Parko secured a place in the Quarters against Kelly. Image: ASP / Kelly Cestari

Quarter-finalists were decided this morning at the Margaret Pro. Following the completion of Round 4 at yet another fat, windblown session at Main Break, the decision to move the competition across the way to ‘The Box’ for Round 5 was finally made! “What took ’em so long?” you ask.

On his win over Brazilian Miguel Pupo, Jordy commented, “I’ve had zero experience out there and I didn’t really have a great heat but I got it done. My energy is feeling really good and I can’t wait to keep going.”

The change of venue unfortunately saw the end of an on-form run from local hero Yadin Nicol, eliminated by previous Margaret River winner Josh Kerr who’ll now face an equally on-form Gabes Medina in the quarters.

“The Box is actually a pretty easy wave,” said Kerrsy. “It’s a short intense wave and you have to take off behind it and be fully committed. Once you draw the right line it blows you straight through. I surf a reefbreak similar to this back home that’s short and intense and it’s my favourite kind of wave so it’s exciting to be at The Box. Just to surf a heat out there is so fun.”

In other words, an entertaining wave but maybe just not such a contestable one? Which has had us wondering whether running a world tour stop at Margaret River such a good idea after all? What do you reckon?

Anyway, we digress. Parko got to celebrate his birthday with a win and place in the quarters, where he’ll face off Kelly. Tahiti’s Michel Bourez also earned a satisfying win over Adriano de Souza for a place in the final 8. With just one more day of competition to go now, the event should either wrap up tonight or tomorrow night if you fancy catching the live webcast.

Drug Aware Margaret River Pro Quarterfinal Match-Ups:

QF 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)
QF 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Josh Kerr (AUS)
QF 3: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Joel Parkinson (AUS)
QF 4: Nat Young (USA) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)

Drug Aware Margaret River Pro Round 5 Results

Heat 1: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 11.16 def. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 8.37
Heat 2: Josh Kerr (AUS) 14.34 def. Yadin Nicol (AUS) 9.47
Heat 3: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.60 def. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 13.50
Heat 4: Michel Bourez (PYF) 14.33 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 11.50

Drug Aware Margaret River Pro Round 4 Results

Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 13.66, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.00, Josh Kerr (AUS) 6.93
Heat 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 14.33, Yadin Nicol (AUS) 11.50, Miguel Pupo (BRA) 9.30
Heat 3: Kelly Slater (USA) 11.93, Filipe Toledo (BRA) 10.63, Michel Bourez (PYF) 8.50
Heat 4: Nat Young (USA) 13.93, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.37, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 10.73