Parkinson leads Aust charge in WA

Australian surfers Joel Parkinson, Matt Wilkinson, Julian Wilson and Adrian Buchan have stormed into the fourth round of the Margaret River Pro.

Large waves are seen in the Margaret River

Organisers give the all clear for action to resume at the World Surf League's Margaret River Pro. (AAP)

Australian surfer Joel Parkinson has wound back the clock on his 35th birthday to storm into the fourth round of the Margaret River Pro.

The 2012 world champion proved way too good for Tahitian Michel Bourez, winning their round-three encounter by 17.40 points to 11.60 on Sunday.

Parkinson was one of four Australian round-three winners, along with world ratings leader Matt Wilkinson, Julian Wilson and Adrian Buchan.

Parkinson capped off a brilliant display with a nine-point ride in the dying seconds of his clash with Bourez.

"I really enjoy this place, it's so pure and real," said Parkinson.

"You really feel at one with nature around here and I really love that aspect of it.

"Even the waves, they just seem that they've travelled so far to get here."

Wilkinson, who has saluted at the opening two events of the World Surf League (WSL) season at the Gold Coast and Bells Beach, won an all-Australian encounter against Matt Banting 12.00-9.27.

"That heat was super-tough," said Wilkinson, whose heat began shortly after 7am (AWST).

"The sun was straight in your eyeballs as soon as you'd look in, the wind was so strong out there.

"I had a few bobbles on my waves, although I thought I'd have more opportunities.

"Then the ocean went a bit slow, but I made good tactical decisions."

Wilson was also a dominant winner, ousting Brazilian Miguel Pupo 16.90 to 9.80, while Buchan downed fellow Australian Josh Kerr 15.90 to 12.90.

A day after announcing his impending retirement, 37-year-old WA local Taj Burrow was taken down by red-hot Nat Young.

The American had two nine-point rides as he finished 3.33 points clear of Burrow, who will step down from the WSL tour after the event in Fiji in June.

Italian injury-replacement Leonardo Fioravanti claimed a second big scalp in as many days, edging reigning world champ Adriano de Souza by one tenth of a point.

The 18-year-old Fioravanti had previously knocked out 11-time world champ Kelly Slater in the second round on Saturday.

Australian stars Tyler Wright and Stephanie Gilmore both successfully negotiated tough second-round knockout heats in the women's event.

Wright won a high-scoring encounter against countrywoman Felicity Palmateer 18.00 to 14.16 while six-time world champ Gilmore finished strongly to oust Hawaiian Coco Ho 15.10-12.67.


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Source: AAP



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