‘Surgery Went Well!’ Says Woz

Have you seen the Woz’s hot new rig? The mid year cut is over.

With the mens cut locked up yesterday, there were only five spots left to secure for the women. After just four heats, three of them had gone to Steph Gilmore, Caroline Marks and Bettylou Sakura Johnson. Lakey Peterson and Gabriela Bryan nicked the other two as Sal Fitz lost to Caroline Marks and got kicked off the CT for the second time in a row.

Just eight heats for the men today – the top 22 all appeared far more relaxed after extending their contracts another twelve months yesterday. Spicy surfing from John Florence and Ethan Ewing, who will face off in the Quarter finals next round. Fil and Gab is the other heat to watch.

The Box was unbelievable this morning. Groms Lennix Smith, Hughie Vaughan and Macklin Flynn had it to themselves for a full hour and said it was the best it’s been all week. By this arvo both The Box and Main Break had deteriorated . 

Forey not looking like we’ll see any competition tomorrow.

TLDR

• The CT gets liposuction – prepares hot new rig for Lemoore
• Steph Gilmore, BLSJ, Caroline Marks, Lakey Peterson and Gabriela Bryan make cut
• Axed: Sally Fitzgibbons, Cortney Conlogue, Brisa Hennessy, Johanne Defay
• Big QF matchups set: John Florence vs Ethan Ewing. Gabriel Medina vs Filipe Toledo
• Medina into Finals Day for first time in ‘23
• Standout: Caroline Marks 17.27 and 16.50 heat totals

The second half of the women’s round of 16 was a great round for the Aussie vets with Sally, Steph and Tyler all getting w’s. Caroline Marks posted the highest heat total – 17.27 points for two waves she did two monster cracks on. Gilmore, Marks and BLSJ all made the cut today. 

In the following quarter finals round, local wildcard Bronte Macaulay upset World #1 Molly Picklum making her third semi-final in Margs. Carissa Moore got the highest score of the day – a 9.67 for a pedestrian tube to end section snap that eliminated Lakey Peterson. Riss wailed afterwards, then dropped a bunch of flowery sweet nothings – “I feel really blessed. I feel like the Universe is on my side” etc.

Every single top seed won in the mens round/16 setting up a stacked Quarter Finals. Filipe will face Gabriel Medina in a clash of Brazilian World Champs. Ethan Ewing will face John Florence – both surfers were incredible today, the layback John pulled was rude.

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Come Ups

• Peak performance: Caroline Marks (17.27)
• Monster maneuver: Carissa Moore tube 9.67
• One-liner: “Caroline you’re hot” – Kaips

Caroline Marks was amazing today – a 17.27 total in her first heat, a 16.50 in her second. Sent 4x World Title runner-up Sally Fitzgibbons to the Challenger Series today for her second year in a row. Remember: Sal got the mid-season wildcard in 2022.

Gabe Medina finally made finals day – the first time he’s cracked the QF’s this year. I’m calling a late charge up the rankings.

I thought Italo Ferreira’s huge rotation on the left was kinda cool.

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Let Downs

• Caught behind: Steph Gilmore 9.84

Yago Dora got the highest heat total of the day yesterday with 17.23 points. Today he got eliminated by fellow goofyfoot Connor O’Leary. Bummer, was really enjoying his surfing.

Miscellanea

Taj Burrow has goanna feet

Red Bull went hard at Ethan Ewing but couldn’t sign him due to Bong’s hat agreement.

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Who Made The Cut?

Women’s CT: Made the Cut
Tyler Wright (AUS)
Molly Picklum (AUS)
Carissa Moore (HAW)
Caroline Marks (USA)
Caitlin Simmers (USA)
Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 
Tatiana Weston Webb (BRA)
Lakey Peterson (USA)
Gabriela Bryan (HAW)
Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW)

Men’s CT: Made the Cut
Joao Chianca (AUS)
Jack Robinson (AUS)
Filipe Toledo (BRA)
Ethan Ewing (AUS)
Griffin Colapinto (USA)
Ryan Callinan (AUS)
John John Florence (HAW)
Yago Dora (BRA)
Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)
Caio Ibelli (BRA)
Connor O’Leary (AUS)
Callum Robson (AUS)
Gabriel Medina (BRA)
Jordy Smith (RSA)
Matthew McGillivray (RSA)
Italo Ferreira (BRA)
Liam O’Brien (AUS)
Rio Waida (INA)
Kanoa Igarashi (JPN)
Barron Mamiya (HAW)
Seth Moniz (HAW)
Ian Gentil (HAW)

Gamble Ramble

Mikey C got obliterated today. Went 0/8 on women’s heat winners — a comically pitiful performance. He managed to lose all his winnings from the week but still stands to make a decent chunk if JJF, Fil, and/or Riss go on to win the comp.

Women’s R3

$20 on Johanne Defay at +300 to win $60  LOST
$30 on Gabriela Bryant at +16- to win $48  LOST
$50 on Caity Simmers at -140 to win $36 LOST
$50 on Brisa Hennessy at +225 to win $113 LOST

Men’s R4

$100 on Filipe Toledo at -175 to win $57 WON
$30 on Leo Rio at +240 to win $72 LOST
$50 on Yago Dora at -125 to win $40 LOST
$30 on Callum Robson at +155 to win $47 LOST
$50 on LOB at +175 to win $88 LOST
$50 on Ryan Callinan at -130 to win $38 LOST
$100 on Ethan Ewing at -140 to win $71 WON
$400 on JJF at -400 to win $100 WON

Women’s QF

$200 on Molly Pickles at -300 to win $67 LOST
$50 on Steph G at +160 to win $80 LOST
$50 on Sally Fitz at +120 to win $60 LOST
$30 on Lakey at +225 to win $68 LOST

Day 4 earnings: -$512
Event earnings: -$4

For finals day:

Event winner

$250 on JJF at +300 to win $750
$55 on Filipe Toledo at +550 to win $303
$100 on Carissa Moore at +450 to win $450
$50 on Molly Picklum at +550 to win $270 LOST

Men’s QF

$100 on Filipe Toledo at -125 to win $80
$50 on Connor O’Leary at +145 to win $73
$300 on Griffin Cola to at -250 to win $120
$100 on JJF at -165 to win $60

Women’s SF

$688 on Carissa Moore at -275 to win $250
$100 on Tyler Wright at -175 to win $57

Results

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Women’s Round of 16 Results:
HEAT 5: Tyler Wright (AUS) 16.16 DEF. Johanne Defay (FRA) 12.17
HEAT 6: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 14.83 DEF. Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 14.40
HEAT 7: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 12.66 DEF. Caitlin Simmers (USA) 11.27
HEAT 8: Caroline Marks (USA) 17.27 DEF. Brisa Hennessy (CRC) 12.77

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Men’s Round of 16 Results:
HEAT 1: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 14.20 DEF. Jordy Smith (RSA) 13.80
HEAT 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 14.56 DEF. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 11.60
HEAT 3: Joao Chianca (BRA) 14.66 DEF. Callum Robson (AUS) 14.13
HEAT 4: Connor O’Leary (AUS) 12.86 DEF. Yago Dora (BRA) 10.10
HEAT 5: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 15.10 DEF. Liam O’Brien (AUS) 14.06
HEAT 6: Barron Mamiya (HAW) 13.10 DEF. Ryan Callinan (AUS) 10.33
HEAT 7: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 15.30 DEF. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 13.30
HEAT 8: John John Florence (HAW) 16.93 DEF. Matthew McGillivray (RSA) 10.70

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Women’s Quarterfinals Results:
HEAT 1: Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 11.04 DEF. Molly Picklum (AUS) 10.50
HEAT 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) 18.13 DEF. Lakey Peterson (USA) 15.56
HEAT 3: Tyler Wright (AUS) 14.36 DEF. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 9.84
HEAT 4: Caroline Marks (USA) 16.50 DEF. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 9.66

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Men’s Quarterfinal Matchups:
HEAT 1: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Gabriel Medina (BRA)
HEAT 2: Joao Chianca (BRA) vs. Connor O’Leary (AUS)
HEAT 3: Griffin Colapinto (USA) vs. Barron Mamiya (HAW)
HEAT 4: Ethan Ewing (AUS) vs. John John Florence (HAW)

Western Australia Margaret River Pro Women’s Semifinal Matchups:
HEAT 1: Bronte Macaulay (AUS) vs. Carissa Moore (HAW)
HEAT 2: Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Caroline Marks (USA)