Massive Swell Shakes Up 2025 Margaret River Pro, Forces CT Mid-Season Cuts
The 2025 Margaret River Pro delivered one of the most intense and dramatic days on the Championship Tour (CT) so far, as towering 10-15 foot waves at Main Break wreaked havoc and led to significant eliminations. With the mid-season cut looming, tension was high—and the wild surf only amplified the pressure.
Kicking off with dangerous conditions, the women’s elimination round quickly set the tone. Willow Hardy’s first wave—a 15-footer—only earned a 1.17 but showcased the brutal force of the ocean. Chaos unfolded across early heats with surfers being crushed by massive sets, breaking boards and leashes. Barron Mamiya even got stuck underwater after his leash wrapped around the reef.
The men’s Round of 32 saw several shocking exits. Top-tier surfers like Italo Ferreira, Yago Dora, Filipe Toledo, Ethan Ewing, and defending champion Jack Robinson were all sent packing—many at the hands of lower-ranked surfers or wildcards like Jacob Willcox and Mikey McDonagh.
Ten surfers managed to secure spots above the mid-season cut, including Rio Waida, Jake Marshall, Griffin Colapinto, Joao Chianca, and Alan Cleland Jr. However, ten others fell below the line, including Ryan Callinan, Deivid Silva, Liam O’Brien, and Samuel Pupo. Injured surfers Ramzi Boukhiam and Gabriel Medina also remain below the cut, although Medina has already locked in a wildcard for 2026.
Meanwhile, Alejo Muniz and Matthew McGillivray’s futures hang in the balance, with their qualification hinging on upcoming heats involving Crosby Colapinto, Jackson Bunch, and Imaikalani deVault. DeVault must beat Cleland and Colapinto or Bunch must win to eliminate Muniz.
Alan Cleland Jr.’s victory over Rio Waida was a standout moment. Needing the win to stay on tour, Cleland delivered under pressure, securing a 13.40 to 10.50 victory in emotional fashion.
Other dramatic highlights included Joao Chianca keeping his CT hopes alive with a critical win, Jackson Bunch upsetting world champ Filipe Toledo, and Connor O’Leary edging out Liam O’Brien in a tight contest. O’Leary later spoke on the mental challenge of competing in such high-stress scenarios.
The final men’s heat saw Imaikalani deVault eliminate local hero Jack Robinson in a redemption match, while Crosby Colapinto knocked out Ethan Ewing with some of his best surfing yet. Leonardo Fioravanti lit up the scoreboard with the highest heat total of the day (17.13), including a daring 9-point ride.
Wildcards Jacob Willcox and Mikey McDonagh proved their mettle by eliminating two top contenders. On the women’s side, Bettylou Sakura Johnson and Erin Brooks advanced, while Lakey Peterson and Sally Fitzgibbons face elimination. Only one woman will be cut as the 2026 CT expands.
The WSL now plans to shift competition to The Box—a heavy, barreling reef break—if conditions allow. It would be the first CT event there since 2019. The call is set for 7:15 a.m. AEST on May 21.
With careers on the line and rankings in flux, the next heats at The Box could seal the fate of surfers fighting to stay on tour—or force them into the Challenger Series to earn their way back.