The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach got underway today in clean head-high waves, with just seven heats of Round 1 contested before organisers called it a day due to a dwindling swell.
Bells Beach, looking fun at first light.
Heats one and two were good for the lower seeds, with Jeremy Flores (FRA) and Brett Simpson (USA) winning their match-ups against Top 10 surfers, Taj Burrow (AUS) and Adriano de Souza (BRA) respectively. The upsets came to an end for the next two heats as Kelly Slater (USA) meticulously ripped the small waves on offer to score Day 1’s highest heat total – 16.67pts, before John John Florence (HAW) bagged a brace of good rides to win Heat 4.
Kelly Slater tore apart the Bells bowl for Day 1’s highest heat total.
Wildcard, Mason Ho (HAW), then paddled out to do battle against Mick Fanning (AUS) and fellow Hawaiian, Fred Patacchia. Fred took an early lead before Mason stepped up to the challenge with a big air reverse that scored him an even 8.00:
Mason backed up his high score with a 5.13, which was enough to hold off a late challenge by reigning Bells champ, Mick Fanning, and secure his passage directly to Round 3. Another upset in Round 1.
There were no upsets in Heat 6 as reigning world champ, Gabriel Medina (BRA), took out the win with a pair of mid-range scores. Jordy paddled out next to contest his heat against Keanu Asing (HAW) and Ace Buchan (AUS), but the swell was already on its way down. The big South African still managed to work the weak walls for two good scores, 7.93 and 6.43, taking out the win and advancing straight to Round 3.
Despite the small surf, Jordy found a few lips to smash.
It was clear, however, that the swell wasn’t playing nice, so organisers made the call to wait for more waves before they continue with Round 1.
Go to worldsurfleague.com to check out the heat reviews and photos from Day 1.
RIP CURL PRO ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 15.33, Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 11.73, Taj Burrow (AUS) 10.63
Heat 2: Brett Simpson (USA) 15.00, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 14.33, Kai Otton (AUS) 6.00
Heat 3: Kelly Slater (USA) 16.67, Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 9.06, Ricardo Christie (NZL) 7.73
Heat 4: John John Florence (HAW) 15.33, Italo Ferreira (BRA) 11.47, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 10.17
Heat 5: Mason Ho (HAW) 13.13, Mick Fanning (AUS) 13.10, Freddy Patacchia Jr. (HAW) 13.00
Heat 6: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 12.76, Matt Banting (AUS) 11.83, Joe Van Dijk (AUS) 8.23
Heat 7: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.33, Keanu Asing (HAW) 13.44, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 12.20
UPCOMING RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 8: Michel Bourez (PYF), Nat Young (USA), Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 9: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Miguel Pupo (BRA), Glenn Hall (IRL)
Heat 10: Josh Kerr (AUS), Bede Durbidge (AUS), Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 11: Filipe Toledo (BRA), Owen Wright (AUS), Jadson Andre (BRA)
Heat 12: Julian Wilson (AUS), Kolohe Andino (USA), Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
