The stage is set for an epic showdown at the 60th Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy, as Finals Day has been called on. The world’s best surfers are ready to do battle at one of the most iconic surf spots on the planet, with the coveted Bell Trophy on the line.
Competition is now underway at Winki Pop, with the remaining men’s Round of 16 heats, and the overlapping format to be utilised for the Round of 16 and Quarterfinals to ensure that the competition can be completed today. The conditions have improved significantly from the last few days, with lighter onshore winds and clean surf in the two-to-three-foot range.
The opening heat of the day promises to be a cracker, as Ethan Ewing takes on three-time World Champion Gabriel Medina. Ewing has been a standout performer throughout the Bells Beach event, but he will need to be at his very best to overcome the Brazilian powerhouse.
Heat two sees two former Bell’s winners face off, as Filipe Toledo and Jordy Smith battle it out for a spot in the semi-finals. The question on everyone’s mind is, who will be able to adapt to the new conditions at Winki Pop?
But it’s not just the men’s event that is heating up. Last year’s runner-up, Carissa Moore, will take on event winner Tyler Wright in Heat 3 of the women’s quarterfinals. This is a rematch that is not to be missed, as Moore seeks redemption for her loss to Wright last year.
The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach is a highlight of the World Surf League Championship Tour, and this year’s event is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent memory. With the world’s best surfers pushing the limits and battling it out in the surf, it’s anyone’s guess who will ring the bell and take home the trophy.