2006 Margaret River Pro
presented by O’Neill

ASP 4 Star WQS Mens Event
Surfers Point, Margaret Rive
27 March - 2 April 2006

Live webcast    |    Scores/Results/photos etc

Young talent set to mount challenge at Margaret River Pro

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 27 March, 2006 : - - Some of the most talented emerging surfers in Australia and from across the globe look set to dominate among a fiercely competitive field at the 2006 Margaret River Pro presented by O'Neill, kicking off at Surfers Point in Margaret River today (Monday, March 27).

Concluding on Sunday, April 2, the four-star-rated WQS (World Qualifying Series) event, expected to attract more than 12,000 spectators, will see competitors battle it out for valuable rating points and prize money of around $100,000 AUD.

Descending on Australia's stunning South West as part of the ASP (Association of Surfing Professionals) World Tour will be 200+ pro surfers from 14 nations, including Hawaii, the USA, Brazil, France, Japan, South Africa, Mexico, New Zealand and Australia. Competitors will be blessed with solid swell predicted throughout the week.

The event will be televised to over a billion people and seen in more than 48 countries. Millions more will watch it live on the internet via a webcast in real-time, featuring interactive commentary with viewers around the world.

According to Event Director Tim Thirsk, the contest has drawn a high-quality field of hungry competitors from both the WQS and WCT (World Championship Tour) circuits.  "As well as some of the best in the business, like Occy and Jake, the event will see some talented, emerging surfers in action as they put their skills to the test at a professional WQS competition level," Mr Thirsk said.

Disappointing news came today when local favourite Taj Burrow did not register for the event, due to last minute sponsorship commitments. "I'm really disappointed I can't surf Margarets. It's my favourite event and my hometown event, but unfortunately an urgent sponsor commitment has come up. It probably would've been the only WQS event I surfed this year, because my main focus from here will be the WCT events," said Taj today.

The news of Burrow's withdrawal has given the remainder of the field an immediate edge, paving the way for the hungry younger competitors to make their mark. Regarded as two of Australia's most exciting young surfers are West Aussies, 20-year-old Yadin Nichol from Margaret River and Ry Craike from Kalbarri who turned 21 this month.

With an acrobatic approach to riding a wave, Craike is considered an extraordinarily talented surfer. Having grown up surfing on Kalbarri's isolated reefs with his fisherman dad, he is today acclaimed by his peers and the surfing profession as one of the best in the world. Kelly Slater rates Craike as the best surfer he has seen at Macaronis in Indonesia, and believes he could take on any of the world's top 45. The local lads will be up against other hot young Aussies, including 24-year-olds Beau Mitchell (North Steyne, NSW) and Glenn Hall (Umina, NSW). As a radical young goofy-footer, Hall's brash, out-of-control surfing has him sitting on the doorstep of the WCT, while Mitchell boasts multiple junior titles and several recent career bests in WQS events.

At just 20 years of age, Ben Dunn (NSW) is the undisputed king of the 2005 Australasian male junior circuit. Landing a wildcard entry into the round of 64, Dunn is certain to serve it up to the more seasoned competitors. Hailing from Old Bar, he recently took out the 2006 Quiksilver Pro Trials at Queensland's Snapper Rocks, where he grabbed a wave in the last five minutes of the final to score an amazing 9.25 out of 10. The victory saw him go on to compete in the Foster's ASP Men's World Tour Quiksilver Pro, taking on longstanding WCT campaigners Andy Irons and Taj Burrow, who forced Dunn's eventual elimination.

Other wildcards in the round of 64 include 17-year-old Matt Wilkinson (Copacabana, NSW), 19-year-old Michael Spencer (Lake Munmorah, NSW) and 22-year-old Nick Coghlan (Boat Harbour, NSW). Margaret River surfer, 23-year-old Tom Innes and 20-year-old Dion Agius (Currumbin, QLD) are wildcards in the round of 96.

A capacity crowd is expected to witness the legendary Mark Occhilupo (ranked 19th in the world and soon to turn 40), in his first time back to Margaret River since 2001, and most likely his last given his pending retirement.

Yallingup's Jake Paterson (ranked 13th) will be eager to snatch back the contest title, having won it eight years ago in 1998. Since then, 'the Snake' has come close, but not close enough to claim victory.

Margaret River's own Brett Hardy will be another local to watch, as the only non-seeded West Australian to have made it through seven heats of the contest back in 2003, and having won the most recent Margaret River Classic title in November 2005.

Contest champion in 2005, Troy Brooks (Gold Coast, QLD) will return to defend his position, while equal third-place-finishers in 2005, Gabe Kling (Florida, USA) and the fiercely competitive 2004 champion Neco Padaratz (Brazil) will be fired up. Padaratz's entry in the event will see him vie to reclaim a place on the WCT, following his forced withdrawal from the tour last year under controversial circumstances.

Others to watch will be O'Neill team riders, Roy Powers (USA), Timmy Reyes (USA) and Jarrad Howse (Manly, NSW), along with Tom Whitaker (Bronte, NSW), Luke Stedman (Sydney, NSW) and Kirk Flintoff (Cronulla, NSW).

The 2006 Margaret River Pro presented by O'Neill marks the 22nd year of the event. During its history, competitors have endured every type of surf condition the powerful Indian Ocean can serve up. From perfect Hawaiian-style big waves to frighteningly out-of-control onshore surf, competitors have consistently risen to the challenge, paddling out to conquer Margaret's legendary, giant swell head-on.

As well as spectacular competition between the world's top surfers, the event showcases the unique virtues of the State's beautiful South West, including Margaret River's stunning beaches, breathtaking natural settings and premium Western Australian food and wine.

Major sponsors include Tourism Western Australia and new presenting sponsor O'Neill Australia, the world's leading wetsuit supplier and a committed supporter of Australian surfing and ASP events worldwide. Other sponsors include Nova 93.7, Department of Sport & Recreation, SunSmart, Brownes Chill, Tooheys Extra Dry, Odyssey 2020, Surftech, Coca-Cola, Leeuwin Estate, Chooks Fresh & Tasty, The Sunday Times, Margarets Beach Resort, Margaret River Law, FCS Fin Control Systems, Tracks, Surfersvillage, Shire of Augusta Margaret River, Association of Surfing Professionals and Surfing WA.

To be held in conjunction with the Margaret River Pro will be the ninth annual 'Mainbreak' concert, on Saturday, April 1 at Margaret River Oval. Mainbreak features a kaleidoscope of live sounds, including the multi-platinum king of pop n roll, Ben Lee in his only WA show, alongside international drum and bass superstars Pendulum, plus Bodyjar, Butterfingers, Cowtown, Raggabeats, Fdel, Armee, Cooker and Adema. For tickets and full details, visit www.heatseeker.com.au.

For further information on the 2006 Margaret River Pro presented by O’Neill, or to watch the event live online, go to www.margaretriverpro.com.  For travel, accommodation and visitor information, contact the Margaret River Visitor Centre on (08) 9757 2911, email welcome@margaretriver.com or visit www.margaretriver.com. 

Previous reports:
# 1 : Big surfing names heading to 2006 Margaret River Pro.
# 2 : 2006 Margaret River Pro event schedule now available
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon  

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Julie Cameron
julie@jewelspr.com.au

WQS Contests - Surfersvillage