A surprise huge swell offered up big barrels in Hossegor last Saturday, a few hopefuls tried to score paddling but the playing field was so big that only the surfers with jet ski assistance could get in the right spot to experience the visions we all dream of...
Judge for yourself by checking out this sick edit.
Surfers: Joan Duru, Miky Picon, Marc Lacomare, Aritz Aranburu, Jerome Sahyoun, Marco Mignot, William Aliotti, Mathias Maallem, arnaud Darrigade,
THE STREETS | MAISIE PETERS | GHETTS |
PROFESSOR GREEN | CAT BURNS | FUTURE UTOPIA |
SAMMY VIRJI | EWAN MCVICAR | GOOD NEIGHBOURS | AYANNA | TAKE A CHANCE ON US | ANTSLIVE | TORS
AND PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED ACTS INCLUDING –
BECKY HILL | COURTEENERS | TOM ODELL | DECLAN MCKENNA | SOFT PLAY | HOLLY HUMBERSTONE | KATE NASH | BICEP PRES. CHROMA | NIA ARCHIVES | KENYA GRACE | OVERMONO
The sun is shining and spring has sprung, which means Boardmasters 2024 is just a few months away! And today, the festival reveals its third and final wave of acts, completing the line up for 2024. 40+ artists including The Streets, Maisie Peters, Ghetts, Professor Green and more join the huge line-up which includes headliners Chase & Status, Sam Fender and Stormzy. Shaping up to be the biggest Boardmasters yet, fans can check out the final billing, as well as stage splits, revealed as part of today’s announcement. Plus, there’s tons to explore at this summer’s Boardmasters, including new festival stages, reimagined spaces, plenty of new places to discover and uncover. That’s not to mention the best in international surfing as the Boardmasters Opensupported by Rubicon Raw Energy with the WSL returns to Fistral Beach. Cornwall’s own surf and music festival, takes place from 7 - 11 August 2024 across two stunning sites in Newquay, Cornwall. We’ll see you at the beach!
This is not a drill – demand for this year’s Boardmasters has been at an all-time high and fans are urged to get their tickets now to avoid missing out. Limited tickets remain, with less than 7% of Camping tickets available and Day tickets being snapped up fast – and Saturday Day Tickets already completely sold out! Check out the Boardmasters website for more information at www.boardmasters.com.
Today, Birmingham grime legends The Streets join the line-up for Boardmasters. Pioneers of UK garage, The Streets have cemented themselves as one of the most influential groups in British music culture since bursting onto the scene in 2002. The Streets remain groundbreaking to this day, with a catalogue of hits including ‘Fit But You Know It’, ‘Has It Come To This?’, ‘Blinded By The Lights’, ‘Dry Your Eyes’ and 2022’s ‘Brexit At Tiffany’s’. Maisie Peters’ innate talent for storytelling and relatable songs has seen her rack up over half a billion streams globally. Maisie has sold out London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire and headlined her own U.S. tours and is now heading to Cornwall for Boardmasters. Her acclaimed debut album shot straight to No. 2, every date on her headline tour sold out in 1 minute and she has released a string of pop bangers including ‘Cate’s Brother’, ‘Blonde’, ‘Good Enough’ and ‘Not Another Rockstar’.
Ghetts’ latest album ‘On Purpose, With Purpose’ has earned him a deserved flurry of rave reviews including Guardian describing the release as “brimming with elegant fury”. Notably one of the UK’s most prolific and influential rappers, Ghetts joins the Boardmasters bill. He’s an Ivor Novello nominee, a Mercury Prize nominee, and a MOBO Award winner, who serves up sharp commentary and has collaborated with everyone from Kano, Wretch 32 and Sampha. East London’s own MC and rapper Professor Green has remained prolific throughout his incredible career and this summer you’ll find him on Cornish shores, taking to the Boardies main stage for a set laden with his biggest hits including ‘I Need You Tonight’, ‘Jungle’, and ‘Read All About It’. The brilliant platinum-selling singer songwriter Cat Burns joins, too, known and loved for her relatable tracks including ‘go’ and ‘people pleaser’.
Other hot new additions to the line up include Future Utopia, the psych rock band which is the brainchild of the renowned Fraser T Smith who’s added his magic to works by Adele, Dave and Stormzy. Plus, the unstoppable Sammy Virji will be on the decks serving up infectious grooves, as well as ‘Tell Me Something Good’ hitmaker and Scotland’s biggest hyped DJ of the moment Ewan McVicar, breakthrough duo Good Neighbours and drawing on all things RnB, soul and reggae, Äyanna is not to be missed. Find the full Boardmasters line up here.
There’s plenty more for festival-goers to discover, across Boardmasters 11 stages which include a newly-designed and newly-located The View which does firmly what it says on the tin, offering the best views in the house overlooking the beautiful Watergate Bay. Plus, DJs will be taking to the decks down at The Point; the ultimate clubbing destination at Boardmasters which comes with an eye-popping new design and will this year sit alongside Unleashed presented by Drip for the unmissable after hours hot spot. From theKeg & Pastonbury, The Boulevard, and daily Beach Cleans to Street Food, Pub Quizzes, Surf Screenings, Bingo, Karaoke, and Family Fun, there's an abundance of options of day to night activities. Stay tuned for more surprises yet to be revealed.
New for 2024, the Paradise Surf Club is a nod to Boardmasters’ long standing surf heritage. The surf shack will be landing on the shores of Boardmasters arena, and comes complete with an outdoor deck space to soak up the view of the coastline. What’s more, festival-goers’ favourites are set to return. Muscle Beach is back - Boardmasters’ very own outdoor gym, bigger and better than ever and free for camping ticket holders. Expect professional personal trainers, challenges and prizes and high octane workout sessions for a full five days of fitness. And, ACTION! The free Boardies Cinema returns for 2024, too. Expect surf films, comedies, Hollywood classics and more, as camping ticket holders are invited to settle in with their mates for some movie magic. For those seeking a moment of calm amidst the excitement, Boardmasters presents Zennor Haven at the festival campsite. A haven for mindfulness, Zennor Haven offers expert-led sound baths, wellness discussions, panel talks, massages, and workshops. It's the perfect spot to reconnect with nature and appreciate the stunning surroundings of the coast.
Steeped in heritage, Fistral Beach is the world-famous home of British surfing, and the place where Boardmasters began back in 1981. During the festival, Fistral Beach transforms into a vibrant surf festival complete with pro surf competitions, art installations, workshops, DJs and a bustling surf village. For the ninth consecutive year, the WSL will return for the Boardmasters Open supported by Rubicon Raw Energy. The best of UK and international surfers will go head-to-head in the country’s biggest surf competition. Pro Surfers make their welcome return competing in the shortboard & longboard competitions. Plus, the next generation of groms will battle it out in the returning Junior Open competition. Athlete registrations are opening Thursday 28th March at 10am - athletes can go to www.boardmasters.com/surfing to see full detail and enter the competitions.
Fans seeking to make a more sustainable travel choice, can book a Coach + Camping Ticket package with Big Green Coach. Plus there are new direct coach routes servicing Cornwall and the South West.
Don’t miss out on Boardmasters 2024. With limited Camping + final tier Day Tickets remaining, snap them up now at www.boardmasters.com!
Pictured: 2024 CT Rookie Sawyer Lindblad (USA) has guaranteed her best result of the season with a Quarterfinal berth at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy. Credit: © WSL / Aaron Hughes
World No. 1 Picklum and Reigning Event Winner Wright Eliminated on Day 2
World No.1 Molly Picklum (AUS) will have to wait another year for her chance to ring the iconic Bell after she was taken down by 2024 CT Rookie Sawyer Lindblad (USA) in the Round of 16 at Winkipop. Picklum was hoping to find some form after falling into the Elimination Round and only just sneaking into the Round of 16, but Lindblad had other ideas, posting the equal highest heat total of the day, a 15.67 (out of a possible 20). Lindblad looked sharp on her backhand and has guaranteed her best result at the elite level as she looks to move above the Mid-season Cut line with a Quarterfinals berth.
“It feels really good; I was really fired up after my loss in Portugal, it felt good to know that I can get scores in the 7’s and 8’s so I came into this event really excited,” Lindblad said. “This is only my third time surfing Winkipop, and it’s such a sick wave. It reminds me of Trestles at home. I’m honestly just really happy to make it out of the Round of 16. I’m not really thinking about the Cut. This is my first year on Tour, and I don't really feel that much pressure, to be honest. I just want to keep surfing and getting high scores.”
Local Trials winner Ellie Harrison (AUS) continued her charge through the draw, overcoming reigning two-time Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Winner Tyler Wright (AUS). Wright and Harrison went back and forth in the back-end of the heat, with the lead changing a number of times. With Wright leading on the buzzer, Harrison made it to the beach and waited for her last score, which was enough to get the lead and leave the two-time World Champion with an equal 9th-place finish.
“When I saw the heat draw come out, I was like ‘oh no’ – I look up to Tyler so much, she’s the nicest person in the water, gives me compliments, she’s such a cool girl,” Harrison said. “I went into that heat with the mentality that I’ve got nothing to lose. I tried to keep my cool, so I was just waiting for the perfect opportunity to find where the sets were coming in and try to get a big score. Then I got another one, and I wasn’t sure if it was going to be the score, but I was so glad I got through. It’s a dream come true surfing at Bells, walking out with all my family and friends cheering for me on, it’s something I’ve thought about every year, and now it’s real. It’s a little weird, I don’t know how to act.”
Injury replacement Morgan Cibilic (AUS) continued the theme of upsets today, putting on a strong performance to defeat World No. 4 Jack Robinson(AUS) in the tough Winkipop conditions. Cibilic will take on form surfer and fellow Novacastrian Ryan Callinan (AUS) in the Round of 16.
“It feels amazing, I’m just so stoked to be here and grateful for the opportunity to be able to compete in another CT, and it makes it so much sweeter to make a few heats and put a couple of waves together,” said Ciblic. “It’s been so good. Coming down to the home of Rip Curl and getting to surf the bowl pumping yesterday was kinda a dream of mine. Getting to surf against Jack man-on-man was pretty sick. I’m pretty good mates with him, so it was good to have a little battle and epic to come out on top.”
Caroline Marks and Samuel Pupo Steal the Show at Winkipop
Reigning World Champion Caroline Marks (USA) was the standout performer of the Round of 16, posting the equal highest two-wave total of the women’s event to overcome an in-form Sophie McCulloch (AUS). Marks’ backhand looked on point at Winkipop, smashing massive critical turns to earn a two-wave total of 15.67 (out of a possible 20). Marks will take on Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) in the Quarterfinals when the competition resumes.
“That was really fun. I love surfing Winkipop. It’s a different wave, and I rode a different board, so it was cool to change things up,” Marks said. “You are always aware of what’s going on around you and who is dropping out of the draw, but I’m really trying to focus on myself. There hasn’t been a female goofy-footer win this event for so long, and I’d love to break that streak – this has always been an event I’d love to win with so many of my heroes having won it. There is a long way to go before I get close to that though.”
Samuel Pupo (BRA) put on a dominant performance, posting the highest wave of the day with an 8.50 and the highest heat total of the Round with a 15.23, ahead of Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA). Before Bells, Pupo sat well below the Mid-season Cutline, but a good result here will be valuable for him as he tries to secure a place for the rest of the tour season.
“It means so much, still pretty early in the contest, really but this Round of 32 has been getting the best of me, a lot of close heats,” Pupo said. “This whole trip has been really tricky for me mentally and emotionally, having some rough nights of sleep. It’s hard to stay calm with all these bad results I’ve been getting; you wonder if maybe you’re doing something wrong. It's hard to keep doing the same thing and believing it's going to work at some point. I don’t want to leave it to Margaret’s, so I’m stoked to make this heat.”
World No. 2 and Reigning Bells event winner Ethan Ewing (AUS) narrowly dodged a major upset, taking a last-minute win over the in-form Rip Curl wildcard George Pittar (AUS). After much deliberation from the judges, Ewing was left to hear the final scores on the Winkipop shoreline, scoring a 6.43 to jump Pittar after the buzzer.
“I felt pretty good about that last wave; it felt better than my other wave, to be honest, but yeah, it was challenging conditions out there,” said Ewing. “George is such a good surfer, and I made some mistakes but I’m stoked to get through.” I did see there were a lot of upsets today, but I try to just focus on myself. Like I said, I've got a lot of things to work on, and I'm looking forward to improving.” Ewing said, keeping his dream alive of taking back-to-back Bells wins.
Matildas and Other Sports Stars Cheer on World’s Best Surfers at Bells
Bells Beach hasn’t just attracted the world’s best surfers over the opening two days of competition. Spotted on site have included Matildas players Chloe Logarzo and Elise Kellond Knight, coming to cheer on their good friend India Robinson (AUS), alongside surf fan and Ten-time World Champion cliff diver Rhiannan Iffland.
Two-time Olympic Medalist and nine-time XGames Medallist snowboarder Scotty James met with fellow RedBull team rider Jordy Smith (RSA) to talk Bells Beach with the past Event Winner.
AFL superstar Charlie Curnow from the Carlton Football Club was seen at the event site, supporting close friend Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) in his Opening Round Heat.
For highlights from today's action at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy Women’s Elimination Round Results:
HEAT 1: Sophie McCulloch (AUS) 13.17 DEF. Molly Picklum (AUS) 11.50, India Robinson (AUS) 4.67
HEAT 2: Caitlin Simmers (USA) 12.04 DEF. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 11.23, Alyssa Spencer (USA) 10.56
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy Women’s Round of 16 Results:
HEAT 1: Johanne Defay (FRA) 15.46 DEF. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 13.17
HEAT 2: Ellie Harrison (AUS) 13.73 DEF. Tyler Wright (AUS) 12.74
HEAT 3: Sawyer Lindblad (USA) 15.67 DEF. Molly Picklum (AUS) 11.74
HEAT 4: Brisa Hennessy (CRC) 12.74 DEF. Lakey Peterson (USA) 12.73
HEAT 5: Caroline Marks (USA) 15.67 DEF. Sophie McCulloch (AUS) 12.10
HEAT 6: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 11.97 DEF. Luana Silva (BRA) 11.67
HEAT 7: Caitlin Simmers (USA) 13.10 DEF. Isabella Nichols (AUS) 12.93
HEAT 8: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 13.83 DEF. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) 12.04
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy Men’s Round of 32 Results:
HEAT 1: Morgan Cibilic (AUS) 13.64 DEF. Jack Robinson (AUS) 12.93
HEAT 2: Ryan Callinan (AUS) 14.50 DEF. Imaikalani deVault (HAW) 7.13
HEAT 3: Samuel Pupo (BRA) 15.23 DEF. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 9.70
HEAT 4: Matthew McGillivray (RSA) 10.66 DEF. Connor O'Leary (JPN) 9.34
HEAT 5: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 12.93 DEF. George Pittar (AUS) 12.73
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy Men’s Round of 32 Remaining Matchups:
HEAT 6: Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) vs. Liam O'Brien (AUS)
HEAT 7: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Cole Houshmand (USA)
HEAT 8: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Jacob Willcox (AUS)
HEAT 9: Griffin Colapinto (USA) vs. Tully Wylie (AUS)
HEAT 10: Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Crosby Colapinto (USA)
HEAT 11: Barron Mamiya (HAW) vs. Kelly Slater (USA)
HEAT 12: Jake Marshall (USA) vs. Frederico Morais (POR)
HEAT 13: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Kade Matson (USA)
HEAT 14: Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Ian Gentil (HAW)
HEAT 15: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Rio Waida (INA)
HEAT 16: Jordy Smith (RSA) vs. Caio Ibelli (BRA)
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy Women's Quarterfinal Matchups:
HEAT 1: Johanne Defay (FRA) vs. Ellie Harrison (AUS)
HEAT 2: Sawyer Lindblad (USA) vs. Brisa Hennessy (CRC)
HEAT 3: Caroline Marks (USA) vs. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA)
HEAT 4: Caitlin Simmers (USA) vs. Gabriela Bryan (HAW)
The new issue is out. You can get it delivered to door for by hitting this link here.
30 years… so, where do we start?
I’m sat outside Plymouth Uni café in the sun chatting. You got a grant to go back then. I could surf loads, lifeguard for extra cash, and have time to travel. Someone asked me what my dream job was. I said, “working for a surfing magazine”. I’d never actually thought of it before, as there weren't any to work for. Then they asked: “Why?” My response: “To inspire surfers to travel the world, give British and Irish surfers the coverage to get sponsors that would enable them to live their dreams like overseas pros, and tell the stories from home about local surfers doing remarkable things. The stuff you didn't see in Australian or American surfing magazines. And to fight the water companies dumping sewage in the sea…”
Issue one of Carve was published in spring 1994 by Chris Power. Its aim? To get people stoked and to represent British and Irish surfing, like the US and Oz mags did overseas. I wrote about a trip to Portugal. Next year I joined full-time on issue four, as Assistant Editor and Ad Manager. Been here ever since.
So now it’s 30 years later. In that time Carve, its editors, storytellers and photographers, have all sought to stand by its original aims – documenting amazing travel stories, trying to get surfers to incredible places, and represent them. In 1994, British and Irish surfers were still seen as anomalies. “Do you drink tea and surf in the river?” Was a standard response. No one got why we loved surfing where we did. Waiting for breaks in weather systems, the raw brutal coastlines we inhabit, dark waters, endless storms, huge tides, no palm trees – it was all too confusing for those on tropical shores. Now coldwater surfing is a thing and coldwater swimming renowned worldwide as a major health kick. They still may not want to live here, but people get it.
It's hard to pick out special moments over 30 years. There have been so many. Competitively, Russ Winter’s WCT charge and comeback, Spencer Hargreaves’ sunset barrel. Guts, Bleakers, Bearman and Skindog proving British longboarders are amongst the best in the world. Richie Fitz, Gabe, Cotty and Al Meenie kicking off Irish big wave surfing. Then Mikey Smith, Fergal Lowey and the rest of the crew pushing limits of surfing and creativity. And of late the charge of ISA world number two junior Lukas Skinner, and the younger UK crew determined to make a mark at a global level.
Then there’s the opening up of remote British slabs, some still barely surfed, proving we have world-class waves on our doorstep. Surfers Against Sewage, formed when environmentalists were seen as the great unwashed, legitimising the fight to save the oceans. The onward rise of home-based surf creatives, particularly the Irish, who are amongst the best in the world right now. The launch of SurfGirl to showcase women’s surfing in 2002, and the ongoing fight in a still largely misogynistic world. And too many funny times to even try to put down here.
But, most of all, we just like running shots and words from you and seeing what a journey it can send you on. Particularly now we are running shots of the third generation of surfers. Some lives have been saved, some incredible surfing has gone down, adventures have been had.
It's been a lifetime of the collective trying to show the world your realities, values, skills and community. It has been a privilege. I think Mickey Smith’s words best sum up the experiences of all creatives involved along the way of the last three decades:
"If I only scrape a living, at least it's living worth scraping. If there is no future in it, at least the present is worth remembering.”
30 years. Always for the love.
Steve Editor
• Medina, Wright, Marks, and Slater Headline Opening Rounds
• Trials Winner Harrison and World No. 11 Nichols Send World No. 1 Picklum to Elimination Round
• Experience Pays on the Bells Bowl as First Competitors Eliminated on Day 1
• More Available at WorldSurfLeague.com
A massive opening day of action kicked off the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy, Stop No. 4 on the World Surf League (WSL) 2024 Championship Tour (CT). Bells Beach turned on classic conditions for Day 1 of the competition, offering up clean four-to-six-foot surf for the completion of the men’s and women’s Opening Rounds, as well as the men’s Elimination Round, which saw the event's first early exits.
Medina, Wright, Marks And Slater Headline The Opening Round
Three-time World Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA) continued his return to form today at Bells Beach, posting the highest two-wave total of the opening day with an excellent 17.33 (out of a possible 20). Medina’s scoreline included a near-perfect 9.33 (out of a possible 10) and came from an explosive display of backside re-entries. It was a shot across the bow of his fellow competitors as he continued to search for his maiden win at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach. Medina overcame an impressive Liam O’Brien (AUS), who finished in second, as well as 2024 Rookie Cole Houshmand (USA), who narrowly escaped the Elimination Round and will face Medina again in the Round of 32.
“Bells is one of those events that I haven’t won yet, and I’m looking for it,” Medina said. “There’s just so much history. All my heroes have won here before. I just want it so bad. I’m happy with my performance. I’ve been doing this all week. It's good to put it all together in a heat. I’m in a good mood. Sometimes, in an athlete’s life, you gotta enjoy when you have a moment because they come and go. It’s a rollercoaster, but right now, I feel really good and happy with my performance.”
Reigning two-time Bells Beach event winner and three-time World Champion Tyler Wright (AUS) has sent early warning signs to her fellow competitors, banking the highest single score (an excellent 8.00-point ride) and heat total (a 15.17 out of a possible 20) of the opening round. A composed Wright took the win over past event winner Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) and Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA). Returning to Australia with momentum after a second-place finish in Portugal, Wright’s powerful open carves are well suited to the Bells walls as she hunts for a dream ‘three-peat’ win at the Rip Curl Pro in 2024.
All eyes were on the water for Heat 3 of the Opening Round, which saw 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) claim his first heat win of the season ahead of two-time World Champion John John Florence (HAW) and Seth Moniz (HAW). Slater showcased his 32 years of experience in what was a slow Bells lineup, making the tactical decision to stay busy, banking over double the number of waves of his competitors.
“It’s 30 years since my first win here and 32 years since my first event here,” said Slater. “It’s good to be back, and you know it would be a real dream for me to book in and try to get my fifth win here again 30 years later. I had to surf against John John straight up. Good way to start the day, just to get the jitters out. You know, I don’t always win heats, but when I do, I try to beat John. Yeah, I mean, it's probably my last Bells. I’m fine if it's my last one. Thirty years since my first win here, it's probably a nice bookend. It will be a bittersweet sadness when I’m not coming back. I’m just trying to enjoy the event; enjoy my time here.”
Reigning World Champion Caroline Marks (USA) took a strong win in her Opening Round, utilizing her strong backhand to defeat Gabriela Bryan (HAW) and Sophie McCulloch (AUS).
Trials Winner Harrison and World No. 11 Nichols Send World No. 1 Picklum to Elimination Round
Local wildcard Ellie Harrison (AUS, above) and World No. 11 Isabella Nichols (AUS) caused the biggest upset of the day, defeating World No. 1 Molly Picklum (AUS) and sending the ranking's leader into the Elimination Round. Harrison’s win today comes off the back of winning the Bells Trials, Surfest Newcastle Pro QS 5,000, and taking out the Australia Regional Qualifying Series all in the last month. Harrison capitalized on the hometown advantage, as the roars from the hometown crowd could be heard across the beach at the event she’s been coming to since she was a baby.
“I was really nervous for that heat,” Harrison said. “I knew my draw was going to be hard. Molly is an insane surfer and someone I really look up to, but I just focused on myself and my own performance. I stuck to the fact that it’s still just a heat; it’s just two waves. I’m normally here just watching and being a grom, getting everyone’s signatures, and now I’m in the event. Surfing at home feels amazing having all my friends and family here, it couldn’t get any better. I’ve been coming to Bells every year since I started surfing. Probably before, actually, I definitely came here in a pram with Mum and Dad, so it’s a dream to be in it.”
Harrison’s fellow local wildcard Tully Wylie (AUS) also found his way through to the Round of 32 on Day 1, posting a mid-range score in the clutch moments of his Elimination Round heat to move into second and overtake Seth Moniz (HAW). Wylie progressed with Caio Ibelli (BRA), who took the top spot in the three-man matchup.
Rip Curl wildcard George Pittar (AUS, above) was the standout of the Elimination Round, posting an 8.67 for a two-wave total of 14.07 to overcome Rio Waida (INA) and CT Rookie Eli Haneman (HAW). Pittar looked clean and precise on his frontside to earn a spot in the Round of 32 in his maiden CT appearance. Waida progressed in second spot leaving Haneman to be eliminated in equal 33rd place as he now looks for a huge result in Margaret River to move above the Mid-season Cut line.
Injury Replacement and former CT competitor Morgan Cibilic (AUS) also displayed solid form to progress into the Round of 32.
India Robinson (AUS) is one of the local competitors who will need to battle it out in the Elimination Round when competition resumes after she was unable to find a progressing spot in her matchup with Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) and Lakey Peterson (USA), with Sakura Johnson taking the heat win.
Experience Pays on the Bells Bowl as First Competitors Eliminated on Day 1
Reigning Bells event winner Ethan Ewing (AUS, above) got the first heat nerves out of the way, capitalizing with a variety of powerful forehand arcs to secure a win over Matthew McGillivray (RSA), and Pittar.
Griffin Colapinto (USA) showcased his new yellow Leader Jersey, taking a comfortable win in his Opening Round. Despite sitting in World No. 1, Colapinto didn’t let his guard down against the in-form local surfer Wylie and Tour rookie Jacob Willcox (AUS).
Past Bells Beach event winner Jordy Smith (RSA) put on a class act, capitalizing on his trademark power surfing to take a dominant win over Ian Gentil (HAW) and Caio Ibelli (BRA). With a style that is perfectly suited to the Bells lineup, Smith likened the conditions at Bells to that of his home roots in South Africa.
“It’s probably similar to where I’ve grown up surfing, the style I like to try and surf like," said Smith. "It lends itself to that big, open-face kind of surfing, and that’s really what I love. It’s kinda bread and butter for me. It feels good to come here and have a bit of swell; it feels good to be back on the bowl. Things are feeling good; everything is feeling great.”
Eli Haneman (HAW), Seth Moniz (HAW), Deivid Silva (BRA) and Callum Robson (AUS) were unable to progress past the Elimination Round. With all four surfers sitting just above or just below the Mid-season Cut line, they will all shift their focus to a massive result in a couple of weeks at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro.
For highlights from today's action at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy Men’s Opening Round Results:
HEAT 1: Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 11.84 DEF. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 10.50, Kade Matson (USA) 4.80
HEAT 2: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 10.10 DEF. Barron Mamiya (HAW) 7.74, Deivid Silva (BRA) 7.03
HEAT 3: Kelly Slater (USA) 11.67 DEF. John John Florence (HAW) 10.84, Seth Moniz (HAW) 5.00
HEAT 4: Jack Robinson (AUS) 12.33 DEF. Morgan Cibilic (AUS) 12.17, Rio Waida (INA) 10.67
HEAT 5: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 9.90 DEF. Matthew McGillivray (RSA) 9.57, George Pittar (AUS) 8.10
HEAT 6: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 12.00 DEF. Jacob Willcox (AUS) 10.40, Tully Wylie (AUS) 10.33
HEAT 7: Jordy Smith (RSA) 15.84 DEF. Ian Gentil (HAW) 12.06, Caio Ibelli (BRA) 11.30
HEAT 8: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 12.00 DEF. Imaikalani deVault (HAW) 11.23, Eli Hanneman (HAW) 9.90
HEAT 9: Ryan Callinan (AUS) 13.67 DEF. Connor O'Leary (JPN) 11.66, Samuel Pupo (BRA) 5.10
HEAT 10: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 17.33 DEF. Liam O'Brien (AUS) 14.00, Cole Houshmand (USA) 8.00
HEAT 11: Jake Marshall (USA) 13.26 DEF. Crosby Colapinto (USA) 11.33, Callum Robson (AUS) 7.37
HEAT 12: Yago Dora (BRA) 10.23 DEF. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 10.00, Frederico Morais (POR) 9.33
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy Women’s Opening Round Results:
HEAT 1: Luana Silva (BRA) 12.33 DEF. Johanne Defay (FRA) 8.20, Alyssa Spencer (USA) 7.07
HEAT 2: Caroline Marks (USA) 13.17 DEF. Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 12.43, Sophie McCulloch (AUS) 8.73
HEAT 3: Ellie Harrison (AUS) 10.74 DEF. Isabella Nichols (AUS) 10.27, Molly Picklum (AUS) 9.33
HEAT 4: Brisa Hennessy (CRC) 12.50 DEF. Sawyer Lindblad (USA) 12.10, Caitlin Simmers (USA) 9.57
HEAT 5: Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) 10.67 DEF. Lakey Peterson (USA) 10.17, India Robinson (AUS) 9.00
HEAT 6: Tyler Wright (AUS) 15.17 DEF. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 13.60, Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 13.00
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy Men’s Elimination Round Results:
HEAT 1: Caio Ibelli (BRA) 11.10 DEF. Tully Wylie (AUS) 11.06, Seth Moniz (HAW) 10.23
HEAT 2: George Pittar (AUS) 14.07 DEF. Rio Waida (INA) 13.37, Eli Hanneman (HAW) 13.00
HEAT 3: Frederico Morais (POR) 11.50 DEF. Samuel Pupo (BRA) 10.80, Deivid Silva (BRA) 8.37
HEAT 4: Kade Matson (USA) 13.16 DEF. Cole Houshmand (USA) 9.54, Callum Robson (AUS) 6.03
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy Men’s Round of 32 Matchups:
HEAT 1: Jack Robinson (AUS) vs. Morgan Cibilic (AUS)
HEAT 2: Ryan Callinan (AUS) vs. Imaikalani deVault (HAW)
HEAT 3: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) vs. Samuel Pupo (BRA)
HEAT 4: Connor O'Leary (JPN) vs. Matthew McGillivray (RSA)
HEAT 5: Ethan Ewing (AUS) vs. George Pittar (AUS)
HEAT 6: Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) vs. Liam O'Brien (AUS)
HEAT 7: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Cole Houshmand (USA)
HEAT 8: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Jacob Willcox (AUS)
HEAT 9: Griffin Colapinto (USA) vs. Tully Wylie (AUS)
HEAT 10: Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Crosby Colapinto (USA)
HEAT 11: Barron Mamiya (HAW) vs. Kelly Slater (USA)
HEAT 12: Jake Marshall (USA) vs. Frederico Morais (POR)
HEAT 13: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Kade Matson (USA)
HEAT 14: Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Ian Gentil (HAW)
HEAT 15: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Rio Waida (INA)
HEAT 16: Jordy Smith (RSA) vs. Caio Ibelli (BRA)
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy Women’s Elimination Round Matchups:
HEAT 1: Molly Picklum (AUS) vs. India Robinson (AUS) vs. Sophie McCulloch (AUS)
HEAT 2: Caitlin Simmers (USA) vs. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) vs. Alyssa Spencer (USA)
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