Bronte Macaulay turns it on topping the reigning world champion to launch her Margaret River Pro swansong

Last week, Bronte Macaulay was giving lessons to local kids in the Margaret River surf. And on Saturday, she took none other than reigning world champion Caitlin Simmers to school in her home conditions, winning their opening round heat at the World Surf League Margaret River Pro. Macaulay, 32, who retired from competitive surfing last October to take up coaching and finish her teaching degree, only got the call up to this year’s event as a wildcard just over a month ago as an injury replacement. But she made the most of the one-off opportunity to compete again in 4-6ft conditions at Main Break, landing a 6.30 wave in the closing minute to post a two-wave 13.13 and edge out Americans Simmers (12.33) and veteran Lakey Peterson (9.03). “It was a bit of a surprise to be honest, when you don’t compete for a while you are not really sure where you are at in terms of competitive surfing,” she said. “I felt quite calm, the pressure is really off now because I’m just a wildcard and this is a one-off, so I actually felt quite relaxed which is a nice feeling. It’s just a really great way to end my career here in Margs.” Not even a cut hand on the reef as she rode in through the whitewater could put a downer on the result for the local favourite who has been a mainstay of the Margaret River leg of the world tour for more than a decade. Part of a famous surfing family in WA’s South West with dad Dave a pro in the 1980s and 1990s who finished No.3 in the world twice, Macaulay said she was proud to be now helping the next generation of young surfers in the region, particularly the girls, many of whom were up on the hill cheering her every move. “It means so much to me, I’ve been coaching a lot of these girls over summer and I did the Rising Tides the other day which was really cool,” she said. “I’m definitely building relationships with the next generation and I’m really excited to see the future of Margaret River surfing.” Fellow Australians Molly Picklum, Tyler Wright and Isabella Nichols all made it through to the next round, along with current world No.1 and defending event champion Gabriela Bryan and last year’s Margaret River Pro runner-up Sawyer Lindblad. But veteran Aussie Sally Fitzgibbons (8.67) was pushed to the brink of elimination and the mid-season cut after a dramatic finish to her heat against Nichols (8.90) and Luana Silva (13.77) of Brazil. In slowing conditions, all three competitors sat for more than 10 minutes to close the heat, before Fitzgibbons took a small-scoring wave inside the finals minute to edge ahead of Nichols, only for her to answer at the buzzer with a 4.57 and advance. “There’s so many times where I’ve had that happen where I’ve needed a small score and there’s been 20 seconds to go and I think I’ve drawn from past experiences where I got the scores,” Nichols said. “I knew I didn’t need too much ... but if I just attack it that’s all I can do. There was so much time to think.” Fitzgibbons,34, will join local wildcard Willow Hardy, 18, in the elimination round. Hardy said while she disappointed with the result, she was proud to have been out in the water against some of the world’s best. “Just to have a chance to compete was so cool,” she said. “If I can just get a couple waves that can help me do my best surfing next round that would be great.” Watch the WSL Margaret River Pro live and free on 7PLUS WOMEN’S OPENING ROUND HEATS HEAT 1: Sawyer Lindblad USA 11.00 (6.17, 4.83), Molly Picklum AUS 10.20 (6.00, 4.20), Nadia Esostarbe BAK 7.90 (4.57, 3.33) HEAT 2: Bronte Macaulay AUS 13.13 (6.83, 6.30), Caitlin Simmers USA 12.33 (6.33, 6.00), Lakey Peterson USA 9.03 (4.93, 4.10) HEAT 3: Gabriela Bryan HAW 15.00 (8.00, 7.00), Vahine Fierro FRA 14.83 (8.50, 6.33), Willow Hardy AUS 8.66 (4.83, 3.83) HEAT 4: Luana Silva BRA 13.77 (7.27, 6.50), Isabella Nichols AUS 8.90 (4.57, 4.33), Sally Fitzgibbons AUS 8.67 (6.10, 2.57) HEAT 5: Tyler Wright AUS 11.37 (6.50, 4.87), Brisa Hennessy CRI 10.54 (5.77, 4.77), Erin Brooks CAN 8.00 (5.17, 2.83), HEAT 6: Caroline Marks USA 12.50 (6.83, 5.67), Bella Kenworthy USA 9.60 (4.93, 4.67), Bettylou Sakura Johnson HAW 8.34 (5.17, 3.17),