Hometown hero Jack Robinson is back in his happy place of Margaret River and it’s just as well after feeling more than a little bit pissed off following his controversial interference call at Bells.
Robinson’s World Surf League campaign started off in the worst possible fashion, knocked out in the second round at Bells Beach.
But his exit was hugely controversial – with the judges handing down an interference call in a decision that left many scratching their head in disbelief.
Robinson set off on a ride and was already midway through his first turn when Samuel Pupo, who had priority, launched into the wave.
After seeing Pupo, Robinson immediately exited the wave and held onto his board to ensure it didn’t hit his rival.
But the judges deemed Robinson was too close to Pupo, handing down an interference call which effectively made it impossible for the Australian to win the heat given only one of his waves would now count towards his ‘two-wave’ total.
“It was a “s*** call,” Robinson told AAP.
“I was a bit frustrated, because he was kind of just waiting and he was only going because I was going.
“But it’s all good. It’s part of it. You get those sometimes.
“I notice when I get more pissed off, I don’t think it really helps.
“I’m happy it happened there and I’ve got the whole year ahead.”
When asked if the penalty for an interference was too harsh, and whether subtracting several points instead of an entire wave would be a fairer system going forward, Robinson replied: “Maybe, because you just can’t get interferences (if you want to win).
“Some guys milk it a bit – they can use it to their advantage.”
Robinson has taken his Bells setback on the chin and is now putting his full focus into the Margaret River Pro, which will begin on Thursday with good conditions forecast.
The 28-year-old has won his hometown event twice – in 2022 and 2024 – and is keen to make up for last year’s early exit.
“It’s so good to be back home,” Robinson said.
“I grew up just down there, pretty much at the river mouth.
“I just want to surf and catch waves because there wasn’t that much opportunity at Bells in the heat I had.”
No Australian male made it to the quarterfinal stage at Bells and the likes of Robinson, George Pittar, Ethan Ewing, Morgan Cibilic and Callum Robson will be desperate to avoid a repeat at Margaret River.
In the women’s field, Gabriela Bryan is the one to catch with the 24-year-old Hawaiian aiming for a third consecutive Margaret River Pro title.
Bryan is brimming with confidence and will be in the yellow jersey after triumphing at Bells Beach.
“I don’t know how it feels quite yet, but I’m going to try to see how it feels,” Bryan said with a laugh when asked about the prospect of winning three straight.
Defending world champion Molly Picklum reached the final at Bells and will be aiming to go one step further in WA, while 2022 Margaret River Pro champion Isabella Nichols also made a strong start to the season with a semi-final appearance in the season opener.
