Finals Day at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, Stop No. 2 on the 2019 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), is ON and underway with the men’s Quarterfinals.
Followed by the women’s and men’s Semifinals, and the women’s and men’s Finals. The world’s best surfers will take on pumping six-to-eight foot (1.8 – 2.4 metre) clean waves at Bells Beach, in what has been called the 50 Year Storm.
“Finals Day is on at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach,” said Kieren Perrow, WSL Competition Director. “We have incredible conditions out at Bells. The swell has come down a bit, but the wind has gone offshore and cleaned things up a bit. We will start at 7:05 a.m. with the men’s Quarterfinals, followed by the women’s Semifinals, men’s Semifinals, women’s Final and men’s Final. This is going to be a really big day and we are excited to crown our event winner in these firing conditions.”
The opening heat of Finals Day will see CT comeback kid Ryan Callinan (AUS) go head-to-head with 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), who hunts for his fifth Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach title.
Reigning Bells winner Italo Ferreira (BRA) is still in contention to go back-to-back at Bells but will have to take down another previous event winner in Jordy Smith (ZAF) when they do battle in Quarterfinal 4.
The two-time WSL Champions Gabriel Medina (BRA) and John John Florence (HAW) will match-up in Quarterfinal 3. Both surfers will fight to ring the Bell for the first time in their careers.
Wildcard Jacob Willcox (AUS) has upset the competition so far after earning his career-best finish in the Quarterfinals. He hopes to continue his winning streak against Filipe Toledo (BRA) in the Quarterfinal 2.
Current Jeep Rankings Leader Caroline Marks (USA) continues her incredible start to the season and hopes to make it two consecutive wins at Bells but first will have to take down an in-form Malia Manuel (HAW) in Semifinal 2.
Courtney Conlogue (USA) is in the hunt for a third Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Title and will have her work cut out if she wants to get there, coming up against Lakey Peterson (USA) in the first heat of the women’s Semifinals.
The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach will be broadcast LIVE It’s FINALS DAY on WorldSurfLeague.com and Facebook.com/WSL . Also check local listings for coverage from the WSL’s broadcast partners.
Italo Ferreira catching his breath after an enormous heat in sensational swell at Bells Beach
