"We're just making history, bro," said Sebastian Zietz with a huge grin. In the last heat of Round One of the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro Seabass scored the first 10 of the event, on the first ever day of competition at North Point.
His heat was a fair representation of the day. It featured a restart when all surfers failed to ride a wave in the first 15 minutes. Post restart, the defending champion waited another 12 minutes with priority, only to open with a 0.37. Like the 11 heats prior, it was a case of feast or famine as a more south angled swell resulted in long lulls. It could be slow as treacle, then turn on with waves of raw power and perfection.
The 11X Champ wins his heat despite tricky conditions early at North Point
With a population of 323, sketchy internet, a single general store, and one road in and out, the move to Gracetown wasn't without its challenges. Competitors changed in the back of their cars, and warmed-up over lumps of ochre colored basalt. "I love it here, it's raw and fresh," said Connor Coffin, in no way fazed. "We don't need lockers or a VIP set up, not when the waves are like this."
The world's best surfers finally get their crack at North Point.
And, of course, it was North Point, the fabled, but fickle, break that was the focus. "The wave is the hero," said WSL commentator Pottz at one stage. However with the potential of the wave so high, the judges were forced to set the scoring low. "They were the two best three-point rides I've ever had," said Jack Freestone, after progressing with a heat total of 6.77.
Joe Turpel and Martin Potter break down Opening Day of the Drug Aware Pro
In most heats the surfers needed just one North Point green-blue gem to get through and only a few of the day's standouts managed to nail a strong two-wave combo. Jordy Smith and John Florence were two of the favorites to do so. Smith's knowledge of the wave meant great reads of the inside drainers, while the World Champ was one of the few to stick a big air in the offshore conditions.
Florence sealed his heat win with a big frontside rotor. - WSL / Matt Dunbar
At the other end of the experience and rankings spectrum, Brazilian goofyfooters Jesse Mendes and Ian Gouveia reveled in the conditions to post big scores and send former World Champ Gabriel Medina and Owen Wright into Round Two. "You sit there and see the waves capping way out the back and your heart starts racing," said the event wildcard, and number one QS ranked surfer, Mendes. "You just know you are about to get a sick double-up."
Yet sometimes it didn't double-up as much as it doubled-down. For example Kelly Slater progressed with a heat total of 8.07 and Julian Wilson with a 4.90. "It's a bit of fool's gold out there," Wilson said afterwards. "I was probably guilty of overpsyching, because you know when you get the right one, the wave will be incredible."
No superstructure, just super waves. - WSL / Ed Sloane
The very next heat however, as the sun was about to be poached by the Atlantic, Seabass illustrated why the dice had been thrown at North Point. It showed that eight seconds at North Point can make a day. Heck, better than that, eight seconds at North Point can make a life.
North Point in all her glory. - WSL / Ed Sloane
North Point Awakens on Opening Day of Drug Aware Pro
WSL
"We're just making history, bro," said Sebastian Zietz with a huge grin. In the last heat of Round One of the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro Seabass scored the first 10 of the event, on the first ever day of competition at North Point.
His heat was a fair representation of the day. It featured a restart when all surfers failed to ride a wave in the first 15 minutes. Post restart, the defending champion waited another 12 minutes with priority, only to open with a 0.37. Like the 11 heats prior, it was a case of feast or famine as a more south angled swell resulted in long lulls. It could be slow as treacle, then turn on with waves of raw power and perfection.
With a population of 323, sketchy internet, a single general store, and one road in and out, the move to Gracetown wasn't without its challenges. Competitors changed in the back of their cars, and warmed-up over lumps of ochre colored basalt. "I love it here, it's raw and fresh," said Connor Coffin, in no way fazed. "We don't need lockers or a VIP set up, not when the waves are like this."
And, of course, it was North Point, the fabled, but fickle, break that was the focus. "The wave is the hero," said WSL commentator Pottz at one stage. However with the potential of the wave so high, the judges were forced to set the scoring low. "They were the two best three-point rides I've ever had," said Jack Freestone, after progressing with a heat total of 6.77.
In most heats the surfers needed just one North Point green-blue gem to get through and only a few of the day's standouts managed to nail a strong two-wave combo. Jordy Smith and John Florence were two of the favorites to do so. Smith's knowledge of the wave meant great reads of the inside drainers, while the World Champ was one of the few to stick a big air in the offshore conditions.
At the other end of the experience and rankings spectrum, Brazilian goofyfooters Jesse Mendes and Ian Gouveia reveled in the conditions to post big scores and send former World Champ Gabriel Medina and Owen Wright into Round Two. "You sit there and see the waves capping way out the back and your heart starts racing," said the event wildcard, and number one QS ranked surfer, Mendes. "You just know you are about to get a sick double-up."
Yet sometimes it didn't double-up as much as it doubled-down. For example Kelly Slater progressed with a heat total of 8.07 and Julian Wilson with a 4.90. "It's a bit of fool's gold out there," Wilson said afterwards. "I was probably guilty of overpsyching, because you know when you get the right one, the wave will be incredible."
The very next heat however, as the sun was about to be poached by the Atlantic, Seabass illustrated why the dice had been thrown at North Point. It showed that eight seconds at North Point can make a day. Heck, better than that, eight seconds at North Point can make a life.
Sebastian Zietz
Featuring Ethan Ewing, Tatiana Weston-Webb, Italo Ferreira, Jordy Smith, Samuel Pupo, Jack Robinson. Yago Dora, Gabriel Medina, Carissa
Tomoda-Bannert Claims Maiden QS Victory, Asing Returns Local Motion To South Shore, Big Runner-Up Showings From Eweleiula Wong, Isaiah
Here are five must-see heats from an epic year at the wild and rugged Margaret River, in Western Australia.
Peter "Joli" Wilson has had a front row seat for some of the greatest moments in surf history. Here, he shares his memories from West OZ.
Season 1, Episode 5
This week we catch up with some of the world's best surfers and commentators. We talk island living, pivotal performances, and more.
Drug Aware Margaret River Pro
The WSL filmmakers go behind the scenes to capture all of the action from the 2017 Drug Aware Margaret River Pro.
The Californian is absorbing another round of life lessons during his roller-coaster ride in 2017.
If the charismatic Australian is to save his year he'll need to get busy at the Hurley Pro.
The rookie from Portugal talks about his huge upset win over Mick Fanning and John John Florence in Round Four.