PWA/WWT Tour: Season opener in Margaret River - Köster meets Salmonn, Stillrich and Co.

As in previous years, the Margaret River Wave Classic marks the start of the 2026 season. The event runs from 31 January to 8 February and, with four stars, has no decisive significance for the World Championships, but is traditionally a top-class contest and barometer of form. Some well-known riders have announced their participation and can look forward to it: the forecasts point to a rolling swell with waves of up to three metres, with optimal wind conditions, especially on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Philip Köster comes to Western Australia as the defending champion, his performance in 2025 was outstanding, now he has to assert himself against strong competition. Julian Salmon, last year's runner-up and currently ranked eleventh in the world, is one of his toughest challengers. Alessio Stillrich and Takuma Sugi, who are ranked 17th and 18th in the world, will be competing in Australia for the first time.

• Before the PWA/WWT start: "I'm enjoying the fact that it's a bit quieter today" - Interview with Philip Köster

Young talent meets experience

Takuma Sugi is excited about his premiere in Margaret River. "I saw footage from last year and was really excited to see such a powerful, hollow wave," explains the Japanese rider. His decision to take part was based on reports from his brother about the conditions in Western Australia. Simon Thule from Denmark returns to Margaret River for his third winter. Thule challenged Köster hard in the semi-finals last year and is one of the riders with the greatest development on the tour. With Jaeger Stone and Jake Ghiretti, reigning U21 World Pro Junior Champion, two well-known locals will also be taking part. However, Ghiretti's participation is subject to change as he recently suffered a concussion and is awaiting medical clearance.

The women's field is also high-calibre: Maria Andrés and Sybille Bode lead the international line-up. They will be joined by Margaret River locals and experienced World Tour athletes Karin Jaggi and Jane Seman. Sarah Kenyon, reigning Junior World Wave Champion, completes the starting field. For Maria Andrés, her participation fulfils a long-cherished wish. "This is a dream come true for me," says the Spaniard. "Western Australia has been on my bucket list for many years. I've heard so much about it and it's something I've wanted to experience at least once in my life. This felt like the perfect opportunity."

Livestream of the final

There will be a live stream on the WWT YouTube channel on the final day. You can also find all the information on @pwaworldtour and @world_wave_tour get on Instagram!