As the WSL Championship Tour (CT) heads for the west of Australia, it's perhaps not all that surprising that Stephanie Gilmore is leading the pack once again, arriving there in the Jeep Leaders' yellow jersey. The six-time World Champion is always going to be a favorite on lined-up walls, and she's delivered. But out at the rugged reefs of Western Australia, things get a bit more unpredictable. Margaret River is a demanding break that calls for both mental fortitude and a more spontaneous approach, so keep that in mind as you assess your all-important fantasy picks, then make your picks here.
Stephanie Gilmore - WSL / Ed Sloane
Tier A (pick one)
Options: Lakey Peterson, Stephanie Gilmore, Caroline Marks
Playing It Safe: While Stephanie Gilmore has never won in Margaret River, she does have three Semifinal appearances. Her average heat score is more than a point higher than Peterson's, and her heat win rate is 25 percent higher, too. She'll be surfing with a little extra motivation as well, now that she's wearing the Jeep Leaders' Jersey again.
Rolling the Dice: Lakey Peterson has been knocking on the door of a World Title run for years, and while she appears to have reached a new threshold of performance and mental fortitude, Margaret River will be a huge test. She's only made one Quarterfinal appearance here in five events surfed, so she'll be coming in with something to prove.
The Contrarian: Given her breakout performances at Snapper and Bells, rookie Caroline Marks isn't that much of a contrarian pick. Her powerful backhand attack could be a great fit for the challenging righthanders at Margarets, so don't be at all surprised if she keeps the momentum going.
Carissa Moore - WSL / Ed Sloane
Tier B (pick two)
Options: Carissa Moore, Tatiana Weston-Webb, Keely Andrew, Silvana Lima, Tyler Wright, Johanne Defay, Sally Fitzgibbons, Malia Manuel, Coco Ho
Playing it Safe: Carissa Moore and Tyler Wright are both obvious picks here, as they lead in almost every category at Margaret River. Moore has two wins to Wright's one, with three Finals appearances. She also leads the entire women's field with a heat win rate of 82.61 percent. Tyler's no slouch out here either. She's made four trips to the Finals.
Rolling the Dice: Sally Fitzgibbons is also a former winner out here, and she's put in some of her most inspiring performances when conditions get rough and tricky. She's right behind Carissa and Tyler on average heat score. If you're looking for a bit more separation with your, Silvana Lima has been turning heads. She's escalated her aggressiveness, and the judges are taking note.
The Contrarian: Coco Ho is coming into Margaret River with two straight, ninth-place finishes, and she's only made one Quarterfinal in Western Australia. Statistically, that makes her the longest shot on this list.
Nikki Van Dijk - WSL / Kelly Cestari
Tier C (pick one)
Options: Sage Erickson, Nikki Van Dijk, Macy Callaghan, Paige Hareb, Bronte Macaulay
Playing it Safe: Nikki Van Dijk has the highest average heat score of this bunch at Margaret River, and while she's currently ranked No. 13 she's showing serious signs of growth. She continues to take her licks against the world's best, but she's doing her fair share of disrupting, too.
Rolling the Dice: Paige Hareb doesn't have huge heat score numbers, but she has won a WSL Qualifying Series event out here before. The burly elements of the west are a lot like her New Zealand home, and her powerful backhand could do some damage if she completes her finishing moves. Local Bronte Macaulay is another one worth considering. Her father is a former winner out here, although back in his day, the event was won primarily on the left.
The Contrarian: Macy Callaghan has shown flashes of brilliance in her handful of Championship Tour appearances, but she's yet to drop the hammer. The former World Junior Champ could find her swagger at any moment, but it's hard to say confidently it will happen here.
Make your Fantasy picks here, and watch the Margaret River Pro live daily on the WSL and Facebook from April 11 - 22.
Fantasy Geek Guide: Women's Margaret River Pro
Chris Mauro
As the WSL Championship Tour (CT) heads for the west of Australia, it's perhaps not all that surprising that Stephanie Gilmore is leading the pack once again, arriving there in the Jeep Leaders' yellow jersey. The six-time World Champion is always going to be a favorite on lined-up walls, and she's delivered. But out at the rugged reefs of Western Australia, things get a bit more unpredictable. Margaret River is a demanding break that calls for both mental fortitude and a more spontaneous approach, so keep that in mind as you assess your all-important fantasy picks, then make your picks here.
Tier A (pick one)
Options: Lakey Peterson, Stephanie Gilmore, Caroline Marks
Playing It Safe: While Stephanie Gilmore has never won in Margaret River, she does have three Semifinal appearances. Her average heat score is more than a point higher than Peterson's, and her heat win rate is 25 percent higher, too. She'll be surfing with a little extra motivation as well, now that she's wearing the Jeep Leaders' Jersey again.
Rolling the Dice: Lakey Peterson has been knocking on the door of a World Title run for years, and while she appears to have reached a new threshold of performance and mental fortitude, Margaret River will be a huge test. She's only made one Quarterfinal appearance here in five events surfed, so she'll be coming in with something to prove.
The Contrarian: Given her breakout performances at Snapper and Bells, rookie Caroline Marks isn't that much of a contrarian pick. Her powerful backhand attack could be a great fit for the challenging righthanders at Margarets, so don't be at all surprised if she keeps the momentum going.
Tier B (pick two)
Options: Carissa Moore, Tatiana Weston-Webb, Keely Andrew, Silvana Lima, Tyler Wright, Johanne Defay, Sally Fitzgibbons, Malia Manuel, Coco Ho
Playing it Safe: Carissa Moore and Tyler Wright are both obvious picks here, as they lead in almost every category at Margaret River. Moore has two wins to Wright's one, with three Finals appearances. She also leads the entire women's field with a heat win rate of 82.61 percent. Tyler's no slouch out here either. She's made four trips to the Finals.
Rolling the Dice: Sally Fitzgibbons is also a former winner out here, and she's put in some of her most inspiring performances when conditions get rough and tricky. She's right behind Carissa and Tyler on average heat score. If you're looking for a bit more separation with your, Silvana Lima has been turning heads. She's escalated her aggressiveness, and the judges are taking note.
The Contrarian: Coco Ho is coming into Margaret River with two straight, ninth-place finishes, and she's only made one Quarterfinal in Western Australia. Statistically, that makes her the longest shot on this list.
Tier C (pick one)
Options: Sage Erickson, Nikki Van Dijk, Macy Callaghan, Paige Hareb, Bronte Macaulay
Playing it Safe: Nikki Van Dijk has the highest average heat score of this bunch at Margaret River, and while she's currently ranked No. 13 she's showing serious signs of growth. She continues to take her licks against the world's best, but she's doing her fair share of disrupting, too.
Rolling the Dice: Paige Hareb doesn't have huge heat score numbers, but she has won a WSL Qualifying Series event out here before. The burly elements of the west are a lot like her New Zealand home, and her powerful backhand could do some damage if she completes her finishing moves. Local Bronte Macaulay is another one worth considering. Her father is a former winner out here, although back in his day, the event was won primarily on the left.
The Contrarian: Macy Callaghan has shown flashes of brilliance in her handful of Championship Tour appearances, but she's yet to drop the hammer. The former World Junior Champ could find her swagger at any moment, but it's hard to say confidently it will happen here.
Make your Fantasy picks here, and watch the Margaret River Pro live daily on the WSL and Facebook from April 11 - 22.
Lakey Peterson
Featuring Gabriel Medina, John John Florence, Liam O'Brien, Yago Dora, Italo Ferreira, Carissa Moore, Griffin Colapinto, Tatiana
In a rematch of the the 2019 Final, Lakey Peterson was able to take one back over reigning World Champ and sparring partner Caroline Marks
That's all the 8's and up featuring Jack Robinson, Molly Picklum, Matthew McGillivray, Jordy Smith, Miguel Pupo, Griffin Colapinto, Jacob
Currently sitting at No.16, a Quarterfinals appearance for Lakey Peterson salvages her North Shore run after overtaking Sunset Beach's own
After an early exit at Pipe, Lakey Peterson is ready to fight back and posted an excellent 8.00 over fellow CT veteran Johanne Defay and
Uluwatu CT - Women's
Catch up on last year's action from Margaret River, including the relocation to Bali's Uluwatu to wrap Stop No. 5 on the Championship Tour.
Location, location, location. Did we mention the location's amazing? Subtitled.
It was unusual and entertaining until the very end.
Top action from an eventful finals day at the 2018 Margaret Rive Pro / Uluwatu CT.
Julian Wilson regains Jeep Leader Jersey, Lakey Peterson hangs on after mammoth Final day.