Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
WA shark threat remains, forces WSL switch
A continuing shark threat in southwest Western Australia has resulted in the Margaret River Pro surf competition being moved to Bali.
May 11, 2018
The cancelled Margaret River Pro surf-competition will be completed in Bali with organisers saying conditions at the famous Western Australian break haven’t improved.
The World Surf League Championship Tour event was cancelled in April after two recreational surfers were mauled by sharks in separate incidents about 6km from one of the event’s three competition sites.
The WSL says the shark population that forced the event’s closure on the fifth day of competition remained high.
“Returning was not in the best interests of the surfers this season,” chief executive Sophie Goldschmidt said on Friday in a statement.
The Uluwatu break in southern Bali has been selected to restart the competition following the Corona Bali Pro in June.
Twenty-four men and eight women will compete in the rebooted event at round three and the quarter-finals stages respectively.
The WSL said Margaret River Pro will return in 2019 but April’s shark scares have added to fears the event’s future is in jeopardy after the current contract expires next year.
Beached whales in the Margaret River area were blamed for the high than usual number of sharks during the event.