With the iconic Bells Beach cliffs standing tall behind them, the world’s best surfers are in Victoria, Australia, for the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy. The event is officially underway today, marking Stop No. 5 on the 2025 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT). This event kicks off the highly anticipated GWM Aussie Treble – a pivotal three-stop leg that could define the rest of the season.
The competition window runs from April 18 through April 28, and today's forecast promises an exciting start.
The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach – Called On
Rankings shaken up ahead of the mid-season cut
Bells Beach comes at a crucial moment in the tour calendar. The Aussie Treble, concluded by the Western Australia Margaret River Pro, will determine which surfers make the Mid-season Cut. After a wave of upsets and unexpected results in Stop No. 4 at El Salvador, the rankings have seen a shakeup. With only three events before the cut, every heat at Bells carries significant implications.
Simmers and Ferreira eye another bell
Reigning Bells champion Caity Simmers (USA) returns to the event ranked World No. 1, following a powerful run across the first four events of 2025. Her consistent form includes Quarterfinal finishes or better at every stop, highlighted by her win at the Surf Abu Dhabi Pro.
“It's been a whirlwind,” said Simmers. “I just want to make a turn in my heat… I hope we get fun waves, and today the waves are really fun, so that’s a good sign.”
Italo Ferreira (BRA), also sitting at World No. 1, shares a deep connection with Bells Beach, the site of his first CT victory in 2018. That win catapulted him toward a World Title in 2019 and eventually Olympic Gold in 2021. Ferreira has reached Finals Day four times in the past seven events at Bells.
“I was watching [the celebration video] this morning,” Ferreira said. “That was my first win… it’s really special to be back… I’m No. 1 and this makes me more motivated to win and do my best.”
Jordy Smith brings veteran fire and fresh momentum
After clinching his first CT win in eight years at the Surf City El Salvador Pro, Jordy Smith (RSA) arrives at Bells with renewed confidence. Now ranked World No. 5, the 37-year-old is ready for the point breaks of the Aussie leg, starting with Bells Beach – the site of his last CT win in 2017.
“I’m an absolute surf dog, surf frother at heart,” Smith shared. “I’m 20 years older than some of the people on Tour, so I just have them inspire me and push me.”
With 17 years of CT experience, Bells holds sentimental value for Smith. “I first came to Bells when I was 12… it was the very first place I travelled to outside of South Africa… I still get that feeling when I run down the stairs.”
Smith kicks off his campaign in Heat 3 of the Opening Round, facing George Pittar (AUS) and Edgard Groggia (BRA).
Women’s opening round heats
- Heat 1: Gabriela Bryan (HAW), Brisa Hennessy (CRC), Nadia Erostarbe (ESP)
- Heat 2: Molly Picklum (AUS), Vahine Fierro (FRA), Ellie Harrison (AUS)
- Heat 3: Caitlin Simmers (USA), Lakey Peterson (USA), Carly Shanahan (AUS)
- Heat 4: Caroline Marks (USA), Bella Kenworthy (USA), Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
- Heat 5: Tyler Wright (AUS), Erin Brooks (CAN), Luana Silva (BRA)
- Heat 6: Sawyer Lindblad (USA), Isabella Nichols (AUS), Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW)
Men’s opening round heats
- Heat 1: Rio Waida (INA), Crosby Colapinto (USA), Imaikalani deVault (HAW)
- Heat 2: Barron Mamiya (HAW), Joao Chianca (BRA), Samuel Pupo (BRA)
- Heat 3: Jordy Smith (RSA), George Pittar (AUS), Edgard Groggia (BRA)
- Heat 4: Yago Dora (BRA), Ian Gouveia (BRA), Ian Gentil (HAW)
- Heat 5: Ethan Ewing (AUS), Seth Moniz (HAW), Morgan Cibilic (AUS)
- Heat 6: Italo Ferreira (BRA), Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR), Xavier Huxtable (AUS)
- Heat 7: Jack Robinson (AUS), Marco Mignot (FRA), Ryan Callinan (AUS)
- Heat 8: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA), Connor O'Leary (JPN), Deivid Silva (BRA)
- Heat 9: Miguel Pupo (BRA), Jake Marshall (USA), Alejo Muniz (BRA)
- Heat 10: Filipe Toledo (BRA), Joel Vaughan (AUS), Alan Cleland (MEX)
- Heat 11: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN), Griffin Colapinto (USA), Jackson Bunch (HAW)
- Heat 12: Cole Houshmand (USA), Matthew McGillivray (RSA), Liam O'Brien (AUS)
First bell of the Aussie Treble rings today
With the event officially underway, excitement fills the air as surfers, fans, and event organisers watch the forecast for a dynamic start to the 2025 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach. As the GWM Aussie Treble kicks off, the surfing world is buzzing – will Simmers defend her Bell? Can Ferreira maintain his position? Will Smith carry his momentum to the final?
