Day 1 Rundown: 2026 Western Australia Margaret River Pro Kicks Off with Powerful Surf at Main Break

The 2026 WSL Championship Tour Event 2, the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, began on April 16 at Surfers Point (Main Break) in solid long-period southwest groundswell with offshore winds creating clean, heavy walls. Day 1 saw strong progress in both men's and women's divisions under the 2026 format, with men's Round 1 and Round 2 completed (along with women's early rounds). Competition advanced up to Round 3 in key sections as the field narrowed quickly.

Highest Wave Score of the Day
Jack Thomas (AUS, wildcard) – 8.33
Yallingup local and WA Trials winner Jack Thomas delivered a standout backhand clinic in Men's Round 1. He posted an excellent **8.33** (backed by a 7.00) for a **15.33** heat total, defeating CT rookie Mateus Herdy (12.96) and advancing strongly. This was highlighted as one of the top single-wave scores of the opening day. Day 1 Highlights (Men's & Women's)
- **Local wildcards shine**: Jack Thomas turned the tables with sharp, committed backhand surfing using local knowledge. Margaret River's own **Jacob Willcox** proved wildcard-worthy again, posting a strong **7.83** (plus another solid score for a competitive total around 14.93) in his Round 1 heat against rookie Oscar Berry (who scored **12.40** but faced the home pressure).
- **Samuel Pupo goes big in Round 2**: Fresh off strong Bells Beach form, Brazilian Samuel Pupo posted a massive **15.50** heat total in Men's Round 2 (defeating Cole Houshmand's 11.60), putting the rest of the field on notice with high-line, powerful surfing.
- **Other notable men's scores**: Kanoa Igarashi ignited proceedings in Round 2 with an **8.50** wave in his heat total of **15.23** (defeating Ethan Hanneman 11.67).
- **Women's action**: Rookie Erin Brooks rattled veteran Stephanie Gilmore in a close Round 1 battle. Carissa Moore advanced strongly, and Sally Fitzgibbons fought back to win her heat. Bronte Macaulay (WA Trials winner) represented the locals in the women's field.

The refreshed format kept every heat high-stakes, with no elimination safety net.

Women's Round 1 and parts of Round 2 also progressed, with winners moving forward. The draw has tightened significantly. Full heat draw, live results, and remaining matchups (including Round 3) are available on the official WSL site. Next call is **tomorrow morning, April 17 at 6:50 AM AWST**.

Swell Outlook
Day 1 delivered 6-8ft+ long-period SW groundswell with offshore winds for powerful, clean conditions at Main Break.
**Looking ahead**: The current swell eases on April 17 (potentially smaller surf or variable winds), with a new Southern Ocean pulse building for the weekend (mixed 6-8ft sets possible under improving winds). A larger system may arrive mid-to-late event window, though winds could shift — classic dynamic Margaret River conditions that may include lay days. Monitor the WSL app or Surfline for updates.

Day 1 delivered local flair, big scores, and high-stakes action at the raw West Oz venue. The 2026 Margaret River Pro is off to a strong start — more heavy surfing expected!