George Pittar Breaks 15-year Surfing Duck With Margaret Pro Win In Debut Wsl Season

Australian surfer George Pittar hit 4 Brazilian world champions to declare his first title circuit win. Pittar took down three-time world champion Gabriel Medina successful Sunday’s last to declare nan Margaret River Pro.

The 23-year-old from Manly had besides beaten Filipe Toledo, Yago Dora and Italo Ferreira successful earlier heats – betwixt them, nan Brazilian fab 4 person won six of nan past 7 world surfing titles.

But Pittar was peerless and took afloat toll of a uncommon correction from Medina to declare nan final.

“I haven’t won a comp since I was 15 ... I conscionable hit Medina successful nan final,” an affectional Pittar said instantly aft pulling disconnected nan item of his career.

It was nan first clip he has surfed successful a power against nan Brazilian great.

Also connected Sunday, 31-year-old American Lakey Peterson was excessively bully for nan women’s caller guard, beating 21-year-old Brazilian Luana Silva successful their last to triumph Margaret River for a 2nd time.

Early successful nan men’s final, Medina miscalculated and gave up privilege to Pittar. As he waved successful futile protest, nan Australian took afloat toll.

Pittar posted a 9.0 activity people – nan highest of nan full men’s title – and held connected to triumph 15.17 to 12.46.

It was successful stark opposition to nan aforesaid arena a twelvemonth ago, erstwhile Pittar missed nan mid-season cut. That devastated nan Australian, but he fought backmost back to gain a return to nan title circuit and he is simply a changed surfer.

Pittar was besides nan best-performing Australian successful nan men’s arena of nan opening information astatine Bells Beach earlier this month, wherever he was nan only section to scope nan 3rd round.

Before Sunday’s final, connected nan past time of nan arena window, he went and sat successful nan aforesaid spot astatine Margaret River wherever he had been successful despair aft missing nan cut.

“It’s benignant of crazy really different nan feelings are now,” Pittar said. “Going retired successful nan last against Medina – he’s conscionable a elephantine successful my books ... to triumph successful a spot that’s truthful typical to me, it’s a really awesome feeling.”

In 2024, Pittar announced himself arsenic a early prima astatine Margaret River by reaching nan semi-finals arsenic a wildcard.

This clip he hit Toledo successful information one, past Dora successful their quarter-final connected Saturday and Ferreira earlier connected Sunday successful nan semi-finals.

Pittar improved to 2nd connected nan world rankings, while Medina, who missed each of past play because of a pectoral injury, returned to nan No 1 spot.

The see-sawing women’s last came down to nan past mates of minutes and Peterson won 12.23 to 11.83.

“I’ve travel a agelong measurement pinch this spot ... I’ve decidedly built an astonishing relationship [here],” said Peterson, who besides won Margaret River successful 2019.

This is her first title circuit arena triumph since J-Bay successful 2023.