Saffas Rise

SMITH SMASH: Jordy Smith, along with compatriot Bianca Buitendag, are thro. Pic WSL/Sloane

Both South Africans suffered early exits at the first event of year on the Gold Coast of Australia two weeks ago, but with punchy overhead surf on the 2nd stop on the 2016 Championship Tour, they have maximised their height advantage.

Smith, after finishing second to John John Florence (HAW) in their non-elimination Round 1 heat 3' surf on Friday, was able to use his full repertoire of manoeuvres to defeat dangerous injury replacement Adam Melling (AUS) in unruly double overhead, 6-10ft surf on Saturday.

The Durbanite continued his momentum on Sunday, slashing his way through 4-5' onshore surf to beat Kai Otton (AUS) and advance to Round 4, where he faces three-time world champ and four-time and defending Bells champ Mick Fanning (AUS) and rookie Conner Coffin (USA). The heat winner goes directly to the quarters while the other two compete in elimination two-man Round 5 heats.

THE MEDINA TOUCH: Not. Gabriel Medina was knocked out. Photo: WSL / Sloane Photo: WSL / Sloane

Smith, a three-time semifinalist at Bells, and Fanning are the only top-12 seeded surfers remaining in the bottom half of the draw following a series of major upsets that saw Joel Parkinson, Florence and Gabriel Medina sidelined by rookies Coffin, Caio Ibelli (BRA) and Davey Cathels (AUS), while Kelly Slater was ousted by Michel Bourez (PYF).

Buitendag started her Bells campaign with a well deserved Round 1 win over six-time world champ Stephanie Gilmore and rookie Chelsea Tuach of Barbados to skip Round 2. However, the 22 year-old from Victoria Bay was relegated to third place by reigning world and Bells champ Carissa Moore and fellow Hawaiian Malia Manuel in Round 3.

Buitendag faces a match up with another Hawaiian in Alessa Quizon when competition resumes with the winner advancing to a quarterfinal clash with Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) and the loser eliminated from the event in equal ninth place overall.

FLASHBACK: Barton Lynch took part in the Heritage event. Photo WSL/Sloane

Sunday’s action was capped off with the WSL Heritage Series heat between Australian former world champions Barton Lynch (1988) and Damien Hardman (1987, 1991). Despite the challenging lineup, the icons surgically dismantled the tricky Bells conditions on their backhand, with Lynch walking away the victory

Surfline, the official forecasters for the event, are predicting a dropping swell and onshore winds for Tuesday and Wednesday. Clean but small conditions are likely for Thursday before the swell fills in again with offshore winds from Friday.

BOUREZ BOUNCE: Michel Bourez killed King Kelly to reach Round 4. Photo WSL / Sloane

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Round 3 Results:
Heat 1: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 17.00 def. Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 15.83
Heat 2: Nat Young (USA) 13.50 def. Stuart Kennedy (AUS) 7.67
Heat 3: Julian Wilson (AUS) 12.44 def. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 9.67
Heat 4: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 15.47 def. Kanoa Igarashi (USA) 8.37
Heat 5: Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 13.37 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 12.60
Heat 6: Mason Ho (HAW) 15.10 def. Adriano De Souza (BRA) 14.33
Heat 7: Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.60 def. Dusty Payne (HAW) 11.57
Heat 8: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.33 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 13.26
Heat 9: Conner Coffin (USA) 16.27 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.26
Heat 10: Michel Bourez (PYF) 14.83 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 13.70
Heat 11: Caio Ibelli (BRA) 15.54 def. John def. John Florence (HAW) 15.50
Heat 12: Davey Cathels (AUS) 15.40 def. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 12.07

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Round 4 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Italo Ferreira (BRA), Nat Young (USA), Julian Wilson (AUS)
Heat 2: Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Wiggolly Dantas (BRA), Mason Ho (HAW)
Heat 3: Mick Fanning (AUS), Jordy Smith (ZAF), Conner Coffin (USA)
Heat 4: Michel Bourez (PYF), Caio Ibelli (BRA), Davey Cathels (AUS)

Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach Round 3 Results:
Heat 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 11.66, Alessa Quizon (HAW) 10.40, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 4.77
Heat 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) 15.27, Malia Manuel (HAW) 8.60, Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 6.30
Heat 3: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 14.50, Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 11.10, Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) 6.76
Heat 4: Johanne Defay (FRA) 7.10, Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 6.36, Tyler Wright (AUS) 4.83

Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach Round 4 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Alessa Quizon (HAW) vs. Bianca Buitendag (ZAF)
Heat 2: Malia Manuel (HAW) vs. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
Heat 3: Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) vs. Tyler Wright (AUS)
Heat 4: Bronte Macaulay (AUS) vs. Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW)

FANNING FLYER: Mick Fanning is looking hungry to reclaim his lost crown. Photo WSL / Cestari