Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach underway on Easter Monday

The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, Stop No. 2 on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), will continue today with men’s Round 3 called ON for a 7a.m. AEDT start in four-to-six foot (1.2 – 2 metre) waves at Bells Beach.

The women’s event has been called off for the day, but men’s Round 4 will be on standby to run later, pending conditions.

“We are on with men’s Round 3 today,” said Kieren Perrow, WSL Commissioner.

“We will get started right at 7am. local time to take advantage of the early morning’s clean conditions and low tide. With the conditions today, there will be plenty of opportunities for the 30-minute heats. We have placed men’s Round 4 on hold for a possible start today. The women’s competition will be off for the day.”

Event favorite Mick Fanning (AUS) is against Sebastian Zietz (HAW) in Round 3 Heat 5 of the Rip Curl Pro today. All eyes will be on Fanning, the three-time WSL Champion, to see if he can repeat his success at Bells Beach for a fifth event win.

Jordy Smith (ZAF), 2017 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach winner, will surf first this morning against 2018 CT Rookie Wade Carmichael (AUS) in the opening heat of Round 3.

Heat 10 of Round 3 will see the head-to-head Brazilian battle between Filipe Toledo (BRA) and Italo Ferreira (BRA) in what is sure to be one of the most exciting matchups of the day.

2014 WSL Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA) will face 2018 CT Rookie Willian Cardoso (BRA) in the last heat of Round 3.

Surfline, WSL forecast partner, said:

Old/fading SW swell for Easter Sunday, but still plenty contestable with the women’s event underway. Favorable offshore wind conditions for the morning, then turning onshore in the afternoon. More sizable swells stacking up for next week to keep surf elevated; next one due Mon/Tues (and looking pretty solid), then another by Thursday the 5th, and possibly one last swell on Sunday the 8th. For the most part, conditions next week are looking pretty good (although not so favorable on Monday).

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Round 3 Matchups

Heat 1: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Wade Carmichael (AUS)
Heat 2: Kolohe Andino (USA) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 3: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. Jesse Mendes (BRA)
Heat 4: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) vs. Griffin Colapinto (USA)
Heat 5: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Sebastian Zietz (HAW)
Heat 6: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 7: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Ezekiel Lau (HAW)
Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Frederico Morais (PRT)
Heat 9: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Conner Coffin (USA)
Heat 10: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Italo Ferreira (BRA)
Heat 11: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Heat 12: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Willian Cardoso (BRA)

Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach Quarterfinal Matchups:

QF 1: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Silvana Lima (BRA)
QF 2: Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) vs. Nikki Van Dijk (AUS)
QF 3: Caroline Marks (USA) vs. Johanne Defay (FRA)
QF 4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs. Sage Erickson (USA)