Probably not the easiest lineup for an average surfer to get a wave. Photo: YouTube//Screenshot
The Western Australia Margaret River Pro is revving its motor for a first call at dawn on May 17. It’s the final leg of the so-called “Aussie Treble” and the forecast looks good. Unless something changes pretty drastically, we’re looking at the horn firing early in the morning on day one of the window.
As is generally the case, those competing at Margs’ Main Break are there, getting their feet in the wax and acclimated to the place. It can be an incredible wave (and let’s not forget that the Box sits within spitting distance) when conditions line up.
It’s interesting to know how, exactly, those waves are created. As the Roaring Forties howl east towards Western Australia, they’re driven by the displacement of air from the equator towards the South Pole. There is pretty much nothing in their way, so they can generate extraordinary force, and with them, extraordinary waves.
A few miles out, at the bottom of the sea, there’s an offshore trench. Similar to how the Nazaré canyon works, that trench pulls the energy from the swells and focusses them towards Margs’ Main Break and the Box.
In 2024, Gabriela Bryan and Jack Robinson took home the winner’s trophies at the Margaret River Pro, but with 2025 being the last time we’ll see a mid-year cut, the bottom half of the Championship Tour is going to be pressing to avoid relegation to the Challenger Series. Which means the competition should be fairly intense. Careers could be made, or broken in West Oz.
The video you see here was created by Surfers of Bali. “With a solid swell and a stiff offshore breeze,” SOB wrote, “a big chunk of the Championship Tour surfers were in the water at Margaret River Main Break preparing for the upcoming contest. There were plenty of double overhead sets with some of the bigger waves shutting down the right, the world’s best surfers were still able to thrive in the challenging conditions.”
