Australian surfing veteran Sally Fitzgibbons has taken a crucial step toward securing her place on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour, advancing through the elimination round at the Margaret River Pro on Tuesday.
Facing a high-stakes heat against Hawaii’s Bettylou Sakura Johnson and local trials winner Willow Hardy, Fitzgibbons delivered a composed performance in challenging conditions, with wave faces peaking at five metres following two days of delays due to weather.
Sakura Johnson, who defeated Fitzgibbons in the Gold Coast Pro final last weekend, again emerged victorious with a combined score of 8.84. Fitzgibbons followed closely with 8.33, edging out Hardy (7.97) in a tightly contested heat where less than a point separated all three surfers.
Fitzgibbons now faces world No. 1 and defending Margaret River champion Gabriela Bryan in the next round. Ranked 14th, the 2017 Margaret River winner needs to reach at least the quarter-finals to secure her place on the 2026 tour. A finish outside the top 10 could see her fall victim to the mid-season cut for the third consecutive year, unless she maintains her current ranking. The women’s tour will expand next season, slightly easing qualification pressure.
American veteran Lakey Peterson, also battling to stay on tour, advanced through her own elimination heat. She remains the only surfer still in contention to potentially overtake Fitzgibbons for a spot.
Meanwhile, fellow Australian Ryan Callinan was not as fortunate. The 32-year-old from Newcastle was eliminated in his round against Hawaiian Barron Mamiya and Jacob Willcox, marking the end of his Championship Tour season. Callinan, who missed two events due to injury and the birth of his child earlier this month, fell to 34th in the rankings. Only the top 22 men qualify for the next stop at Lower Trestles in California.
Despite Callinan’s exit, Australians Mikey McDonagh and Winter Vincent both advanced through their elimination heats to reach the round of 32.
The Margaret River Pro continues this week as competitors battle not only the elements but also the pressure of the WSL’s critical mid-season cut.