Denmark’s Isi Campbell misses out on wildcard spot at Margaret River Pro, going down in trials quarterfinals

Denmark surfer Isi Campbell’s bid to qualify for the Margaret River Pro ended at the quarterfinal stage of the WA trials last Friday.

Campbell was one of 12 WA women selected to take part in the qualifiers with only one wildcard slot available for the full event, which starts in Margaret River on Thursday.

She made the most of the offshore winds and 5-foot waves to win her first round heat but then fell short in the last six, coming third behind the two opponents in her quarterfinal.

Bronte Macaulay, from Margaret River, drew on her championship tour experience to clinch top spot and a place with the big guns, after beating fellow local Mia McCarthy in the final.

In her first round, Campbell posted scores of 6.33, 7.33 and 8.5 for a 15.83 two-wave total which pipped McCarthy’s 14.23 and Rosie Gillet’s 6.1.

The battle in the quarterfinal went to the wire with Campbell needing 6.5 off her last wave to top the trio.

However, the Great Southern Academy of Sport athlete could only manage 1.03 for a 12.4 total, behind Olive Hardy’s 13.9 and Ruby Berry’s 13.56.

The Relationship Australia WA Trials are the pinnacle of Surfing WA’s pathway to the pro initiative.

They provide the link between local talent and the world stage with competitors selected based on their efforts in the WSL qualifying series, as well as State titles and nominations.

The WA Margaret River pro is the second stop on the World Surf League Championship Tour.