After a few days of waiting, the 2023 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach got things going yesterday; here’s what went down.
Bells Beach, on the southeast coast of Australia, is home to the longest-running surf competition in the world. And this year, the 2023 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach celebrates a whopping 60 years as host to the world’s best surfers.
Competition kicked off at Bells on Thursday, with Championship Tour surfers taking a crack at Winkipop – a faster, punchier righthander down the beach from the main bowl at Bells. Highlights included a searing combination of mid-face hacks from former event winner, John John Florence; highflying aerials from Griffin Colapinto and current world number one Jack Robinson; Stephanie Gilmore in fine form; the highest heat total of the day from local Aussie, Sally Fitzgibbons; and more.
Here’s a blurb about the day’s events from the WSL press room:
“The 60th year of competition at Bells Beach kicked off with both the men and women setting up their respective Elimination Round draws after a showcase of world-class surfing at Winkipop. The day’s best performance went to CT veteran Sally Fitzgibbons with a 16.57 heat total and Stephanie Gilmore’s mesmerizing style garnering an 8.93. Men’s competition was highlighted by former event victor John John Florence, Kanoa Igarashi, and more as the battle for the Bell begins.”
With the mid-season cut looming, a solid result at Bells (and the following event, Margaret River) is crucial to surviving relegation to the Challenger Series. A handful of those hovering on the cusp of elimination, and certainly looking to secure a slot for the rest of the year, include: Stephanie Gilmore, Kelly Slater, Courtney Conlogue, Kanoa Igarashi, Sally Fitzgibbons, Kolohe Andino, and others.
Stay tuned for day two action; here’s the full results from day one of competition:
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Men’s Opening Round Results:
HEAT 1: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 14.50 DEF. Nat Young (USA) 11.43, Carlos Munoz (CRC) 8.54
HEAT 2: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 15.66 DEF. Seth Moniz (HAW) 11.03, Maxime Huscenot (FRA) 10.37
HEAT 3: Ryan Callinan (AUS) 13.27 DEF. Caio Ibelli (BRA) 10.94, Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 10.34
HEAT 4: Dylan Moffat (AUS) 12.33 DEF. Joao Chianca (BRA) 11.67, Matthew McGillivray (RSA) 10.84
HEAT 5: Owen Wright (AUS) 12.84 DEF. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 11.24, Ian Gentil (HAW) 10.36
HEAT 6: Jack Robinson (AUS) 12.56 DEF. Xavier Huxtable (AUS) 11.50, Kelly Slater (USA) 9.60
HEAT 7: Kolohe Andino (USA) 11.64 DEF. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 10.80, Connor O’Leary (AUS) 10.00
HEAT 8: Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 14.47 DEF. Jordy Smith (RSA) 12.47, Callum Robson (AUS) 11.93
HEAT 9: Jackson Baker (AUS) 13.00 DEF. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 11.37, Rio Waida (INA) 10.60
HEAT 10: Yago Dora (BRA) 13.83 DEF. Samuel Pupo (BRA) 13.67, Jake Marshall (USA) 10.00
HEAT 11: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 16.40 DEF. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 13.00, Liam O’Brien (AUS) 12.43
HEAT 12: John John Florence (HAW) 16.26 DEF. Morgan Cibilic (AUS) 12.17, Barron Mamiya (HAW) 12.10
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Women’s Opening Round Results:
HEAT 1: Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) 13.07 DEF. Sophie McCulloch (AUS) 11.93, Caitlin Simmers (USA) 11.24
HEAT 2: Molly Picklum (AUS) 13.73 DEF. Macy Callaghan (AUS) 13.50, Johanne Defay (FRA) 13.16
HEAT 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) 14.33 DEF. Lakey Peterson (USA) 13.66, Kobie Enright (AUS) 12.57
HEAT 4: Caroline Marks (USA) 15.83 DEF. Isabella Nichols (AUS) 13.04, Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 9.40
HEAT 5: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 16.57 DEF. Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 13.73, Tyler Wright (AUS) 12.17
HEAT 6: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 16.16 DEF. Courtney Conlogue (USA) 12.06, Brisa Hennessy (CRC) 11.50
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