Marc Occhilupo event champion : photo Steve Robertson

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

Occhilupo wins incredible final at the Margaret River Pro

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 2 April, 2006 : - - Legendary Australian surfer Mark Occhilupo completed a fairytale finish at the Margaret River Pro presented by O’Neill, winning in incredible circumstances today. Occhilupo, who turns 40 this year, won the first-ever professional event at Margaret River 21 years ago, way back in 1985. He returned to the event this year to try and claim a second win in what he had announced as his final time competing at the Margaret River event. 

The win couldn't have been more nail-biting or controversial, as with only two minutes remaining, Occhilupo was in second place before paddling for a wave alongside leading Final surfer and good friend Jake Paterson.  With only one surfer allowed to take the wave, both Occhilupo and Paterson collided.  The judges deemed the collision to be Paterson's fault and he was penalised for the indiscretion, losing half his points for his second scoring ride and slipping from first to third position, allowing Occhilupo to take the win. 

Paterson looked to have the final won with the highest-scoring ride of the final - an 8.83, which he scored midway through the final before backing it up shortly after with a strong 7.5. Occhilupo made his charge late in the final when he scored an excellent 8.4 ride to move from fourth to second and issue a challenge to Paterson.  

When the interference occurred, with only two minutes remaining, everyone wondered who would be penalised.  Most assumed both surfers would likely to be penalised, following multiple interference calls due to similar collisons over the final two days of the event. 

Marc Occhilupo : photo Mario Vassallo

Delighted with his win today, Occhilupo said:  “I really felt that final wave was mine and I think it was the right call.  I’ve never been involved in that sort of finish before.  It was an amazing situation to be caught in.  In surfing, you’re friends up until the final three minutes and then it's anything goes, and that really was.” 

Before the event, Occhilupo announced the contest would be his last competitive appearance at Margaret River, but the win today made him again change his mind. “I really do love this event and after this I'll be back, even if I am retired next year.  My wife Mai would be here and she’d love to come across.  Twenty one years ago was my last win at Margies, so you wouldn't really call this a back-to-back win hey!” 

Paterson was disappointed with the final decision, but was philosophical.  “It’s great that Occy won.  I guess as he's been a fantastic supporter of this event.  That was definitely the most bizarre finish I've ever been involved in though - that was crazy!”

“Margaret’s is a left and right-breaking peak, so it often presents situations like that.  I actually thought it would be scored as a double interference and I probably still would’ve won.  In hindsight I should have let him have the wave and made him surf for the win, because he required a big score.  Still, that's surfing!" 

Second in today’s final was South African Ricky Basnett.  If a double interference had been called, Basnett would have won the final, though runner-up position was still a great result for the 20-year-old South African. 

Fourth place went to local Margaret River surfer Tom Innes, in what was his highest-ever-placed performance in professional surfing.  Innes is the son of arguably Australia's greatest-ever female swimmer, Shane Gould and his result today may well spur him to chase the World Qualifying Series (WQS) throughout this coming season.  His performance today also saw him take out the Highest-Placed Regional Surfer award, presented by the WA Department of Sport & Recreation. 

Final Results

1st Mark Occhilupo, Gold Coast, Queensland - 14.83
2nd Rick Basnett, South Africa - 13.67
3rd Jake Paterson, Yallingup, Western Australia - 12.58
4th Tom Innes, Margaret River, Western Australia - 12.50  

The Toohey's Extra Dry Expression Session was also a feature of the day’s action, with young Newcastle surfer Travis Lynch taking out the win with some big powerful moves over the shallow Margaret River reef. 

Jake Paterson : photo Steve Robertson

The four-star WQS Margaret River Pro, as part of the ASP (Association of Surfing Professionals) World Tour, offered AUS$100,000 in prize money.  The week-long event attracted thousands spectators, was watched by millions live on the internet via a real-time webcast and will be televised to over a billion people in more than 48 countries. 

Around 200 professional surfers took part, representing 14 nations, including Hawaii, the USA, Brazil, France, Japan, South Africa, Mexico, New Zealand and Australia.

Men's WQS Ratings After Event #7, Margaret River Pro, Western Australia

Kling,Gabe	USA	1	4846
Basnett,Ricky	ZAF	2	3499
Beven,Patrick	FRA	3	2883
Kerr,Josh	AUS	4	2882
Todd,Mike	USA	5	2878
Ribas,Victor	BRA	6	2745
Howse,Jarrad	AUS	7	2732
Rebiere,Eric	FRA	8	2725
Simpson,Brett	USA	9	2680
Gouveia,Fabio	BRA	10	2650
Gudauskas,Patrick	USA	11	2483
Silva,Jean da	BRA	12	2479
Flores,Jeremy	REU	13	2448
Toth,Brian	PRI	14	2375
Courtney,Drew	AUS	15	2333
Silva,Andre	BRA	16	2320
Faria,Junior	BRA	17	2300
Eleogram,Ola	HAW	18	2267
Dornelles,Rodrigo	BRA	19	2208
Flintoff,Kirk	AUS	19	2208
Bourgeois,Ben	USA	21	2203
Padaratz,Neco	BRA	22	2187
Moody,Sean	HAW	23	2159
Lipke,Marlon	DEU	24	2148
Quinn,Maz	NZL	25	2137
Sedley,Leigh	AUS	25	2137
Boal,Tim	FRA	27	2119
Neves,Leonardo	BRA	28	2108
Ward,Shaun	USA	29	2081
Romao,Simao	BRA	30	2068
Hall,Glenn	AUS	31	2031
Perrow,Kieren	AUS	32	2029
Otton,Kai	AUS	33	1999
Curran,Nathaniel	USA	34	1983
Munro,Luke	AUS	34	1983
Bettero,Hizunome	BRA	36	1940
Fernandes,Gustavo	BRA	37	1935
Muscroft,Nic	AUS	38	1931
Alves,Heitor	BRA	39	1883
Ross,Daniel	AUS	40	1852
Gudauskas,Dane	USA	41	1829
Hansen,Bobby	NZL	42	1820
Neve,Dayyan	AUS	42	1820
Bryson,Royden	ZAF	44	1779
Riou,Alain	PYF	44	1779
Santos,Bruno	BRA	44	1779
Nolan,Asher	USA	47	1775
Powers,Roy	HAW	48	1726
Dunn,Ben	AUS	49	1720
Brown,Yerin	AUS	50	1710
Grillo,Danylo	BRA	51	1700
Herdy,Guilherme	BRA	52	1679
Goodrum,Darryll	USA	53	1678
Valiere,Evan	HAW	54	1646
Carroll,Nathan	HAW	55	1635
Petruso,Anthony	USA	56	1631
Yeomans,Nathan	USA	56	1631
Miranda,Bernardo	BRA	58	1623
Trekinho,Marcelo	BRA	59	1620
Hardman,Daniel	BRA	60	1610
Barca,Dustin	HAW	61	1594
Emslie,Greg	ZAF	62	1579
Centeio,Joel	HAW	63	1567
Thompson,Jay	AUS	64	1510
Hobgood,Damien	USA	65	1500
Machado,Rob	USA	65	1500
Occhilupo,Mark	AUS	65	1500
Nunes,Marcelo	BRA	68	1499
Quinn,Jay	NZL	68	1499
Garson,Kyle	USA	70	1493
Shibata,Jason	HAW	71	1491
Burrell,Shaun	USA	72	1488
Bourez,Michel	PYF	73	1479
Graves,Dylan	PRI	74	1478
Weare,David	ZAF	75	1443
Nora,Wilson	BRA	76	1412
Gutierrez,Pablo	ESP	77	1402
Paulino,Pablo	BRA	78	1399
Gutemberg,Joao	BRA	79	1390
McBride,Justin	USA	80	1368
Barnes,Jock	AUS	81	1366
Wright,Warwick	ZAF	82	1352
Harvey,Damon	AUS	83	1350
Teriinatoofa,Hira	PYF	83	1350
Ohno,Norimasa	JPN	85	1308
Hobgood,C.J.	USA	86	1290
Patacchia,Fredrick (jnr)	HAW	86	1290
Helm,Ryan	USA	88	1285
Moura,Paulo	BRA	89	1283
Stang,Che	USA	90	1253
Logie,Travis	ZAF	91	1250
Pires,Tiago	PRT	92	1232
Rosa,Diego	BRA	93	1230
Khodr,Jihad	BRA	94	1222
Neto,Dunga	BRA	94	1222
Gaskell,Hank	HAW	96	1205
Redman,Daniel	ZAF	96	1205
El Harim,Abdel	MAR	98	1203
Randazzo,Dean	USA	99	1191
Tutton,Jarrah	AUS	100	1180

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. 

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.  

Previous reports:
# 1 : Big surfing names heading to 2006 Margaret River Pro.
# 2 : 2006 Margaret River Pro event schedule now available
# 3 : Young talent set to mount Margaret River Pro challenge
# 4 : Previous champs off to flying start at Margaret River Pro

# 5 : Local talent the standouts at Day 2 of Margaret River Pro
# 6 : Padaratz/Campbell impress at Margaret River Pro day 3
# 7 : Seeds tumble to young Aussies at Margaret River Pro...  
# 8 : Epic waves bless surfers at Margaret River Pro Day 5...  
# 9 : Big names set for sizzling Margaret River Pro final day 

www.oneill.com
www.margaretriverpro.com

More Australasian Surfing News available here
Check the latest Australasian Surf Reports and Forecasts
Subscribe to Surfervillage News-Alerts

Julie Cameron
julie@jewelspr.com.au

WQS Contests - Surfersvillage