Surfing WA/Woolacott
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The Surf Boardroom: World Surf League shutdown wipes out victory

Neil AtkinsonStirling Times

THE World Surf League (WSL) Championship tour came to a grinding halt last month.

Several shark sightings and two attacks forced the WSL to do a risk assessment/evaluation during the Margaret River Pro; after little deliberation the decision was made to cancel the remainder of the event much to the dismay of most West Australians and the State Government, I’m sure.

One can only speculate as to why the WSL have not employed the use of Smart Marine Systems’ Clever Buoy as was done following the Mick Fanning incident at J-Bay (Jeffreys Bay).

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Surely such a system would give surfers the comfort that all was being done to prevent such an incident at riskier locations?

At The Surf Boardroom, we watched keenly as Bronte Macaulay advanced to the quarter finals and some much-needed championship tour points only to have the gate slammed shut and the opportunity of a win at the Margaret River Pro gone.

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