Clean Sweep for Aussie Surfers at Margaret River Pro

Isabella Nichols of Australia competes in the women's final during the Sydney Surf Pro at Manly Beach in Sydney, Australia on March 24, 2019. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Aussies Isabella Nichols and Jack Robinson have taken out the Margaret River Pro in Western Australia.

The victory was Nichols’ first Championship Tour (CT) event win and local hero Jack Robinson’s second.

Hailing from Coolum Beach on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, the 24-year-old Nichols was up against Hawaiian Gabriela Bryan, who had turned in a solid performance to narrowly defeat American Courtney Conlogue in the semi-final.

Nichols had beaten in-form WA local Bronte Macaulay in the second semi-final, and the final was a must-win for Nichols, as a second placing would mean failing to qualify for the midseason cut.

There was no clear favourite when the buzzer announced the start of the final, and both women looked confident in the double-overhead conditions.

However, Nichols demonstrated a little more flair and variety on the wave face to take the event 12.94 to 10.00, meaning she will stay on to surf the rest of the tour.

Speaking at the presentation, Nichols said she tried not to look at the points system and what was going on with the midseason cut, but when she made the semi-final and later saw that Bryan was in the final with her, she knew she had to win to stay on tour.

“But yeah, the goalposts changed throughout the whole week, and first it was a semi, and then it was a final, and then it was a win, and I was like okay, just keep going, and yeah, it worked out,” she said.

“I can’t even tell you in words how it feels right now because, at the start of the day, I was worried about making the cut, and now it’s just, I’m so pumped for G-land, J-Bay, Teahupoo, Brazil, El Salvador, it’s going to be a great year.”

Australias Jack Robinson advances to the quarter-finals of the Hurley Pro at Sunset Beach on the North Shore of Oahu on February 16, 2022. Photo by BRIAN BIELMANN/AFP via Getty Images

Meanwhile, Margaret River’s favourite son, Jack Robinson, overcame event favourite John John Florence in an epic final to take his first Margaret River title and second CT event.

Florence was in devastating form, having just scored 18.90 in his semi-final to take down Matthew McGillivray of South Africa, but Robinson really connected with his home break and crowd during the final.

Both surfers looked superb on the open face, with smooth but critical rail work, layback jams, and solid finishes, but Robinson added a substantial frontside air to the mix.

Neither surfer stuck their first air attempt, but on Robinson’s second, he launched into the air for a full rotation, riding out of it successfully and sending the crowd wild.

Robinson scored 16.24 for his two best waves, narrowly defeating Florence, who ended with 15.60.

“It’s only a short time that I’m here at home on this trip, so yeah, I’m glad to make the most of it,” Robinson said at the presentation.

“But just really special also to share a final with John. We haven’s surfed a man-on-man heat. So yeah, just happy to go against each other...I really respect him.”

Robinson now sits at number three in the world, while Nichols holds the number four spot, one behind fellow Aussie Tyler Wright.

The tour now heads to G-Land, Indonesia, with the event window beginning May 28.