What do the world’s best surfers do when they’re not surfing at Margaret River? They go hiking with Cape to Cape Explorer Tours. You can watch a great short video here, filmed by the World Surf League during a lay day in the recent Margaret River Pro!
Gene Hardy shows surf champs the Margaret River region
For the short video, our legendary founder Gene Hardy showed World Surf League professionals Tatiana Weston-Webb and Johanne Defay some of the natural gems of the Margaret River region. And some highlight sections of the stunning Cape to Cape Track. That included giving the champion female surfers an insight into the Track’s ancient geology, coastline and treasure trove of endemic flora, including the majestic karri trees of Boranup Forest! “Surfing gives you the motivation to go to these places. If you can get out and do a trail, and go to a forest and a cave, it influences that experience and it adds to the surfing,” Gene says.
Geology influences Margaret River’s surf breaks
Gene also explained how Margaret River’s world-famous waves were created by the area’s unique geology. It’s thanks to the wave-cut limestone platforms that the region is so blessed with perfect waves, Gene says. “When you look at Margaret River Mainbreak, you’ve got the headland. But then, you know when you walk out, it’s a wave-cut platform and it’s dead flat. Fifteen thousand years ago the ocean level was a lot lower and it made another wave-cut platform that’s out further. And then there’s another one out further,” he explains.
New insights gained into Margaret River’s waves and coast
Both Tatiana and Johanne loved the experience of spending a day in nature with Gene. And said they’d learned more about this epic corner of the globe in one day than in all the visits here to compete. “I love coming to Margs,” says Tatiana. “It’s one of my favourite places in the world. I’ve been coming to this area for 10 years. But I’ve learned more in one afternoon than 10 years of coming here.” Gene finished the one-day tour of Margaret River with a message that protection of nature is vitally important. “It’s coming to places like this that are protected that makes you appreciate them. And it makes you think, ‘Wow, we need to protect more places like this’,” he says.
