Surf-Stats is proud to present the first in a new series of articles: Notes from the line-up. The premise is simple: find a Surf-Stats fan who knows the contest wave like the back of their hand, then pick their brain on who has been lighting up the free-surf sessions and showing the right kind of pre-contest form.

Who better to give us the skinny on Event 3 of the WSL tour than Jack Macaulay? Jack is a Margaret River local whose sister Bronte Macaulay is the current Injury Replacement for the WSL Womens tour and whose father is WA legend, shaper and former ASP competitor Dave Macaulay (he finished 3rd in the world in both 1989 & 1993). Here Jack gives us his gives his insights into who is looking good in the line up for the Margaret River Pro (commencing April 8th).

So, Jack, who are you favouring out there this year?

Since his early exit at Bells, John John seems to be the only one surfing Margarets ’til dark, laying down his trademark arcing carves, hefty lay-back jams and finishing his waves off with clean projectile lip-line floaters. He may have slid down to equal 10th position on the ratings, but I think we are looking at him taking a big ratings leap as judging by his free-surfs. John John’s current form this year is not the same as the JJF we saw last year; he is surfing just as well, but he is finishing off his waves a lot more consistently. John last year arguably lost the final by falling on his finishes, but he has been putting the time out in the water while his other competitors are still licking their wounds. His powerful-yet-agile approach will suit the waves whether it’s at the big main break walls, the Box slabs or the longer waves at north point. With John John, I think we are looking at our 2016 Drug Aware Pro champion.

Wow, tell it like it is. Anyone else catch your eye?

Adriano de Souza is putting his fair share of hours in the water and is undoubtedly looking like he is destined to make it to finals day. His free surfing at Main break (where majority of the competition will likely be held) is saying “this is how I am going to surf whether it’s big or small: I am going to do long drawn out bottom turns and hold my board on rail through a downward arc followed by a lay-back jam, finishing my waves with a powerful lip-line floater, and I am going to get two 8.5’s and if you don’t think I deserve them go read the criteria”.

Haha, a judging lesson from an ADS free-surf. What about the conditions?

It looks like it will be pumping at the box for the first few days of the waiting period, and I expect the natural footers to triumph; those not back-dooring waves at the box will be paying the price.

Any predictions?

I’m calling barrel pig Sebastian Zietz to cause an upset in Rounds 1 or 2, a JJF and de Souza rematch, Kelly to have a return to form if his head space is sorted and he had a half decent stick under his feet, the veterans to put the rookies back in their place and Adam Melling to charge hard yet again but get in the highlights reel for all the wrong reasons.

How about Bronte? Are you backing your sister to do well at her home break?

Aw man, that’s tough; I’d never write off my sister. She’s definitely capable of getting 5th or higher out at main break as she will suit the big walls and can connect 3 solid turns to get in the 9 range. She might have some trouble if there’s the type of big end-sections which favour the natural footers. I think if she can just fit her 3rd turn in before it bowls up she will be able to finish her waves well and really shake up the top seeds.

Fantastic. Thanks for your insights, Jack.

It’s all good. I’ll let you know if anyone else starts standing out in the line-up.

If you think you’ve got what it takes to give us a Notes from the Line-Up wrap at a future contest, please contact us in the comments section below, or via twitter or Facebook.