledge and experience to fuel another excellent result in the early going of the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP Men’s World Championship Tour. Undoubtedly, Taj will be fervent to provide Margaret River with a conquering hometown hero to accentuate Margaret River’s return to the World Championship Tour.
Both current Women’s World #1 Stephanie Gilmore and Men’s World #1 Gabriel Medina will be looking for a strong result at the 2014 Drug Aware Margaret River Pro to solidify their early ratings lead on the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour.
All the live and on-demand action will be webcast here.
