BELLS BEACH, Victoria, Australia (Monday, March 25, 2024) - The world's best surfers have arrived in Victoria, Australia, ahead of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy for Stop No. 4 of the 2024 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT). The event holds a competition window from tomorrow, March 26, through April 5, and with a promising forecast on hand, the competition will likely commence tomorrow at Bells Beach. A call will be made at 7:30 a.m. AEDT for a potential 8:00 a.m. start.
With a massive mix of winners at the first three events of the 2024 Championship Tour season, the rankings are wide open for those hoping to qualify for the WSL Final 5 and for those looking to move above the Mid-season Cut line before the end of the Australian leg.
Fresh off a runner-up finish at the recent MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal, Ethan Ewing (AUS) arrives on Australian soil sitting second on the rankings and in a great position to defend his title here at Bells Beach. The stylish natural footer has an approach made for Bells Beach, and he's feeling confident ahead of his Opening Round heat.
"Last year was such a special event for me, and it will be pretty hard to top that one," Ewing said. "There was a lot of work that went into it, as well as my mum's history here - the win meant a lot. It's a challenging event to win, and I'm just excited to do my best here and try and enjoy myself. I saw my name on the stairs this morning, and I want to put it on there again this year."
After a slow start to the 2024 CT season, Gabriel Medina (BRA) has found momentum ahead of Bells following a win at the ISA World Games and a Semifinal finish last week in Portugal. The three-time WSL Champion holds 18 CT event wins but is yet to make a Finals appearance at Bells Beach. Knowing the history and prestige attached to ‘ringing the Bell,' Medina is looking to add Bells to his impressive list of victories.
"It's good to be back in Australia and Bells Beach," said Medina. "I always enjoy my time here and have spent a lot of time here over the years. I'm not sure why I haven't had major success here; it's a wave I like to surf. I'm feeling good after the last couple of events, so I think this could be the year for me to go deep here at Bells."
Rankings' Leaders Picklum and Colaptino Eye Maiden Wins at Bells
Molly Picklum (AUS) has once again returned to Australia wearing the yellow Leader Jersey at Bells this week as she holds onto the No. 1 position. After finishing a close second to Tyler Wright (AUS) last year at Bells, Molly has her sights clearly set on going one further and ringing the Bell in 2024.
"Last year was tough; it's hard to go all the way through an event and fall short in the last heat of the event," Picklum said. "Tyler was surfing so well last year and deserved that win, but I want to make sure it's me ringing that Bell this year. Being in yellow is great, but it's early in the year, and I need to be in yellow at the end of the year when it really counts."
Following a win at the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal, Griffin Collapinto (USA) will now wear the yellow Leader Jersey coming into Bells. With hopes of returning to home soil for the WSL Finals, Collapinto is seeking a maiden win at the Bells Rip Curl Pro in order to secure his position as part of the WSL Final 5.
World's Best Inspire Next Generation at WSL Rising Tides Bells Beach
A group of the Women's CT elite, including current World No. 2 Joanne Defay (FRA), alongside Caitlin Simmers (USA), India Robinson (AUS), Luana Silva (BRA) and Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), took some time on Monday before the competition started to share the pumping Bells lineup with a frothing bunch of groms from the local area.
Before hitting the water, local surfer India Robinson (AUS) took the group through various mindfulness activities. Robinson spoke about the benefits of goal setting as a professional athlete and incorporated it into everyday life.
"It was really cool being down on the beach and seeing all of the young girls from around here, and especially seeing how many of them there are," said Robinson. "It's really special to see how many girls in Victoria are enjoying being in the water now, so to run an event like WSL Rising Tides and give them the opportunity to surf and learn from their idols is a pretty special moment for them. I'm just grateful to be a part of it and be able to share my knowledge with them and hopefully inspire them to keep chasing their goals. Hopefully, in a few years, they'll join us on Tour. It brought me back to being an eight-year-old little girl frothing on the beach, watching Carissa and Steph, so I was stoked to be able to provide them with some tips out in the water today."
The group had the opportunity to surf dreamy lines at Bells, with the pros actively supporting and inspiring younger surfers, sharing insights and pushing groms into some of the most memorable waves of their junior careers.
Ellie Harrison, George Pittar and Tully Wylie Claim Spots Via Rip Curl Victoria Trials
The Rip Curl Victoria Trials saw local duo Tully Wylie (AUS) and Ellie Harrison (AUS), along with Sydney's George Pittar (AUS), earn spots in the main draw of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Bonsoy. Wylie and Harrison were able to claim the local Trials, whilst Pittar overcame his fellow Rip Curl team riders to book himself a spot in his first CT event.
Harrison will take on current World No. 1 Molly Picklum (AUS) and Isabella Nichols (AUS) in Heat 3 of the Opening Round. Pittar will be up against the reigning Bells event winner Ethan Ewing (AUS) and Matthew McGillivray (RSA) in Heat 5 of the Opening Round. Wylie will face World No.1 Griffin Colapinto (USA) and fellow Rip Curl team rider Jacob Wilcox (AUS) in heat 6 of the Opening Round.