Last week we all witnessed an emotional start to the 2017 WSL Championship Tour. The Quiksilver Pro had an explosive start with competitors out to impress and grab early crucial points to kick start the year off.
After a major injury and a season on the sidelines, Owen Wright entered his first contest since the Pipe Masters in 2015 where he suffered severe concussion.
The now current league leader shook off a round three close encounter with good friend Mick Fanning and then surfed his way into the semi’s edging out Gabriel Medina. Snapper Rocks in the past has been a natural footed contest with surfers on their backhand struggling to perform. In the final Wright battled with last years winner and long time friend Wilko to savor the victory and show belief in another contest favored by the goofy foot.
Margaret River Pro Betting Tips
Two weeks later we head West for the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro held from the 29th of March to the 9th of April. This right hand reef break can hold large swells that produces hollow barrels. Hawaiian Sebastian Zietz won this event last year, despite not even qualifying for the WSL season. But with injuries to Wright and Durbidge he was giving another chance, and prevailed with his first ever CT event win. He beat local Julian Wilson in the final after Matt Wilkinson started the year on fire winning the first two events. The Margaret River Pro has only been part of the WSL since 2014 and the past three contest have been owned by the foreigners, with Tahitian Michel Bourez, Adriano de Souza and Seb Zietz being the past winners. Is it finally time for an Aussie to be Margaret River champ?
Last event on the Gold Coast we saw impressive performances by a number of surfers. Recent champs like Median and John John showed much composure, when it came to holding priority and coming through with the right moves and waves when needed. Matt Wilkinson showed the same type of form that we saw at the start of the 2016 season. With the energy to continually produce numerous cutbacks including high scoring vertical backhand snaps, he will certainly be there come December time with performances like that. Wild cards and rookies showed why their spot was earned as well with Aussie Connor O’leary pushing through to the quarters in a close contest with Wright winning within the final five minutes.
After a successful Gold Coast tour everything seemed to be in place, but a free surf in Duranbah, Brazilian youngster Italo Ferreira had an awkward landing and now is almost confirmed that he will miss the rest of the Australian Tour. He was currently scheduled to take on Julian Wilson in round one which may have been one of the better heats of round one.
With only one week away make sure you channel in for all the action from Margaret River with a live take on the WSL app.
Tip: Julian Wilson to win Margaret River Pro - $13 at CrownBet
Here is how the market for the Quicksilver Pro looks at CrownBet.
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Take note: Any of the tips in this article are simply the author’s opinion, so bet at your own risk and always gamble responsibly. Also be sure to check out the Before You Bet Twitter Page for all our thoughts in the lead up to bets! Happy punting!
