- Margaret River Pro returns as crucial decider event for World Surf League's (WSL) Championship Tour
- More than 50 top surfers will descend on Margaret River to tackle the famous swell at Main Break
- World-famous annual surfing event supported by the McGowan Government
Thousands of spectators, fans and support crew will descend on Australia's South-West from 20 to 30 April to watch the world's best surfers compete at the Margaret River Pro.
Over 50 top surfers will be put to the test at Surfers Point as part of the Pro, which is the crucial decider event that determines who continues to the next stage of the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour.
The Margaret River Pro is one of only two Australian events on WSL's prestigious 2023 World Championship Tour schedule.
The event will include the world's top 34 male and top 17 female professional surfers, along with two men's and one women's wildcard competitors.
Each surfer will compete to stay on the WSL Tour, with the field of 36 men reducing to 22, while the women's field will drop from 18 to 10.
The 2022 Margaret River Pro attracted more than 3,500 visitors to the South-West and generated more than $8.1 million for the Western Australian economy.
WA's global tourism brand, Walking On A Dream, which showcases Western Australia, will feature prominently in advertising and broadcasting throughout the Margaret River Pro, which is supported by the McGowan Government.
Celebrity surfers will also showcase the iconic South-West to their hundreds of thousands of followers on social media.
In a huge week for WA tourism, the top surfing event comes to town as the Total Solar Eclipse occurs above Ningaloo Reef, attracting tens of thousands of visitors to Exmouth, Coral Bay, Carnarvon and Onslow, shining a global spotlight on the State.
For the full 2023 World Surf League Championship Tour calendar, visit WorldSurfLeague.com
Comments attributed to Sport and Recreation Minister David Templeman:
"The Margaret River Pro is a world-renowned event that showcases the best of the best in surfing talent.
"We have beautiful, clean beaches and fantastic surf so it makes sense that this event is so popular.
"Many young children will be watching this event and getting inspired to take to the surf themselves so it is great for the future of the sport as well."
Comments attributed to Tourism Minister Roger Cook:
"This is a huge week for tourism in Western Australia, with the eyes of the world on surfing in our South-West, and eyes turned upwards to WA skies above Ningaloo Reef, for the once-in-a-lifetime Total Solar Eclipse.
"The Margaret River Pro is an iconic, much-loved event which provides a huge boost to the local economy and is a fantastic promotion of the region's stunning coastline and swell.
"The McGowan Government is proud to bring the world's best surfers back to Margaret River for such an exciting event that will decide who gets to move forward on the 2023 WSL Championship Tour.
"WA and the South-West region will be showcased to the world through the social media of celebrity surfers visiting the South-West for the WSL Tour, as well as through the international broadcast of the event, which is estimated to reach millions of viewers around the world.
"We expect thousands of people to be out in WA's regions for both the World Surf League tour and the Total Solar Eclipse, creating enormous economic benefits for tourism and hospitality businesses across the State."
Comments attributed to Warren Blackwood MLA Jane Kelsbie:
"The Margaret River Pro is an iconic event, bringing some of the world's best surfers to our local break in Warren-Blackwood, and showcasing our beautiful region to the world.
"It brings in fantastic job opportunities across the region and boosts the coffers for local businesses.
"Good luck to South-West locals Bronte Macaulay, Jerome Forrest and Jack Thomas competing this year!"
Sport and Recreation Minister's office - 6552 5400
Tourism Minister's office - 6552 6500
