Experience Prevails During Short Day 3 of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy

BELLS BEACH, Victoria, Australia (Sunday, April 5, 2026) – Competition continued on Easter Sunday at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy, Stop No. 1 of the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT). Five heats of men’s Round Two took place in a declining and disconnected three-to-four-foot swell at the Bells Bowl before the event was called off for the day. The next call will be at 7:15 a.m. AEST for a potential 7:35 a.m. start at Winkipop with the remainder of men’s Round Two, along with women’s Round 2, on standby.

Colapinto Holds Off Henry’s Blistering Start to Advance at Bells Beach

The experience of long-time Tour members shone through in multiple heats, with veterans utilising knowledge learned across prior events to claim opening heat wins over fresh talent. Rip Curl Wildcard Dane Henry (AUS) ran away with an early lead over World No. 2 Griffin Colapinto (USA). The reigning WSL World Junior Champion, Henry, opened with an excellent 8.00 (out of a possible 10) on his first wave after landing a full rotation air reverse. Backing it up with a 7.00 for a straight air with slob grab, the 19-year-old pointed to the name on the back of his jersey, announcing his arrival. Colapinto had yet to kick into gear however, and soon posted slightly higher numbers in the same 8 and 7-point range for aerial maneuvers of his own, to leave Henry in need of the highest score of the event to progress.

“It’s the first heat of the year, there’s those extra nerves that come with it,” Colapinto said. “You’ve been just walking out around the bluff. Paddling out, I could feel, like, heavy arms, heavy legs. And then I got out to the lineup a little late, and Dane [Henry] got that wave just underneath me and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, did my nerves just get me right there?’ But I think Dane getting the 8 kind of clicked me into gear a bit. Like, ok, it’s all-in now. And then he backed it up. I went 15-points combo in the first 10 minutes. It was crazy. I’m just super proud of myself to be able to come back and be standing here with you now.”

Veteran Smith Prevails Against Rookie Thompson in All-South African Clash

The only two South Africans on the 2026 CT, Jordy Smith (RSA) and Luke Thompson (RSA), drew each other in Round Two. Following one of the best performances of Round One, Thompson opened strong against his veteran and mentor in Smith, posting a 6.50 on a smaller inside wave with a good line. Initially struggling to match the younger surfer’s scores, Smith eventually picked up one of the biggest set waves of the morning, unleashing his power through a solid three-turn combo to post the first excellent score of men’s competition, an 8.00. The 2017 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach winner had nothing but praise for his fellow Durbanite, who was appearing in his first event as a CT member.

“Going up against Luke [Thompson], I don’t know if it’s a good or bad thing because he’s an incredible surfer,” Smith said. “I’ve watched him for so long, so I really know what he’s capable of, and it’s greatness. He’s an incredible surfer, he’s an extremely hard worker, and I think this is just the beginning. [That wave] felt good, especially after I took a couple two-footers. I just started to think, ‘Jordan, you’ve got to just get on the open face and get a set wave. You’ve got to stop messing around with these little insiders and get on a bomb.’ And sure enough, that’s when the big scores came.”

Muniz Makes a Statement in Opening Heat of Farewell Season at Bells Beach

The last heat of the day saw Alejo Muniz (BRA) kick off his final lap on Tour with a victory over Cole Houshmand (USA). Muniz opened strong and improved from there, while Houshmand struggled to find the rhythm that carried him to the top of the podium at Bells Beach in 2024. Having announced that he is retiring at the end of the season, 36-year-old Muniz, who debuted on the CT in 2011, was excited to open strong.

“I’m really happy to make this heat,” Muniz said. “When I saw on paper I was against Cole [Houshmand], I knew it was going to be a really hard heat. He’s one of my favorite goofy-footers on tour. He’s an amazing surfer, he competes really well. I think I was a little bit lucky this time, I was on the best waves of the heat. This morning I was listening to ‘Hells Bells’ and I was crying on the stairs and I was like, ‘Oh man, I have to get ready for my heat.’ This could be my last heat surfing here at Bells, but I’m glad that I made it and I have one more chance.”

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Men’s Round Two Results
HEAT 1: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 14.17 DEF. Joel Vaughan (AUS) 12.07
HEAT 2: George Pittar (AUS) 14.57 DEF. Ethan Ewing (AUS) 12.34
HEAT 3: Jordy Smith (RSA) 14.80 DEF. Luke Thompson (RSA) 12.33
HEAT 4: Barron Mamiya (HAW) 11.16 DEF. Seth Moniz (HAW) 9.93
HEAT 5: Jake Marshall (USA) 10.83 DEF. Joao Chianca (BRA) 10.64
HEAT 6: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 15.26 DEF. Dane Henry (AUS) 15.00
HEAT 7: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 11.56 DEF. Cole Houshmand (USA) 7.63

Remaining Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Men’s Round Two Matchups
HEAT 8: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Morgan Cibilic (AUS)
HEAT 9: Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Mateus Herdy (BRA)
HEAT 10: Crosby Colapinto (USA) vs. Marco Mignot (FRA)
HEAT 11: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) vs. Kauli Vaast (FRA)
HEAT 12: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Eli Hanneman (HAW)
HEAT 13: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Xavier Huxtable (AUS)
HEAT 14: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Alan Cleland (MEX)
HEAT 15: Connor O’Leary (JPN) vs. Rio Waida (INA)
HEAT 16: Jack Robinson (AUS) vs. Samuel Pupo (BRA)

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Women’s Round Two Matchups
HEAT 1: Caroline Marks (USA) vs. Alyssa Spencer (USA)
HEAT 2: Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) vs. Anat Lelior (ISR)
HEAT 3: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) vs. Francisca Veselko (POR)
HEAT 4: Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Luana Silva (BRA)
HEAT 5: Molly Picklum (AUS) vs. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
HEAT 6: Erin Brooks (CAN) vs. Lakey Peterson (USA)
HEAT 7: Caitlin Simmers (USA) vs. Nadia Erostarbe (ESP)
HEAT 8: Isabella Nichols (AUS) vs. Carissa Moore (HAW)

The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy will run at Bells Beach from April 1 – 11, 2026. The competition will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app. Also, 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, Visit Victoria, Surf Coast Shire, Bonsoy, WSL One Ocean, Red Bull, Apple, True Surf, Surfline, I-Sea, YETI, eero, Stone & Wood, Hydralyte, GWM, Fatboy Bikes, Bond University, mophie, Boost Mobile, Volley, Bioglan and RACV.