The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy is officially ON, with competition kicking off early this morning at 7:35 a.m. AEST. Stop No. 5 on the 2025 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour, the iconic Bells Beach is dishing up challenging conditions with onshore winds and surf in the four-to-six-foot range—setting the stage for a fierce day of action.
The day opened with the men’s Opening Round, followed by the women’s Opening Round and men’s Elimination Round heats to come. Surfers faced wind-affected peaks on the Bowl as they worked to lock in a spot in the Round of 32 and steer clear of the dreaded Elimination Round.
The first heat saw a battle of the CT youngsters, with Hawaii’s Barron Mamiya going head-to-head with Brazilians Joao Chianca and Samuel Pupo. With all three surfers eager to keep their campaigns alive, the lineup at Bells was packed with high-stakes tension from the get-go.
One of the day’s most anticipated matchups came in Heat 4, where Brazil’s in-form Yago Dora looked to extend his electric 2025 run. Facing off against fellow countryman Ian Gouveia and Hawaii’s Ian Gentil, Dora aimed to keep the momentum rolling amid the rugged surf.
Later in the session, attention shifts to the women’s Elimination Round, where Heat 2 features a critical face-off between Vahine Fierro (FRA), Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW), and CT Replacement surfer Nadia Erostarbe (ESP). All three are vying for a spot in the Round of 16 and trying to dodge an early equal 17th place exit from the competition.
Despite less-than-ideal conditions, the WSL is optimistic about what’s ahead. “Conditions aren’t ideal today, but we have plenty of waves for the first time since Day 1 of the window,” said WSL Commissioner Jessi Miley-Dyer. “Running today will get us in a really good position to pick the eyes out of the remainder of the window with some more favourable windows later in the week. There is plenty of opportunity for the surfers out there, so we’re expecting some great surfing as the tide continues to drop on the Bowl.”
Fans can catch every moment of the action streaming live at WorldSurfLeague.com, as the world's best battle the wind and the waves at one of surfing’s most storied venues.
