In January 2025, I competed in my very first World Cup event: The legendary Margaret River Wave Classic. A week before the competition kicked off, I made my way to Prevelly, a small coastal village near Margaret River. Several renowned breaks line up along the shore, including “Main Break”, one of the most iconic waves for windsurfing and a regular venue for World Surf League (WSL) events.

Throughout the week, the conditions were demanding – light and gusty winds, with some days bringing solid swell (mast- to double-mast-high waves). It’s an intimidating spot: you have to enter through the so-called “keyhole,” a narrow gap in the reef. To get back, you need to exit the same way, and just downwind, sharp rocks are waiting – definitely not where you want to end up. I managed to squeeze in about six sessions at Main Break before competition day arrived.

On the day of the contest, the conditions were relatively decent: medium-sized waves and light side-sideonshore wind. My first heat was straight up against the local legend, a former World Cup champion who was competing on her home turf! With little luck in wave selection, I couldn’t rack up enough points and had to fight my way through the Redemption Round.

The next day, I nailed a solid wave with an aerial in my heat, securing my spot in the final. By then, the wind had dropped, making wave selection critical – only the best ones would do. My patience paid off. Two minutes before the buzzer, I pumped onto the biggest wave of the last 30 minutes. Dropping deep into the main section, I scored the highest wave score of the women’s division. In the end, it was enough for the win – first-ever World Cup event, and straight to victory. What a way to kick things off!