### Day 2 at the 2026 Margaret River Pro: Gritty Battles in Messy Margs Conditions

Day 2 of the 2026 Margaret River Pro delivered a tough, unpredictable session at Main Break. Instead of clean, sunny walls, surfers faced messy, "dirty" conditions with wind-affected waves and the threat of approaching storms looming over Western Australia. The powerful but inconsistent swell tested adaptability, rewarding those who could find the best sections amid the chop.

A marathon effort saw the event push through to complete the **Men's Quarterfinals**, while the women advanced deeper into their early rounds. Established stars fired back under pressure, but the tricky conditions produced plenty of close calls and gritty performances.

#### Men's Highlights: From Round 2 to Quarterfinals

Men's competition was fierce. Standouts included:

- **Samuel Pupo** (BRA) continued his strong form, posting an 8.00 ride to defeat **Kanoa Igarashi** (JPN) and advance.
- **Crosby Colapinto** (USA) delivered a clutch performance to beat brother **Griffin Colapinto** (USA) in an emotional family matchup, earning his first Quarterfinal appearance of the 2026 season.
- **Ethan Ewing** (AUS) swung back into form with a solid win over World No. 1 **Miguel Pupo** (BRA).
- **Gabriel Medina** (BRA) powered through a heavyweight clash against local hope **Jack Robinson** (AUS).

Other notable Round 2 results carried momentum into the later stages:
- Samuel Pupo had earlier posted a high 15.50 total.
- Kanoa Igarashi scored 15.23 with an excellent ride.
- Close battles included Italo Ferreira narrowly edging Ramzi Boukhiam (13.47 to 13.33).
- Liam O’Brien, George Pittar, and others also advanced earlier in the day.

By the end of Day 2, the **Men's Quarterfinalists** had emerged after navigating the messy lineup. The quarterfinal heats set up exciting matchups for when competition resumes (next call: Wednesday, April 22).

#### Women's Highlights: Power Surfers Shine

The women also contended with the challenging conditions. Key moments included:

- **Reigning World Champion Molly Picklum** (AUS) brought the power on home soil, going excellent and defeating veteran **Sally Fitzgibbons** (AUS) 2-0 in a strong display.
- **Caroline Marks** (USA) marched through with a solid 6.50 score in her heat.
- The upper echelon of the women's field generally held strong, with rising talents and established names showing resilience in the dirty surf.

Women's Round 2 saw several tight contests, setting up further progression as the event heads toward the quarters.

#### Quarterfinal Matchups & What's Next

With Men's Quarterfinals now locked in, fans can look forward to high-stakes heats when the event resumes after the storm window. The women's side continues to build toward their own decisive rounds.

Conditions at Margaret River remain powerful but fickle — Main Break (and potentially The Box) will dictate the next phase. The event window runs through April 26, with competition on hold until at least Wednesday, April 22, as storms clear.

This gritty Day 2 proved that Margaret River rewards adaptability and mental toughness. World Champions and top contenders stepped up, while the messy surf weeded out those who couldn't adjust.

(Highlights, replays, and full results available on worldsurfleague.com. Photos and coverage via WSL.)

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