Hometown hero Jack Robinson wins second Margaret River Pro

West Aussie Jack Robinson has completed an almost carbon-copy performance of his 2022 Margaret River Pro win, once again overcoming John John Florence in the final to record his second World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) victory this season.

After a frustrating waiting period with average surf for most of the competition window, Margaret River’s Main Break roared to life on the last day possible for a huge finals day yesterday, with 18 heats completed in pumping six-to-eight foot waves.

Earlier in the day Hawaii’s Gabriela Bryan (pictured below) took out the women’s final, beating rookie Sawyer Lindbald to rise from 10th place in the rankings to the top 5.

Robinson, who missed last year’s Pro due to a knee injury, did not miss the chance to defend that title this year, rising to the occasion against an on-fire Florence, who earlier in the day posted the event’s only 10-point ride to book his spot in the final.

“I missed last year and went through so much to get back and get through that injury, so I felt like this year I was defending my title,” an emotional Robinson said after the final.

“That’s the final I wanted, and I wanted to throw everything at it. It’s always fun surfing against John. We will have many more heats in the future, I’m sure. What a day. I’m super humbled to be here and win at my home, and I’m so grateful for this moment.”

In a similar fashion to 2022, after a competition filled with huge turns and carves on the wide open Main Break faces, Robinson took to the air for an 8.17, following a huge 9.10 to take his final heat total to 17.27, which proved to high for Florence in the end.

“John John fires me so much, and I always look forward to heats with him,” Robinson added. “There’s no one else I’d rather Final with than John. Watching him out here inspired me so much, he set the benchmark.”

Robinson moves to second on the world rankings behind American Griffin Colapinto, making for a tantalising next event at the imposing venue of Teahupoo in Tahiti, which kicks off on May 22.

Image Credit: WSL/Beatriz Ryder/Aaron Hughes