In a riveting finale, Gabriela Bryan claimed her first world championship tour victory at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro on Sunday. The Hawaiian surfer shared a wave with a pod of dolphins during her 7.83-scoring run, which she described as an unforgettable moment. At just 22 years old, Bryan, who was previously named rookie of the year, triumphed over 18-year-old Sawyer Lindbald with an impressive 8.10 score on one wave and a total of 15.93, which was nearly two points better than Lindbald’s combined score.
The thrilling final showcased the incredible surfing skills of both Bryan and Lindbald, who put on an impressive display for the crowd. However, it was Bryan’s magical encounter with the dolphins that truly set her apart from her opponent. “I’m just so happy we got good waves today and all the girls put on a really good show,” said Bryan on the World Surf League (WSL) broadcast after her win. “When I kicked out, I was just wow! That wave was sent to me by someone – the dolphins in it.”
Bryan’s triumphant performance earned her a spot in the WSL’s mid-season cut and moved her up to No. 5 in the world rankings. Meanwhile, in the men’s event, Australia’s Jack Robinson emerged victorious after beating two-time world champion John John Florence in a hard-fought final. On the biggest wave of the day, Robinson secured his win with a 9.10 score before finishing with a total of 17.27 in the final – just 1.23 points ahead of Florence.
“That was the final I wanted,” said Robinson after his victory. “It’s always fun surfing against John – we’re going to have many more heats together.”
