Soaking up the energy from his large local fan base, two-time champion Jack Robinson has made a flying start in the Margaret River Pro.
The 27-year-old set the early benchmark on the opening day of competition on Saturday at the famed Western Australia surf break where he grew up.
Lifting the trophy in 2022 and 2024, Robinson looked back to his best after making an early exit at the Gold Coast Pro which was his worst result of his 2025 World Surf League (WSL) campaign.
No surfer has ever won three Margaret River titles, with Robinson tied with John John Florence and Tom Carroll in claiming two.
The Olympic silver medallist used his home break knowledge to pick out the best waves in a tight heat, which featured rising French star Marco Mignot and Hawaiian Ian Gentil.
Midway through the opening 12 heats Robinson rode his way to the best score of the day, the judges awarding an 8.93 for his mix of power and finesse in the heavy swell.
His best back-up wave scored a 6.33 for a total of 15.56, with Mignot (12.36) in second and Gentil (11.33) headed to the elimination round.
“I just built through the heat and I knew that wave was out there so it’s good to start like that,” Bells Beach winner Robinson told the WSL.
“I’m back home and feeling a lot of support from the crowd which is awesome, I’m soaking all the energy up.
“I’m just happy to be back home, it’s pretty simple, go and surf and have a good time.”
Other Australians to move straight through to the round of 32 were Ethan Ewing, who is currently ranked world No.5, Liam O’Brien and George Pittar.
New dad Ryan Callinan, Mikey McDonagh, Winter Vincent and Jacob Willcox finished bottom of their heats to head to sudden death.
There’s plenty at stake in Margaret River with the mid-season cut after the event.
O’Brien and Pittar currently sit marginally outside the top 22 cut on the men’s side.
For the women, fan favourite Sally Fitzgibbons will be hoping to continue her late charge for survival.
Fitzgibbons wound back the clock by reaching the Gold Coast Pro final.
The women will surf their opening heats later on Saturday.
