2023 Margaret River Pro dates released for crucial WSL event
· World Surf League's 2023 World Championship Tour schedule announced today
· Margaret River Pro confirmed to be crucial mid-season decider
· This year's event attracted 3,500 visitors to south-west and injected more than $8 million into the WA economy
The World Surf League's (WSL) 2023 World Championship Tour schedule released today positions the Margaret River Pro as the crucial mid-season decider that will determine which of the world's best surfers make the tour's Final 5.
The Margaret River Pro will be held from April 20 to April 30 at spectacular Surfers Point, Margaret River.
It is one of only two Australian events on WSL's prestigious 2023 World Championship Tour schedule.
New figures show the 2022 Margaret River Pro attracted more than 3,500 visitors to the South West, generating more than $8.1 million for the WA economy and more than 22,000 visitor nights.
Brand exposure for Western Australia as a destination was valued at $10 million across Tourism WA's 11 key international markets during the 2022 Margaret River Pro, which was a 70 per cent increase from 2021.
Margaret River featured as part of the Walking On A Dream global tourism campaign launched across Australia this month.
The action-packed Margaret River Pro is WA's only annual world championship event. It is supported by the McGowan Government, through Tourism WA.
Next year's Margaret River Pro begins on the same day the Total Solar Eclipse occurs above Western Australia.
The 2023 Margaret River Pro will include the world's top 34 professional male and top 17 female surfers along with two men's and one women's wildcard.
The first two events of the tour are at Banzai Pipeline and Sunset Beach in Hawaii, followed by stops in Portugal and Bells Beach in Victoria, before the world's best surfers descend on Margaret River.
The 2023 Margaret River Pro will be the all-important fifth stop on the WSL World Championship tour, after which the field of 36 men will be reduced to 24, while the women's field will drop from 18 to 12 for the final five events
Following the 10 regular season events, the men's and women's Top 5 surfers will face off at the 2023 Rip Curl WSL Finals which are confirmed to take place at Lower Trestles in California in September.
This year's Margaret River Pro included competitors from the United States, Japan, Italy, France, Brazil, Portugal, South Africa, Peru, Costa Rica and Australia.
For the full 2023 World Surf League Championship Tour calendar, visit WorldSurfLeague.com
Comments attributed to Tourism Minister Roger Cook:
"The Margaret River Pro provides a huge boost to the local economy and is a fantastic promotion of the region's coastline and natural attractions.
"I was fortunate to spend time at this year's event and it was quite a sight to behold.
"Surfers Point is the perfect amphitheatre above Main Break for both spectators and the impressive TV production which goes live around the world full of spectacular surfing and regular vignettes showing just why the South West is such a special region.
"The surfers absolutely love spending time in Margaret River, which they highlight to millions of social media followers.
"The McGowan Government, through Tourism WA, is so proud to support this world-class event. Not only does it attract the world's best surfers and their supporters, it drives tourism to support local jobs and local businesses.
"On April 20 next year, Western Australia is going to be centre of the world for two massive events – the Margaret River Pro and the Total Solar Eclipse."
