The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, Stop No. 2 on the 2019 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), will recommence today with the remaining three heats of men’s Round 1, women’s Round 1, and men’s and women’s Round 2. After being on hold for the past three days, the event will begin at 7:05 a.m. AEST in four-to-five foot (1.2 – 1.5 metre) waves at the event’s backup location at Winki Pop (Immediately adjacent to Bells) The Heritage Heat between Tom Curren and Mark Occhilupo will be on standby for a possible start.
“After waiting a couple of days, the swell we were expecting has finally filtered in overnight,” said WSL Competition Director, Kieren Perrow. “We’ve got light offshore winds and really decent lines rolling in and we’re looking forward to a great day of surfing. With the large tide expected around lunchtime, waves at the Bells Bowl will most likely slow down, so we will move the competition to Winkipop, which should give the surfers contestable conditions throughout the entire day.”
Two-time WSL Champion John John Florence (HAW) will hit the water in Heat 11 of Round 1 with Brasilians Deivid Silva and Willian Cardoso.
Injury replacement Reef Heazlewood (AUS) played spoiler in the last CT event. All eyes will be on the young Australian as he takes on Michel Bourez (FRA) and Deivid Silva (BRA) in Heat 10 of Round 1.
2019 CT Rookies Mikey Wright (AUS) and Peterson Crisanto (BRA) will face an in-form Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) in the last men’s heat of Round 1 at Winkipop today.
Seven-time WSL Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) will begin her quest for a fifth Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach title when she takes on Bronte Macaulay (AUS) and wildcard Kobie Enright (AUS) in Heat 3 of Round 1.
Caroline Marks (USA), recent winner of Stop No. 1 on the CT, will have her work cut out when she takes on former Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach winner Courtney Conlogue (USA) and 2019 CT Rookie Brisa Hennessy (CRI).
