Women’s Opening Round Lights Up Day 1 of Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy 

BELLS BEACH, Victoria, Australia (Friday, April 18, 2025) – The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy, Stop No. 5 of the 2025 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), kicked off today with the completion of the women’s Opening Round. The Bells Bowl delivered super clean surf in the three-to-four-foot range before the high tide swallowed the surf, and only one heat into the men’s Opening Round, the competition was put on standby until tomorrow. Before the event was called off for the day, some iconic guests made their appearances in specialty heats as the beach filled with Easter Weekend fans. The next call will be tomorrow, Saturday, April 19, at 6:45 a.m. AEST for a possible 7:03 a.m. start. 

Gabriela Bryan Carries Momentum Into Bells with Opening Round Domination 

Gabriela Bryan (HAW) picked up right where she left off last week in El Salvador with a dominant performance in her opening heat at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach. Bryan punched in an impressive 15.50 two-wave total (out of a possible 20) to set the bar high for the day’s Opening Round matchups. The 23-year-old held the lead over Costa Rica’s Brisa Hennessy, who secured the second-place position with a 6.50 and 5.67, leaving injury replacement Nadia Erostarbe (ESP) in last and to the Elimination Round. 

“It’s awesome. I [surfed the] last heat in El Salvador, first in Bells, it’s kind of crazy,” said Bryan. “It happened so fast, but I’m just taking all the momentum and just kind of doing the same thing I’ve been doing, not really changing anything, but yeah, it’s a lot. It’s such a quick turnaround, but I’m enjoying it. I’m so happy to be back at Bells and get the first heat here.”

Local Wildcard Ellie Harrison Cruises Into Round of 16 

Ellie Harrison (AUS), stepping in as the event wildcard for Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), made the most of her local knowledge to dominate the bigger sets in her Opening Round heat. Harrison took down fellow Australian and event favorite Molly Picklum (AUS), along with 2025 CT Rookie Vahine Fierro (FRA), to punch her ticket straight into the Round of 16. It’s a familiar start for Harrison, who pulled off a similar wildcard upset at Bells in 2024, where she also defeated Picklum in the Opening Round on her way to a standout 5th-place finish. With the hometown energy on her side and the local crowd behind her, Harrison will be eyeing a wildcard dream run all the way to the podium.

“It was fun out there, but I don’t know, I was really, really nervous in that heat,” said Harrison. “Everything felt like it was getting going wrong. My alarm didn’t set this morning, so I woke up late, and everything just felt like it was going wrong. But when I came down and there were waves, I was just really excited to get out there, and it cleaned up a lot since the morning. It was a really fun heat to have with Molly [Picklum] and Vahine [Fierro], and really happy we just got waves.”

Two-time Bells Winner and World Champion Wright Finds Her Groove at Bells 

One of the most experienced surfers to claim a heat win today was two-time Bells winner Tyler Wright (AUS), whose trademark frontside power game saw her claim a convincing win over CT Rookie Erin Brooks (CAN) and reigning World Junior Champion Luana Silva (BRA). Wright picked off one of the better-looking set waves and went to work, laying down some huge hacks to post an excellent 8.17 and win. 

“This is the freest I’ve surfed in a long time,” said Wright. “Just mentality, physicality and everything like that, it feels really good. I was actually really disappointed with El Salvador. I felt like my free surfing was really good and then in the heat, I wasn’t super impressed. I really like my boards, they feel great, and I feel fit and strong. I’m happy to be healthy and surfing here when there’s waves.”

After a win to open the season at Pipe, Wright has struggled to get past the Round of 16, but today’s performance may suggest she has found her groove at a happy hunting ground on home soil. 

“I feel like [the Bell] carries so much weight,” continued Wright. “For everyone that’s been raised here, for everyone that’s been coming down to Wadawurrung Country. I’ve been coming down here since, I think, 2006 maybe, and so being here at Djarrak, I think it does something to your soul. It’s a true honor and pleasure to just be welcomed here. We had such a beautiful Welcome to Country yesterday, and it honestly is just so beautiful to be here.”

Mixed Results for USA Contingent: Marks Sent to Elimination While Kenworthy, Peterson and Lindblad Advance 

Lakey Peterson (USA) leaned into both her years of CT experience and her personal connection to Bells Beach, her home away from home with her husband’s local ties, to take a standout win in the Opening Round. Peterson edged out current World No. 1 and defending event winner Caity Simmers(USA) by 1.83 points to claim the heat win and move directly into the Round of 16. Local trials winner Carly Shanahan (AUS) couldn’t find her rhythm in the tricky conditions and will now battle through the Elimination Round when competition resumes. 

“My husband grew up right over the hill here, so I’ve been coming here a lot, for like 10 years now since we’ve been together, outside of the event just surfing and visiting him,” said Peterson. “So it feels like a second home. I love Bells, and I hope it continues to love me back this whole week. It does feel like a slice of home for me, and at this point in the year, it’s nice to be able to come here and get home-cooked meals. My mother-in-law’s been baking away, so I have to slow down on the treats. I feel like I have a good relationship with the wave, obviously a nice right-hand point break is something I love, and I am looking forward to a good week.”

Sawyer Lindblad (USA), the 2024 Rookie of the Year, continues to build momentum in her sophomore season, advancing straight to the Round of 16 after a confident win in Heat 6 of the Opening Round. Lindblad posted a 14.63 heat total to take the win over Isabella Nichols (AUS) and Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW), showing similar form to her 2024 Bells performance, where she finished in 5th place. Nichols started the heat strong with a 7.33 and secured the second advancing spot, while Johnson will now look to regroup in the Elimination Round.

Caroline Marks (USA), 2023 World Champion and current World No. 4, uncharacteristically found herself in the Elimination Round for the first time since the 2024 Surf City El Salvador Pro. She will be up against 2024 World Junior Champion Luana Silva (BRA) and Shanahan. 

Marks was relegated to the Elimination Round by rookie Bella Kenworthy(USA) and veteran Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) in Heat 4 of the Opening Round. Kenworthy led the way with two six-point rides, with Fitzgibbons closely following in second place. 18-year-old Kenworthy has been in a strong rhythm all season, having yet to drop below 5th place in the previous three competitions. Despite this being only her fourth session out at Bells, Kenworthy will now move to the Round of 16 for another shot at Finals Day. 

“I’ve been trying to just block out the fact that that was only my fourth session out there, and thankfully, the two good waves came to me and I got pretty lucky,” said Kenworthy. “I got basically zero good waves in my free surfs, but I’m just out there trying to identify where the good ones are. I don’t know if I really have that great of a grip on it yet, but I’m just trying to learn every day and take it all in. It’s very hard for me to keep out of my mind that the people I’ve looked up to my whole life, I’m surfing against them now, so I just try not to think about it and try and just focus on myself.”

Short Day for Men’s Opening Round 

The opening heat of the men’s Opening Round was taken out by CT sophomore Crosby Colapinto (USA), who overcame Rio Waida (INA) and Imaikalani deVault (HAW), as conditions became too slow with the incoming tide. With only nine waves surfed in 35 minutes by the three surfers, it was wave choice that was key, with Colapinto finding the best sets to earn a 12.84 two-wave total and take the win for a spot in the men’s Round of 32. Waida progressed in the second spot, with deVault finishing third and now facing the Elimination Round when competition resumes. 

By the end of Heat 1, the conditions had slowed, and a sea breeze began to blow, forcing the event to go on hold. With conditions continuing to deteriorate, the call was made to put the competition on standby until tomorrow morning, when the next call will be made. The next call will be tomorrow, Saturday, April 19, at 6:45 a.m. AEST, for a possible 7:03 a.m. start. 

Weekend Fans Treated to Specialty Heats Featuring Fanning, Gilmore, and Ho, and ‘Stone & Wood Afternoon Delight’ Twin Fin Showcase 

As the tide filled in and waves slowed down on the Bowl, spectators at Bells Beach were treated to the ‘Rip Curl Icons Heat’ with four-time Bell Ringers Mick Fanning (AUS) and Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) hitting the lineup with Hawaiian legend Mason Ho (HAW). The three traded waves and showed their connection to this wave, much to the delight of the thousands of fans on the beach. 

Shortly after, another group of icons took to the waves at Bells Beach for the ‘Stone & Wood Afternoon Delight’. Former CT competitors Luke Egan (AUS), Rosy Hodge (RSA), Bells Beach locals Adam Robertson (AUS) and Tully Wylie (AUS), along with Jesse Starling (AUS), were all given fresh twin-fin boards, shaped by Bob McTavish, Mark Richards, Neil Purchase Junior, Shyama Buttonshaw, and Draft (by Josh Kerr), and an empty Rincon lineup. The five surfers styled their way down the line as fans of legal drinking age enjoyed a cold beverage and cheered on from the Stone & Wood Bar on top of the hill at Bells. 

For highlights from today’s event at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com. 

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Women’s Opening Round Results: 
HEAT 1: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 15.50 DEF. Brisa Hennessy (CRC) 12.33, Nadia Erostarbe (ESP) 8.90
HEAT 2: Ellie Harrison (AUS) 13.00 DEF. Molly Picklum (AUS) 9.23, Vahine Fierro (FRA) 8.76
HEAT 3: Lakey Peterson (USA) 13.50 DEF. Caitlin Simmers (USA) 11.67, Carly Shanahan (AUS) 2.90
HEAT 4: Bella Kenworthy (USA) 13.00 DEF. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 11.17, Caroline Marks (USA) 10.60
HEAT 5: Tyler Wright (AUS) 14.84 DEF. Erin Brooks (CAN) 12.76, Luana Silva (BRA) 7.76
HEAT 6: Sawyer Lindblad (USA) 14.63 DEF. Isabella Nichols (AUS) 12.66, Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) 5.00

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Women’s Elimination Round Matchups: 
HEAT 1: Caroline Marks (USA) vs. Luana Silva (BRA) vs. Carly Shanahan (AUS)
HEAT 2: Vahine Fierro (FRA) vs. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) vs. Nadia Erostarbe (ESP)

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Men’s Opening Round Results (Heat 1):  
HEAT 1: Crosby Colapinto (USA) 12.84 DEF. Rio Waida (INA) 10.20, Imaikalani deVault (HAW) 8.07

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Remaining Men’s Opening Round Matchups (Heats 2 – 12):
HEAT 2: Barron Mamiya (HAW) vs. Joao Chianca (BRA) vs. Samuel Pupo (BRA)
HEAT 3: Jordy Smith (RSA) vs. George Pittar (AUS) vs. Edgard Groggia (BRA)
HEAT 4: Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Ian Gouveia (BRA) vs. Ian Gentil (HAW)
HEAT 5: Ethan Ewing (AUS) vs. Seth Moniz (HAW) vs. Morgan Cibilic (AUS)
HEAT 6: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) vs. Xavier Huxtable (AUS)
HEAT 7: Jack Robinson (AUS) vs. Marco Mignot (FRA) vs. Ryan Callinan (AUS)
HEAT 8: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) vs. Connor O’Leary (JPN) vs. Deivid Silva (BRA)
HEAT 9: Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Jake Marshall (USA) vs. Alejo Muniz (BRA)
HEAT 10: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Joel Vaughan (AUS) vs. Alan Cleland (MEX)
HEAT 11: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Griffin Colapinto (USA) vs. Jackson Bunch (HAW)
HEAT 12: Cole Houshmand (USA) vs. Matthew McGillivray (RSA) vs. Liam O’Brien (AUS)

Watch LIVE
The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy will hold a competition window through April 28, 2025. The event will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com, and the free WSL App. Check out more ways to watch from the WSL’s broadcast partners.The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy is proudly supported by Rip Curl, Bonsoy, Visit Victoria, Red Bull, YETI, Apple Watch, Surfline, True Surf, Surf Coast Shire, GWM, Stone & Wood, Oakberry, Hydralyte, Boost Mobile, Bioglan, Bond University, and Fatboy E-bikes.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.