Bunch and deVault mount comebacks at Margaret River Pro

Maui surfer Imaikalani deVault kept his World Championship Tour dreams alive yesterday with a massive upset at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, taking out local favorite and two-time event winner Jack Robinson in powerful, unruly surf at Main Break.

It was a pivotal day for surfers fighting to stay on the Tour past the Mid-season Cut, with the men’s and women’s Elimination Rounds and the men’s Round of 32 held in the heaviest surf of the 2025 season so far. Ten surfers were officially cut from the men’s field, while five still have a chance to clinch a spot when competition resumes.

DeVault upsets local hero Robinson in rematch

Maui surfer Imaikalani deVault stunned the crowd yesterday at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, eliminating local favorite Jack Robinson in the Round of 32 — a pivotal moment in his fight to remain on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour.

The win was especially meaningful for deVault, who avenged a heartbreaking buzzer-beater loss to Robinson at the same venue last year. Backed by an excellent 8.00 and a solid 6.33, deVault left Robinson chasing a near-perfect 9.00 he never found — marking Robinson’s first early exit at his home event since his rookie season in 2021.

“I wish I started doing this in the beginning of the year,” deVault said. “I did well here last year. This event suits me. Every time I surf against Jack, we seem to have a pretty solid heat. He’s the guy to beat here.”

Currently ranked No. 31, deVault must win the event to guarantee a spot above the Mid-season Cut, which narrows the men’s Championship Tour field from 35 to 22. Surfers who make the cut secure a spot for the remainder of the 2025 season and automatically qualify for 2026.

Bunch advances, faces Colapinto next

DeVault wasn’t the only Maui surfer making waves.

Rookie Jackson Bunch continued his charge toward requalification with a statement win over two-time World Champion Filipe Toledo (Brazil) in the Round of 32 at the Margaret River Pro.

Bunch’s upcoming heat versus Crosby Colapinto (USA) is decisive. A win over Colapinto — currently ranked 24th with 13,660 points — would leapfrog Bunch, the 25th-ranked surfer, ahead and edge him closer to the cut line. But if Bunch loses the heat, his season is over.

With ten men already confirmed as cut—including two surfers who did not appear in Margaret River—only five surfers remain mathematically in contention for the final two spots above the cut line.

Gentil falls to Fioravanti despite early momentum

Another Maui surfer, Ian Gentil, won his elimination heat—his first-ever win at Margaret River—but was knocked out in the Round of 32 by Italy’s Leonardo Fioravanti. Fioravanti earned the highest heat total of the day with a 17.13, including a near-perfect 9.00.

Sakura Johnson and Mamiya advance

More Hawaiʻi representation in Western Australia this week has seen Championship Tour surfers Barron Mamiya and Bettylou Sakura Johnson, on the women’s side, both keep their Margaret River Pro crown hopes alive.

The 20-year-old Johnson edged out Australian veteran Sally Fitzgibbons yesterday in the Elimination Round of the Margaret River Pro. For Johnson, her appearance in the round was a harsh surprise, but one she was aiming to learn from.

“I definitely don’t want to be in the Elimination Round, especially coming off from Burleigh,” Johnson said. “But, you know, this is a good wake-up call for me just to really get my head straight, and roll the dice again. I’m here to try my best, and yeah, I just want to keep hunting down another win.”

Johnson faces off against Sawyer Linblad (USA) next in the women’s Round of 16.

On the men’s side, World No. 7 Barron Mamiya delivered the first confirmed Mid-season Cut after eliminating Australian Ryan Callinan on Tuesday. Mamiya will face Jake Marshall (USA) next in the Round of 16. Regardless of his result at Margaret River, Mamiya has already secured his place above the mid-year cut line.

The Western Australia Margaret River Pro will hold a competition window through May 27, 2025. The event will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com, and the free WSL App. 

The men’s Round of 16 has been called ON at The Box in Margaret River, Australia, Tuesday starting 2 p.m. Hawaiʻi Standard Time.

For more information, visit WorldSurfLeague.com.