Like most stops on the women's Championship Tour (CT), your usual suspects consistently dominate at Main Break, Margaret River. Plus, they've had one more year of experience there than the men's CT; in 2013 they had an elite event at Margie's while the men's event was still a Qualifying Series (QS)-level.
Carissa Moore is especially dangerous in the wild conditions of Western Australia. - WSL / Ed Sloane
At the top, to no one's surprise sits Carissa Moore. She owns half of the total wins here and has missed making the Final just once, narrowly losing to eventual champ Tyler Wright in the 2016 semifinals. Riss owns the highest Heat Win Percentage at 85 percent, but it's Tyler who's completed the most Excellent Heats, with eight -- double Carissa's total.
The next best pair of women to watch at Main Break are Courtney Conlogue and Sally Fitzgibbons. Courtney brings the X-factor by making the past two finals and winning in 2015. She also owns the highest Average Heat Score of any woman on the CT, at 14.92.
Sally Fitzgibbons seems to get fired up for the trip to Western Australia. She's been one of the most consistent performers on the women's side. - WSL / Kelly Cestari
While Sally has been steady with three 3rd's and one 5th, her heat scores been, on average, more than one full point less than Courtney's, and significantly less than those of Carissa and Tyler.
With that said, there isn't a whole lot of room for outsider success.
Courtney Conlogue will be heading into West Oz with extra motivation after a poor showing at the Roxy Pro. - WSL / Ed Sloane
Margaret River has somehow eluded Stephanie Gilmore so far, by her own ridiculously elite standards. She had a nasty foot injury back in 2015, yet has started on the right foot this year by again dominating the Roxy Pro Gold Coast. Momentum is on her side, but Steph's Average Heat Score here is only good for a pedestrian seventh-best overall, at 12.29. It will need to jump dramatically for her to raise that Margaret's trophy over her head.
If you're looking to break serve on the fantasy teams here, look no further than Tatiana Weston-Webb. Growing up in Hawaii has boosted her confidence in bigger surf and she's already thrown down three high-scoring heats in her two events here so far. That puts Tati's average per event at second-best among the women.
Tatiana Weston-Webb is her own force of nature, so she's not at all intimidated by the wild conditions on tap in West Oz. - WSL / Ed Sloane
In Tier 3, Bianca Buitendag (this year's injury replacement, for Laura Enever) is another sneaker on a three-year run of semifinals who could potentially break through, while Malia Manuel has had the most past success of anyone in Tier 3, with a 40 percent Heat Win Percentage.
When it comes to predicting fantasy value for the women's Drug Aware Pro, it's time to bust out that crystal ball, because one wrong choice could have you flying down the overall ratings in WSL leagues.
Fantasy Geeking: Women to Watch in West Oz
Jimmy Wilson
Like most stops on the women's Championship Tour (CT), your usual suspects consistently dominate at Main Break, Margaret River. Plus, they've had one more year of experience there than the men's CT; in 2013 they had an elite event at Margie's while the men's event was still a Qualifying Series (QS)-level.
At the top, to no one's surprise sits Carissa Moore. She owns half of the total wins here and has missed making the Final just once, narrowly losing to eventual champ Tyler Wright in the 2016 semifinals. Riss owns the highest Heat Win Percentage at 85 percent, but it's Tyler who's completed the most Excellent Heats, with eight -- double Carissa's total.
The next best pair of women to watch at Main Break are Courtney Conlogue and Sally Fitzgibbons. Courtney brings the X-factor by making the past two finals and winning in 2015. She also owns the highest Average Heat Score of any woman on the CT, at 14.92.
While Sally has been steady with three 3rd's and one 5th, her heat scores been, on average, more than one full point less than Courtney's, and significantly less than those of Carissa and Tyler.
With that said, there isn't a whole lot of room for outsider success.
Margaret River has somehow eluded Stephanie Gilmore so far, by her own ridiculously elite standards. She had a nasty foot injury back in 2015, yet has started on the right foot this year by again dominating the Roxy Pro Gold Coast. Momentum is on her side, but Steph's Average Heat Score here is only good for a pedestrian seventh-best overall, at 12.29. It will need to jump dramatically for her to raise that Margaret's trophy over her head.
If you're looking to break serve on the fantasy teams here, look no further than Tatiana Weston-Webb. Growing up in Hawaii has boosted her confidence in bigger surf and she's already thrown down three high-scoring heats in her two events here so far. That puts Tati's average per event at second-best among the women.
In Tier 3, Bianca Buitendag (this year's injury replacement, for Laura Enever) is another sneaker on a three-year run of semifinals who could potentially break through, while Malia Manuel has had the most past success of anyone in Tier 3, with a 40 percent Heat Win Percentage.
When it comes to predicting fantasy value for the women's Drug Aware Pro, it's time to bust out that crystal ball, because one wrong choice could have you flying down the overall ratings in WSL leagues.
Tatiana Weston-Webb
Relive the historic progression in women's surfing at one of the world's most critical waves, Teahupo'o
Famously, Tatiana Weston-Webb was already getting barreled at places like Pipeline in utero, riding in her mother, professional bodyboarder
Tatiana Weston-Webb laces excellence into her heat to staple a 15.77 heat-total and secure her semifinal matchup against rookie sensation
Tatiana Weston-Webb locks down Quarterfinals out of the gate at the Vivo Rio Pro, over local wildcard and World No. 1 Caitlin Simmers.
Featuring John John Florence, Jack Robinson, Yago Dora, Tatiana Weston-Webb, Brian Perez, Joao Chianca, Ryan Callinan, Griffin Colapinto,
Drug Aware Margaret River Pro - Women's
Here are five must-see heats from an epic year at the wild and rugged Margaret River, in Western Australia.
The WSL filmmakers go behind the scenes to capture all of the action from the 2017 Drug Aware Margaret River Pro.
The veterans are tied atop the Jeep Leaderboard as the Tour shifts to Bells Beach for the Rip Curl Pro.
Ela impediu o bicampeonato da Tyler Wright e passou a dividir a primeira posição no Jeep WSL Ranking com Stephanie Gilmore.
With her Margaret River win the Australian just proved the merits of her new fitness program.