Margaret River, Western Australia — Sixteen pro surfing heats were completed on Day 4 of the Margaret River Pro 2025, held at the 6-8 foot Mainbreak. Despite conditions slowing as the day progressed, wave size remained consistent, providing an intense backdrop for the conclusion of the Women’s Round of 16, followed by the Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals.
The day’s pivotal moment came in the women’s competition, where only one position truly mattered — 14th place, the final qualifying spot for a full year on the expanded Women’s Championship Tour (CT) in 2026. Sally Fitzgibbons, a seasoned competitor, was narrowly edged out by Gabriela Bryan in a last-minute ride that turned the heat on its head. Fitzgibbons’ defeat echoed past heartbreaks, as she floated motionless in the water, visibly distraught, reminiscent of similar moments during world-title deciding heats at Honolua Bay.
In the subsequent heat, Lakey Peterson secured her spot by overcoming Tyler Wright. Early in the heat, Wright dominated the paddle battle for wave priority, a contest commentator Ronnie Blakey described as “submissive” on Peterson’s part. However, Peterson then unleashed an aggressive comeback, securing a commanding 9.10 on a final wave — the highest score of the day — followed by a strong 7.17 backup, sealing her victory.
While winners received attention, the day’s underlying narrative focused on the eliminated contenders, with little official commentary from the World Surf League (WSL). Peterson credited her triumph to intense reflection during previous rest days, deciding, “I’m better than that… I’m not doing that again.” She emphasized Mainbreak’s unique ability to reward sheer will, especially on the women’s side, where determination often tips the scales.
For Fitzgibbons, the loss marked her fourth consecutive failure to retain CT status, following previous near-misses in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Despite a deep-seated belief in her ability and passion for competition, her future remains uncertain.
The 2025 Women’s Tour has experienced a downturn following last year’s surge of hype fueled by standout performances at Pipe, Sunset, and Tahiti. The competition has seen fewer challenging waves, with some events opting to exclude notoriously difficult breaks like The Box, possibly reflecting a protective consensus among women surfers. This has raised questions about whether the athletes are avoiding tough conditions or if the tour is shifting toward safer, less demanding venues.
Judging has also drawn scrutiny, with several heats seeing unexpectedly high scores despite conservative performances. The reintroduction of a lowered scoring scale for women’s surfing appears to undermine progress made in recent years toward recognizing higher-level athleticism.
Heat results mirrored this uncertainty. Erin Brooks launched aggressively against Luana Silva but faltered under pressure, ceding the heat to Silva’s measured safety surfing. Similarly, Vahine Fierro’s close loss to Isabella Nichols sparked calls for a wildcard invitation to Tahiti, where Fierro is the defending champion.
The men’s quarterfinals brought renewed intensity. Griffin Colapinto and Leonardo Fioravanti clashed fiercely, with Colapinto scoring a near-perfect 10 for a high-risk aerial maneuver. Griffin later described the successful move as surreal, confirming the competitive heights being reached. Meanwhile, Crosby Colapinto impressed with powerful turns, making an all-Colapinto final increasingly likely.
Jordy Smith advanced decisively, eliminating the last remaining below-the-line contender, Imaikalani deVault, effectively narrowing the field.
Among the wildcards, retired surfer Bronte Macaulay made headlines with two victories, beating Caroline Marks and Molly Picklum. Marks has struggled this season to replicate her strong form from 2023, possibly due to either a dip in performance or judging criteria focused on variety and risk, although commentary on this was notably absent.
Caitlin Simmers shook off a brief slump with a quarterfinal win over Luana Silva, attributing improved form to better nutrition and wind conditions. She is favored to perform strongly in the upcoming rounds, especially if she incorporates aerial maneuvers on the Mainbreak.
The Colapinto brothers continue to dominate the men’s field, displaying formidable form despite the slow, challenging surf.
Tomorrow’s final day promises to conclude the Margaret River Pro with thrilling matchups and an evaluation of Australia’s strong presence in the contest. While early scheduling delays impacted the event, overall momentum has been positive.
Western Australia Margaret River Pro 2025 — Key Results
Women’s Round of 16:
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Molly Picklum (AUS) def. Bella Kenworthy (USA) 9.17–8.10
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Bronte Macaulay (AUS) def. Caroline Marks (USA) 8.73–8.33
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Caitlin Simmers (USA) def. Brisa Hennessy (CRC) 14.50–14.16
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Luana Silva (BRA) def. Erin Brooks (CAN) 12.80–12.50
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Gabriela Bryan (HAW) def. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 12.83–11.83
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Sawyer Lindblad (USA) def. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) 9.20–5.73
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Isabella Nichols (AUS) def. Vahine Fierro (FRA) 13.33–10.84
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Lakey Peterson (USA) def. Tyler Wright (AUS) 16.10–14.27
Women’s Quarterfinals:
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Bronte Macaulay (AUS) def. Molly Picklum (AUS) 15.00–12.54
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Caitlin Simmers (USA) def. Luana Silva (BRA) 9.50–8.84
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Gabriela Bryan (HAW) def. Sawyer Lindblad (USA) 12.97–8.83
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Lakey Peterson (USA) def. Isabella Nichols (AUS) 16.34–14.33
Men’s Quarterfinals:
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Griffin Colapinto (USA) def. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 16.33–15.73
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Barron Mamiya (HAW) def. Connor O’Leary (JPN) 11.16–8.66
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Crosby Colapinto (USA) def. Jacob Willcox (AUS) 15.66–11.10
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Jordy Smith (RSA) def. Imaikalani deVault (HAW) 14.50–11.50