The fourth stop of the 2021 World Surf League saw a massive week of action at Main Break in Margaret River, with Tatiana Weston-Webb earned her second win, and Filipe Toledo was in searing form.
Tatiana took the second win of her career against seven-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore in the Final. The 25-year old posted an excellent 16.23 two-wave score out of a possible 20 to best Gilmore’s 15 for the victory.
“I can’t explain how incredible this feels,” Weston-Webb said. “Steph is one of the best surfers of all time and was always someone I looked up to so much, so it was incredible to come up against her in a Final. You don’t often get to surf against a seven-time WSL Champion, so this feels amazing. I’m just thankful I took a win after a second-place finish at the last event.”
Weston-Webb eliminated local hero Bronte Macaulay who was out surfing in an all brave and emotional performance after the sudden passing of Jack, her brother.
Tatiana said, “I want to say that this win is for the Macaulay family,” continued Weston-Webb. “I came up against Bronte earlier today, and seeing her show up for her heat was so brave. I can’t imagine what she has been going through. They are an amazing family with so much love and are such a big part of surfing here in the West, and my condolences are with them.”
In the men’s final, Filipe Toledo took on Jordy Smith and was on a run of momentum through each heat he surfed and saving his best performance for last, posting a two-wave combination of 17.33, one of the highest of the event.
Toledo’s trademark frontside power-hacks seemed to match the Main Break grunt pound-for-pound as the exciting natural-footer gouged and sliced his way to victory with the equal second-highest total of the entire event.
“This has been a really fun week,” Toledo said. “There have been such amazing waves and amazing surfing from everybody, so to come out on top feels so good. This one is for my son Koa, it’s his birthday today, and he asked me to win the trophy. I promised him I would, and I could not break the promise, so this one’s for you son, I love you. This win will be a huge jump on the rankings for me which I needed. This Tour is all about consistency, and if you’re not showing up in the Finals often, you won’t make that Final 5, and that’s my biggest goal for the year, to give myself that chance.”
Up next, the tour heads to Rottnest Island, the fifth and final event of the Australian leg; the event window is open from May 16 and running through until May 26.
The event will be a broadcast only event with spectators not permitted in the Strickland Bay area for the event.