BELLS BEACH, Victoria, Australia (Friday, July 19, 2024) – Day 2 of the Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic, Stop No. 1 of the 2024 World Surf League (WSL) Longboard Tour (LT), has seen the first competitors eliminated from competition. The Rincon section of Bells Beach offered competitors clean surf in the two-foot range with cross-shore winds making things tough for surfers at times throughout the day as the women’s Elimination Round and heats 1 – 4 of the men’s Elimination Round were completed.
Great Britain’s Ben Skinner Sets The Bar High at Bells
Ben Skinner (GRB) has bounced back from a trip to the Elimination Round, taking an emphatic victory today at Bells with the highest single wave and heat total of the event so far. Skinner earned a two-wave total of 16.16 (out of a possible 20), which included an 8.83 (out of a possible 10). Skinner’s excellent ride came from a long hang-ten into a five, both through critical sections, then finishing the wave with a powerful rebound to convincingly win over Victoria Trials winner Gavin Idone (USA).
“It’s definitely tricky out there with that bit of devil wind, so it’s all about picking the right waves and being super selective,” Skinner said. “It reminds me a lot of home out there at the moment, not just the temperature but the waves as well. I feel like I’ve been put in good stead for this event. This is a board I shaped myself, and there’s no doubt I feel really attached to my equipment. It’s a really nice feeling to be riding something that you’ve put so much love and energy into, and it’s even better when you do well on them.”
Women’s Top Seeds Bounce Back in Elimination Round
Reigning Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic runner-up Alice Lemoigne(FRA) was not expected to be competing in the Elimination Round, but after a shock loss yesterday, she found herself battling for survival against teenage sensation Sakura Inoue (JPN). The pair went back-to-back waves throughout the heat, with Lemoigne holding a slim lead for the majority of the matchup. Inoue fought hard to come back but was unable to find a wave that offered her the opportunity to move into the lead, leaving Lemoigne to progress into the Round of 16 as she looks to go one step further in 2024.
“The waves during that heat were super difficult with the wind blowing up the face,” said Lemoigne. “It was super hard, so I’m really happy to have made it through. It’s good to get the nerves out of the system, though. I want to focus on getting good waves and having fun in my next few heats. I think the nerves mainly came from being in the elimination round, but I’m just happy to have made it, as the waves in the coming days could be amazing.”
2015 WSL World Longboard Champion Rachael Tilly (USA) bounced back from a tough Opening Round loss, posting the highest two-wave total of the women’s Elimination Round. Tilly’s 12.83 came from not only her wave selection but also her style and grace up and down the board and on the nose. Tilly overcame good friend and local surfer Beatrice Conroy (AUS) and will now shift her focus to the Round of 16, where she will take on Sydney’s Tully White (AUS) in Heat 2.
“I knew that heat would be a tough one against Beatrice (Conroy),” Tilly said. “The first friend I made from the local crew here in Torquay was been, so it was tough to come up against her. She has taught me so much about this wave and this place, so it was hard to come up against her, and the fact it was in the elimination round made it even more nervous, so I’m happy to have made it through. This can be a really hard wave to surf, so I was focussed on not sitting too far out because that can be an easy mistake to make and also just to try and stay busy, and not think cold thoughts and stay loose.”
Longboard Tour Upstarts Book Spots in Round of 16
Australian’s Emma Perrier (AUS) and Declan Wyton (AUS) have booked themselves spots into the Round of 16 as they each look for maiden wins on the WSL Longboard Tour. Perrier took an impressive win in what is her first appearance at the elite level. Wyton overcame fellow Aussie and local hopeful Ben Considine (AUS) with a commanding performance at Rincon.
Natalia Wunderlich (HAW), Sophia Culhane (HAW), Chloe Coleman (USA), and John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) were other tour newcomers who were able to make it through the Elimination Round and into the Round of 16.
The next call will be tomorrow, Saturday, July 20, at 7:45 a.m. AEST for a possible 8:05 a.m. start.
For highlights from today’s competition at the Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic Women’s Elimination Round Results:
HEAT 1: Sophia Culhane (HAW) 10.43 DEF. Molly Powell (AUS) 6.23
HEAT 2: Natalia Wunderlich (HAW) 11.37 DEF. Maria Fernanda Reyes (PER) 9.93
HEAT 3: Alice Lemoigne (FRA) 9.97 DEF. Sakura Inoue (JPN) 9.23
HEAT 4: Emma Perrier (AUS) 7.27 DEF. Keani Canullo (HAW) 7.20
HEAT 5: Rachael Tilly (USA) 12.83 DEF. Beatrice Conroy (AUS) 9.50
HEAT 6: Kirra Molnar (AUS) 7.16 DEF. Emily Currie (GBR) 5.24
HEAT 7: Avalon Gall (USA) 8.00 DEF. Roisin Carolan (AUS) 5.80
HEAT 8: Chloe Coleman (USA) 6.33 DEF. Sive Jarrard (ASM) 4.80
Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic Men’s Elimination Round Results (Heats 1 – 4):
HEAT 1: Ben Skinner (GBR) 16.16 DEF. Gavin Idone (USA) 8.54
HEAT 2: John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) 10.83 DEF. António Dantas (POR) 6.54
HEAT 3: Declan Wyton (AUS) 12.50 DEF. Ben Considine (AUS) 6.60
HEAT 4: Kevin Skvarna (USA) 10.20 DEF. Alexandre Escobar (BRA) 5.86
Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic Men’s Elimination Round Remaining Matchups:
HEAT 5: Rogelio Jr Esquievel (PHL) vs. Max Weston (AUS)
HEAT 6: Chase Lieder (USA) vs. Kai Hamase (JPN)
HEAT 7: Taka Inoue (JPN) vs. Ignacio Pignataro (URY)
HEAT 8: Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) vs. Martin Coret (FRA)
Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic Women’s Round of 16 Matchups:
HEAT 1: Kelis Kaleopaa (HAW) vs. Natalia Wunderlich (HAW)
HEAT 2: Rachael Tilly (USA) vs. Tully White (AUS)
HEAT 3: Sophia Culhane (HAW) vs. Emma Perrier (AUS)
HEAT 4: Alice Lemoigne (FRA) vs. Natsumi Taoka (JPN)
HEAT 5: Soleil Errico (USA) vs. Kaede Inoue (JPN)
HEAT 6: Zoe Grospiron (FRA) vs. Avalon Gall (USA)
HEAT 7: Honolua Blomfield (HAW) vs. Chloe Coleman (USA)
HEAT 8: Mason Schremmer (USA) vs. Kirra Molnar (AUS)
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
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