HUGE UPSET: Local qualifier Jacob Willcox takes out world No.1 Italo Ferreira at the Margaret River Pro

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HUGE UPSET: Local qualifier Jacob Willcox takes out world No.1 Italo Ferreira at the Margaret River Pro

Jacob Willcox returned to Margaret River with one thing in mind following the disappointment of being cut from surfing’s elite tour at his home event last year: Redemption.

At Main Break on Tuesday, the local qualifier took another step towards his ultimate goal of re-qualifying for the World Surf League’s championship tour, beating current world No.1 and 2019 world champion Italo Ferreira in pumping 8-10ft conditions.

Willcox, a Margaret River local who grew up surfing the region’s famous breaks, had to do it the hard way just to earn his spot in the field, winning last week’s trials.

And after a nightmare opening round defeat to Ferreira, in which his posted just two scores of 2.50, Willcox was left questioning everything, laid up in bed with a head cold for two lay days, before coming out firing in the elimination round earlier on Tuesday and saving his best for a rematch with the Brazilian powerhouse.

“After this event last year I felt so disappointed, so heartbroken,” he said.

“Redemption: that was my one word for this week. I just want to compete and hopefully this result leads me into a good campaign on the challenger series. I’m so fired up to get back on the tour.”

Willcox looked a different surfer to Saturday’s rough start, putting it down in part to an equipment switch.

He scored an excellent 8.33 for a wave that included sticking a massive vertical drop, three turns and a tough finish, adding to a solid 6.67 to post a 15.00 two-wave total.

Ferreira put up a 6.87 and 6.00 for a 12.87 total but was always chasing and couldn’t find the big number he needed.

“I had such a shocker that first day, I rode the wrong board and couldn’t even get off the bottom so it felt good just to get out there on the right board and do a turn,” Willcox said.

“I was stoked to surf against Italo, he is one of my favourite surfers and so amazing to watch out there, it got me so fired up. To beat him was epic.

“I’m knackered after those two heats, it’s pretty draining conditions with a lot of swell. I’ve been sick as a dog the past few days. It’s good just to be back in the water.”

Camera IconJacob Willcox of Australia surfs in Heat 9. Credit: Cait Miers/World Surf League

The 27-year-old has now surfed the Margaret River Pro eight times but never previously made it to the round of 16.

With his best result at home already locked in, he hopes local knowledge can help him land a few more upsets.

“I feel like it’s almost anyone’s game out there, you just need to be able to pick the good waves and being a local definitely helps,” he said.

“It’s cool to be able to compete against these guys in the big event and beat them. I know I can do it, sometimes it just happen how you think.

“It’s a blur out there when you ride out of that end section but you can hear everyone getting behind you. I’m so happy to have an event here at home to compete in front of all my friends and family.”

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Willcox took six months away from competition to re-group following the disappointment of being cut from his rookie year on the CT and failing to re-qualify on the CS. He admitted feeling burnt out after his decade-long attempt to make it on surfing’s elite tour, only to have it ripped away at the mid-season cut, only a few months in.

“I’m just trying to put some good heats together and set myself up for a good year,” he said. “I’ve had about six months off with no competing and I feel like that’s given me a lot of energy to come into this year pretty hungry.”

Watch the WSL Margaret River Pro live and free on 7PLUS

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