North Point, the backup site known for its intense, barreling waves, hosted the world’s best female CT surfers for the first time in history.

Despite the slower and more challenging conditions, the women dominated the day, including the highest single-wave scores of the event from Hawaiian duo Tatiana Weston-Webb and Carissa Moore.

The event’s highest single-wave score went to Weston-Webb, who posted a near-perfect 9.00-point ride with two huge backhand turns.

Weston-Webb’s commitment was rewarded by the Judges, and although she didn’t find a solid backup score, it was enough to overcome reigning two-time WSL Champion Tyler Wright (Culburra Beach) and injury replacement Macy Callaghan (Australia). 

Wright will now face New Zealand’s Paige Hareb in heat four of round two.

Gerroa’s Sally Fitzgibbons, the CT veteran focused on defending her Margaret River Pro win, started her campaign with a win over Coco Ho (Hawaii) and Silvana Lima (Brazil) in the opening heat of round one.

Fitzgibbons delivered control over the bumpy conditions to jump straight into round three, despite discomfort from a recent toe injury.

Ho and Lima will face potential elimination in round two. 

“It’s definitely cool to surf the first women’s heat ever at North Point,” Fitzgibbons said.

“It’s a really unique and tough wave to surf, particularly at this size.

“There is a lot of good turn sections and then some solid 10-point barrel sets, so it just comes down to what you luck into.

“I’ve been carrying a bit of an injury in my foot since the Gold Coast, but it is all good.

“It is on my back foot so is a little tender while I surf but is getting better every day.

“I’m really fortunate that I can surf with it as an injury would keep you out of the water. I’m stoked to be able to keep doing what I do.” 

In other news, Owen Wright will battle countrymen Dave Delroy-Carr in round two, heat one, while his brother Mikey will take on Adrian Buchan in heat three.

Margaret River Men’s Pro remaining round one results:

Heat eight: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 5.00, Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 3.74, Yago Dora (BRA) 1.60

Heat nine: Willian Cardoso (BRA) 7.53, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 5.93, Griffin Colapinto (USA) 3.83

Heat 10: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 5.40, Italo Ferreira (BRA) 2.90, Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 2.23

Heat 11: Kolohe Andino (USA) 8.20, Frederico Morais (PRT) 5.93, Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 6.54

Heat 12: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 10.34, Michel Bourez (PYF) 2.24,  Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 1.30

Margaret River Men’s Pro round two matchups:

Heat one: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. Dave Delroy-Carr (AUS)

Heat two: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) vs. Kael Walsh (AUS)

Heat three: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Mikey Wright (AUS)

Heat four: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA)

Heat five: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Ian Gouveia (BRA)

Heat six: Frederico Morais (PRT) vs. Michael February (ZAF)

Heat seven: Griffin Colapinto (USA) vs. Yago Dora (BRA)

Heat eight: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Michael Rodrigues (BRA)

Heat nine: Conner Coffin (USA) vs. Ezekiel Lau (HAW)

Heat 10: Connor O’Leary (AUS) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)

Heat 11: Tomas Hermes (BRA) vs. Jesse Mendes (BRA)

Heat 12: Wade Carmichael (AUS) vs. Joan Duru (FRA)

Margaret River Women’s Pro round one results:

Heat one: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 11.00, Coco Ho (HAW) 8.84, Silvana Lima (BRA) 5.93

Heat two: Carissa Moore (HAW) 13.33, Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 2.37, Sage Erickson (USA) 2.03

Heat three: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 9.56, Mikaela Greene (AUS) 6.43, Keely Andrew (AUS) 4.63

Heat four: Caroline Marks (USA) 7.90, Paige Hareb (NZL) 4.80, Lakey Peterson (USA) 4.24

Heat five: Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) 12.17, Tyler Wright (AUS) 11.50, Macy Callaghan (AUS) 9.34

Heat six: Johanne Defay (FRA) 11.37, Malia Manuel (HAW) 10.17, Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 5.13

Margaret River Women’s Pro round two matchups:

Heat one: Sage Erickson (USA) vs. Coco Ho (HAW)

Heat two: Silvana Lima (BRA) vs. Bronte Macaulay (AUS)

Heat three: Lakey Peterson (USA) vs. Mikaela Greene (AUS)

Heat four: Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Paige Hareb (NZL) 

Heat five: Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) vs. Macy Callaghan (AUS)

Heat six: Keely Andrew (AUS) vs. Malia Manuel (HAW)