Trialists Set for Drug Aware Margaret River Pro

Caption: Josh Kerr (pictured) will face Adrian Buchan and Alejo Muniz in Round 1 Heat 9 of the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro.
Image: ASP

LOS ANGELES, California/USA (Tuesday, March 25, 2014) – The second stop on the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro, will begin next week with the event trials, which will be held on Tuesday, April 1, 2014. Results from the trials will be announced at the end of the day.

The trials will determine which three athletes will join the Top 34 and Top 17 and complete the field for the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro. Competing for the two remaining spots in the men’s draw, 16 athletes, comprised of eight local surfers from WA and eight regional surfers from Australia, will battle it out at Margaret River’s main break. Eight regional female athletes will battle for the final place to compete against the world’s best at Margaret River. 

Drug Aware Margaret River Pro Men’s Trials:

Mark Occhilupo, 1999 ASP World Champion, was originally scheduled to compete in the Trials but has withdrawn following a back injury. His replacement in the Trials has yet to be determined.

Drug Aware Margaret River Pro Women’s Trials:

 
2014 is the first time in over 20 years that Margaret River has been a WCT stop for both the men and women. This year will also see the first time the infamous right-hand break, the Box, has featured as a competition location.

The Drug Aware Margaret River Pro will be held from April 2 – 13, 2014 and will be webcast LIVE via aspworldtour.com.

The press conference for the event will be held at 10 a.m. local time (WST) on Tuesday, April 1, on the VIP deck at the event site. Please contact  adenman@aspworldtour.com for more information.

Athletes in attendance at the press conference:
–    Mick Fanning (AUS) – reigning three-time ASP World Champion.
–    Gabriel Medina (BRA) – Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Champion and current ASP WCT No. 1.
–    John John Florence (HAW) – former WA event winner.
–    Taj Burrow (AUS) – Western Australian and perennial ASP World Title contender. 
–    Carissa Moore (HAW) – reigning two-time ASP Women’s World Champion and Drug Aware Margaret River Pro Champion. 
–    Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) – Roxy Pro Gold Coast Champion and five-time ASP Women’s World Champion.
–    Tyler Wright (AUS) – 2013 ASP Women’s World Title runner-up.

Drug Aware Margaret River Pro Round 1 Match-ups:
Heat 1: Nat Young (USA), Filipe Toledo (BRA), Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 2: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Sebastian Zietz (HAW), Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 3: Taj Burrow (AUS), Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Adam Melling (AUS), Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 5: Kelly Slater (USA), Bede Durbidge (AUS), TBD
Heat 6: Mick Fanning (AUS), Matt Wilkinson (AUS), TBD
Heat 7: Julian Wilson (AUS), Jeremy Flores (FRA), Dion Atkinson (AUS)
Heat 8: C.J. Hobgood (USA), Miguel Pupo (BRA), Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 9: Josh Kerr (AUS), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Alejo Muniz (BRA)
Heat 10: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Owen Wright (AUS), Jadson Andre (BRA)
Heat 11: Kai Otton (AUS), Michel Bourez (PYF), Mitch Crews (AUS)
Heat 12: Gabriel Medina (BRA), John John Florence (HAW), Kolohe Andino (USA)
 
Drug Aware Margaret River Women’s Pro Round 1 Match-ups:
Heat 1: Courtney Conlogue (USA), Coco Ho (HAW), Alana Blanchard (HAW)
Heat 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Pauline Ado (FRA), Paige Hareb (NZL)
Heat 3: Carissa Moore (HAW), Alessa Quizon (HAW), TBD
Heat 4: Tyler Wright (AUS), Dimity Stoyle (AUS), Johanne Defay (FRA)
Heat 5: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Malia Manuel (HAW), Nikki Van Dijk (AUS)
Heat 6: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF), Lakey Peterson (USA), Laura Enever (AUS)

Located 3.5 hours drive south of Perth in Western Australia’s South West, Margaret River is now officially considered one of the world’s top surfing breaks. The region is also known for its world-class food and wine, spectacular tall timber forests, ancient caves, pristine beaches, whale watching and wildflowers.

For more information on holidaying in Western Australia, visit westernaustralia.com.