World Title Focus

LIP SYNCING: Jordy Smith looked solid in the four foot walls of Winkipop. Photo WSL / Cestari

The power-surfing natural-footer suits the Bells walls better than most on Tour and it showed in the bumpy 3-4' fast-breaking walls in a light onshore. Sitting in equal 3rd place on the rankings, Smith took his opening heat with mid-range scores.

“That was difficult out there for sure,” Smith said. “It was pretty bumpy and hard to pick waves. 'The relaxed vibe in this area reminds me of J-Bay'I definitely feel lucky to have won the heat with such an average heat total. I’m just stoked to be back here at Bells because it’s definitely one of my favourite stops on Tour and the relaxed vibe in this area reminds me of J-Bay. The water and air is cool and it is all right-hand points, so I feel really comfortable here. I’m feeling more alive this year than I have in a while. I’ve got a lot of froth and want it more than ever and I’m just loving surfing.”

Current Jeep Rankings Leader Italo Ferreira (BRA) looked out of rhythm to begin his event title defence, while Ezekiel Lau (HAW) pounced on the opportunity for the win. Lau was selective in the matchup, only catching two waves to post his heat winning total and progress into Round 3 (or the Round of 32). Former Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach runner-up Caio Ibelli (BRA) was unable to move out of third place and now faces the dreaded Elimination Round when competition recommences.

POCKET ROCKET: Filipe Toledo celebrated his 24th birthday with a solid win. Photo WSL / Cestari

The freshly turned 24-year-old Filipe Toledo (BRA) debuted strongly against four-time Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach winner Kelly Slater (USA). Toledo nearly helped send the 11-time WSL Champion to Elimination Round 2 along with Trials runner-up Xavier Huxtable (AUS). The Brasilian made easy work of the fickle conditions and soared to an excellent 8.27 (out of a possible 10) for a 15.27 (out of a possible 20) heat total.

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach trials winner Jacob Willcox (AUS) delivered a masterful performance over last year’s World Title contender Julian Wilson (AUS). Wilson narrowly missed the 7.24 by .01 to overtake Willcox for the heat win but safely secured his place over Joan Duru (FRA).

Reigning WSL Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA) showed why he’s the most formidable competitor on Tour, clinching a victory over Ryan Callinan (AUS) and Trials Winner Harrison Mann (AUS) in the dying minutes of the heat. Callinan held a commanding lead for the majority of the heat until the two-time World Champion found his rhythm and took the lead. The Brasílian superstar has yet to ring the coveted Bell and is one step closer in Round 3 (the Round of 32).a

OPEN COFFIN: Conner Coffin looks to better his quarter-final finish last week. Photo WSL / Cestari

“It’s always hard coming up against Ryan (Callinan), he is such a great competitor,” Medina said. “Also, having a local wildcard is scary because they know the waves better than anyone on Tour, so it feels good to make it through. The waves were a bit slow in that heat so I had to be patient, which can be hard for me because I like to catch lots of waves so I’m definitely glad to have made it through.”

Americans Conner Coffin (USA) and Kolohe Andino (USA) continued their excellent form in 2019, each winning their Round 1 heats at Winkipop. Andino looked to have rebounded well from his narrow loss in the Final on the Gold Coast while Coffin hopes to better his Quarterfinal finish from last week.

The opening heat of this year’s event witnessed a clash of veteran talent where Jadson Andre (BRA) was able to notch a much-needed win over 10-year CT competitor Owen Wright (AUS) and 13-year veteran Jeremy Flores (FRA).

The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach will be broadcast LIVE on www.WorldSurfLeague.com.

AERATED ANDINO: Kolohe Andino dispatched Seth Moniz and Soli Bailey. Photo WSL / Cestari

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Men’s Round 1
Heat 1: Jadson Andre (BRA) 12.23 DEF. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 9.97, Owen Wright (AUS) 8.20
Heat 2: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 10.26 DEF. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 8.07, Jack Freestone (AUS) 7.84
Heat 3: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 15.87 DEF. Kelly Slater (USA) 10.63, Xavier Huxtable (AUS) 10.23
Heat 4: Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 10.57 DEF. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 10.06, Caio Ibelli (BRA) 9.73
Heat 5: Jacob Willcox (AUS) 13.74 DEF. Julian Wilson (AUS) 13.73, Joan Duru (FRA) 11.00
Heat 6: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 13.70 DEF. Ryan Callinan (AUS) 13.00, Harrison Mann (AUS) 7.87
Heat 7: Conner Coffin (USA) 10.77 DEF. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 10.60, Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 9.56
Heat 8: Kolohe Andino (USA) 10.77 DEF. Seth Moniz (HAW) 8.67, Soli Bailey (AUS) 8.37
Heat 9: Ricardo Christie (NZL) 11.83 DEF. Yago Dora (BRA) 10.10, Wade Carmichael (AUS) 8.04

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Women’s Round 1 Matchups
Heat 1: Lakey Peterson (USA) vs. Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) vs. Paige Hareb (NZL)
Heat 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Coco Ho (HAW) vs. Keely Andrew (AUS)
Heat 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs. Bronte Macaulay (AUS) vs. Kobie Enright (AUS)
Heat 4: Caroline Marks (USA) vs. Courtney Conlogue (USA) vs. Brisa Hennessy (CRI)
Heat 5: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) vs. Malia Manuel (HAW) vs. Macy Callaghan (AUS)
Heat 6: Johanne Defay (FRA) vs. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) vs. Sage Erickson (USA)