In a 50-mile zone littered with amazing surf spots, North Point is the crown jewel of SW Australia. Locals have always known this, but given this last run of crazy surf with the world's best getting long, draining, backlit tubes, now it's pretty obvious to the rest of the world, too. Photo: Fabian Haegele

Some of the best action has gone down in the first hour of daylight while competition organizers were busy deciding between perfect Mainbreak and that other spot across the channel. Kolohe Andino at that other spot; The Box. Photo: Russell Ord

Noa Deane is not on the top 34. He didn't have to squeeze in a freesurf between heats 'cause his job involves surfing well for cameras, not judges. Punching the time clock never felt so good. Photo: Fabian Haegele

Josh Kerr stuffed down deep into The Box. Kerr perfected the art of coming in behind the peak here many years ago. The Box bit back this year though, handing Kerr two nasty beat downs in the early rounds. Photo: Russell Ord / Video: Jensen Young Sik

North Point does have a softer side and here Noa Deane puts it to good use. And that lefthander you can see in the background? You guessed it, it's called South Point. Photo: Brad Masters

"I paddled out with Jay Davies and for a while it was the two of us," says Dino Adrian of the afternoon session pictured here. "Then Jordy came out, then Mick, then Kelly, then Joel and then I just stopped looking and concentrated on getting barrelled all afternoon." Photo: Fabian Haegele

That's Russell Ord in the foreground pointing his lens at Jack Robinson. The two have been pairing up like this since Jack took his first steps at Margaret River's Rivermouth. Photo: Fabian Haegele / Video: Jensen Young Sik

Jordy Smith, putting the Box sessions to good use at North Point. Photo: Russell Ord

West Australia's rugged coastline always makes for a unique backdrop. Dusty Payne, caring little about the backdrop and more about the landing. Sequence: Bosko







North Point's reef is perfectly tapered to funnel solid swell lines into solid tubes. Unidentified, enjoying his arvo session. Photo: Calum Macaulay

Damien Hobgood. And no, it's not a soft landing he's heading for. At best it's a couple feet deep. Photo: Russell Ord

Kevin Wallis: "While it may have felt like one long swell, this run of surf was actually a series of three consecutive groundswells that were produced by three separate storms: the first developed south of Madagascar over the weekend of the 11th and pushed toward West Oz over the following few days and, what it partially lacked in strength, it made up for in excellent track. The second and third storms were stronger and closer to the area, but also didn’t move as favorably toward the region. All produced deepwater/offshore swell size of at least 10’, with longer swell periods between 14-18 seconds."

Wallis continues: "It’s relatively rare, but not unheard of, to see a single swell of this size during the early Autumn months for the Margaret River area (our climate model indicates that you have about a 15% chance of seeing a deepwater swell of 12’ or greater with swell period of 14 second or greater at some point during the month of April). It’s quite rare to see back to back to back swells of this caliber and to see three consecutive swells of this size with favorable offshore wind is almost of unheard of." Photo: Russell Ord

Meanwhile, up the coast...It does get warm enough in West Oz to occasionally ditch the wettie and enjoy the sunshine. Clay Marzo, making hay. Photo: Mike Riley

The freesurf sessions at the Box were crazy with dozens of pros and dozens of cameramen. Mick Fanning finds a moment to himself amongst the circus. Photo: Calum Macaulay

"West Oz was crazy," Ace Buchan (pictured) says. "It's been a week of non-stop corduroy and offshore, beautiful conditions. The session at North Point last Wednesday was pretty special: six to eight feet and light offshore. It felt fun to surf there after the Box earlier that morning. Pretty amazing wave. Kind of reminds me of a reverse Padang. All green and backlit with that crazy inside double up. Such fun!" Photo: Fabian Haegele

Dusty Payne was unable to replicate the form that saw him win at Margaret River in 2013 and was sent packing by a red hot Owen Wright in Round Two. Photo: Russell Ord

It wasn't just comp guys getting all the gems. Luke Campbell found himself a keeper while the boys were doing battle down the road. Sequence: Fabian Haegele

Jack Robinson. When not stalking waves closer to home, Jack could be found wherever it was firing all week. Photo: Brad Masters

The same swell that blessed Margaret River with waves all week made its way up to Ry Craike's hometown up north. Photo: Mike Riley

Bede Durbidge knows what it takes to get shacked at the Box: take off behind the section and backdoor it, completely ignoring the shallow reef waiting for any slight misstep or caught rail. Photo: Russell Ord

If the 2015 Drug Aware Pro is going to be remembered by anything, it'll be the waves and the performances of this guy, Jay Davies. "He took down a couple of the biggest name and just hammered it," said Taj Burrow. "I'm so proud of him." Photo: Fabian Haegele / Video: Jensen Young Sik

Michel Bourez dealing with a meaty one at The Box with a leg rope caught between his toes. No easy, ahem, feet. Photo: Russell Ord