​When the 2026 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach officially gets underway, surfing fans will be treated to highly anticipated Round One matchups.
In the women’s draw, Heat 1 pairs two-time Bells Beach winner Sally Fitzgibbons against Championship Tour Rookie Yolanda Hopkins. Heat 2 features 15-year-old Tya Zebrowski facing Alyssa Spencer. Zebrowski, who is the youngest surfer to win the Challenger Series and qualify for the tour, will make her debut appearance in a Championship Tour jersey. Later in the round, multiple-time World Champions Carissa Moore and Stephanie Gilmore return to the competition. Moore will surf against 2024 Rookie of the Year Sawyer Lindblad, while Gilmore takes on Luana Silva. Silva notably achieved her career-best result with a runner-up finish at last year’s Bells event.
On the men’s side, Round One heats involve sudden-death battles. In Heat 1, Mateus Herdy and Liam O’Brien will compete. As the final two men to qualify for the season, their heat will showcase contrasting styles where progression meets flow. Heat 2 features Australian Wildcard Dane Henry attempting to defeat Rookie Oscar Berry. Heat 3 offers a classic goofy versus regular battle between Luke Thompson and Ramzi Boukhiam. Boukhiam returns to the tour following a major knee injury sustained at Bells Beach last year. Finally, Heat 4 pairs former event runner-up Callum Robson with local event trials winner Xavier Huxtable.
Bells Beach Women’s Round One Matchups
HEAT 1: Yolanda Hopkins (POR) vs. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
HEAT 2: Tya Zebrowski (FRA) vs. Alyssa Spencer (USA)
HEAT 3: Brisa Hennessy (CRC) vs. Francisca Veselko (POR)
HEAT 4: Bella Kenworthy (USA) vs. Nadia Erostarbe (ESP)
HEAT 5: Vahine Fierro (FRA) vs. Anat Lelior (ISR)
HEAT 6: Sawyer Lindblad (USA) vs. Carissa Moore (HAW)
HEAT 7: Luana Silva (BRA) vs. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
HEAT 8: Lakey Peterson (USA) vs. Ellie Harrison (AUS)
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Men’s Round One Matchups
HEAT 1: Mateus Herdy (BRA) vs. Liam O’Brien (AUS)
HEAT 2: Oscar Berry (AUS) vs. Dane Henry (AUS)
HEAT 3: Luke Thompson (RSA) vs. Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR)
HEAT 4: Callum Robson (AUS) vs. Xavier Huxtable (AUS)
