Huge Day of Competition Sees Field Narrowed at Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy

BELLS BEACH, Victoria, Australia (Wednesday, April 8, 2026) – Day 4 of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy, Stop No. 1 of the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), has seen the field narrowed after the completion of men’s Round Two and five heats of women’s Round Two. After competition started in low-tide waves on the Bells Bowl, the incoming tide saw a move to Winkipop, forcing surfers to shift their approach from big, arching turns in the pocket, to down the line speed and progression. Conditions stayed semi-clean all day with waves in the three-to-four-foot range as the draw inches closer to Finals Day at Bells Beach. 

Brazilian World Champions Headline Day 4 Action 

The third day of competition saw four Brazilian World Champions take to the lineup at Bells in just six heats, each claiming a heat win. CT returner Gabriel Medina (BRA) and reigning World Champion Yago Dora (BRA) hope to join their countrymen Italo Ferreira (BRA) and Filipe Toledo (BRA) on the honour roll at Bells by week’s end. Ferreira found redemption in his opening heat, overcoming Victoria Trials winner Xavier Huxtable (AUS) by just 0.10 of a point. Huxtable famously eliminated Ferreira in 2025, but will not be able to bring it home for the locals in 2026. Ferreira now moves into a head-to-head matchup against Medina in Round Three. The second heat of the day saw Dora overcome close friend and 2026 CT Rookie Mateus Herdy (BRA) in a bittersweet victory for the reigning World Champion. Dora looked in incredible touch with the Bells Bowl, posting a heat high 7.33 for a two-turn combination on his backhand. 

Two-time Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach winner Filipe Toledo (AUS) got his campaign for a third Bell off to the perfect start, overcoming CT returner Eli Hanneman (HAW) in Heat 12 of Round Two. Toledo is coming off one of his quieter seasons, only winning one event in 2026 from just three Finals Day appearances, and is looking to get 2026 off to a much stronger start, which was evident from his opening heat at Bells. Toledo posted a 14.00 point heat total that included a 7.50 for an impressive blow-tail reverse on the first section before wrapping it all the way to the end-section from a strong completion. Toledo moves into Round Three, where he will take on Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) in Heat 3.

“I’m really, really happy to get that first one out of the way,” Toledo said. “I thought we were going to show up here and have plenty of waves and surf right away and it was completely the opposite. At least it was good to surf and relax and get ready for today. I’m not going to lie that I wasn’t nervous, but it’s a good nervous. I’ve been doing this for too long now, it’s my 12th year, and if I don’t figure it out one day then I don’t know what I’m doing. But yeah, I felt great. It was one of those that I did everything I had to do on the off-season to train. I took care of my body, took care of my mental, and I was just ready for it.” 

Three-time World Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA) made his first appearance in a CT jersey since 2024, not missing a beat, taking a convincing win over CT sophomore Al Cleland (MEX) in their Round Two matchup. Medina made his intentions clear early, throwing a massive backside air-reverse to open up his account, but it ended up being his strong backside attack that earned him a modest winning heat total of 12.10 while Cleland struggled to find his rhythm. Medina, who has won most events on Tour, is yet to hoist the iconic Bell and hopes that he can get his return to the CT off to the perfect start here in Victoria. 

“It was hard to stay away from competitive surfing,” Medina said. “That was a tricky one, but I’m happy with the win. A win is a win. Hopefully I can get more waves in the next round. I feel 100%. My shoulder is fine. I’ve been trying boards, surfing a bunch, just keeping active and getting in the rhythm. All these guys are flying, so I’m happy to be back. I want to make some more heats. I think this year will be a good year and I’m at peace, so I want to enjoy surfing.”

Molly Picklum and Gabriela Bryan Set The Standard at Winkipop 

Molly Picklum (AUS) closed out 2025 with a commanding performance in Fiji to claim her maiden World Title and has now opened the 2026 season in the same fashion. Facing two-time Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach winner and three-time World Title runner-up Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Picklum posted an event-high excellent 16.50 heat total. Huge two-turn combinations showcased the 23-year-old’s penchant for large, dramatic attacks to the lip, which included an 8.67, the highest single-wave score of the event so far.

“I’ve been able to come down nice and early and try and spread the commitments and all the good fun out a little further so it’s not so heavy loaded just before the event,” Picklum said. “We’ve had so much time. I’m ready and I have such good people around me. I’ve got really good energy down here, it’s good. It’s one thing having good preparation, but then to actually take it in the water and do it is another. I’m just continually focusing, making sure that I’m turning up and showing up every single moment for each heat. I really went out just going, ‘I hope I get two turns.’ I was happy when the scores got read out and I was hearing 7’s and 8’s.”

A breakout year in 2025 saw Gabriela Bryan (HAW) claim three event wins to finish third in the world, and the Kaua‘i representative has picked up where she left off, posting the second highest two-wave total of the event so far in challenging conditions at Winkipop. Bryan’s wave selection was impeccable and allowed her to open up on multiple sections with her trademark powerful rail game on full display to post a total of 15.66. Bryan was unstoppable, forcing the elimination of 2026 CT Rookie Francisca Veselko (POR) who will now shift her focus to the upcoming Western Australia Margaret River Pro.

“That was a really good way to start the year,” Bryan said. “I was just so excited to surf. I mean, I’ve been here for a while. I came extra early, so I think I’ve been here for like two and a half weeks already. I’ve just been itching to get in the jersey, but not get too excited and just go out there and do my best surfing. I had this weird feeling that I was going to surf my first heat at Winki, so I’ve been putting in a bit of extra time down here. I think back to last year and I think I’ve grown so much as a competitor and as a person. We’re all itching to get the Title and without the Final Five format it’s also really exciting. It’s my first time having the full year and having the winner at Pipe. For me, just doing my best surfing is my main goal.”

Reigning Event Runners Up Eye Event Win in 2026

The opening heat of the day witnessed reigning Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach runner up Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) take another win on the Bowl over 2026 CT returner Morgan Cibilic (AUS). In a rematch from last year’s Semifinals, Igarashi and Cibilic went blow-for-blow, both matching speed with power in the wobbly conditions, but it was the heat IQ of Igarashi that saw the Olympic Silver Medalist on the better waves and earning the winning score. Igarashi’s second place at Bells was his equal best result of the year in 2025 and the Japanese representative has every intention of leaving Stop No. 1 with a big Bell in 2026. 

Last year at Bells Beach, Luana Silva (BRA) found her way to a maiden CT Final, eventually going down to Isabella Nichols (AUS) to finish in second place and secure her spot on Tour for the remainder of the season. Today, the 21 year-old Brazilian representative confirmed she is once again one to watch at this location, posting a 15.23 two-wave total to overcome two-time World Champion and two-time Bells winner Tyler Wright (AUS). Wright, who is returning from a long stint out of the water recovering from injury, looked in good form, but it was the speed of Silva’s searing frontside gouges that gave her the advantage and a spot in the Quarterfinals. Silva was at a loss for words after defeating both Wright and eight-time World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) so far in the event.

“I’ve got no words for you, I just gotta laugh a little bit, that’s crazy, 10 World Titles, wow,” Silva said. “I’m trying not to think about it. I’m just trying to control what I can control and what comes in my way. I think I’ve probably faced the two hardest there is here at Bells. Tyler [Wright] won back-to-back and Steph [Gilmore] has won four. World Champions as well. They’re my heroes. They’re my idols that I’ve looked up to since I was a little girl. It’s been surreal this year at Bells.”

Title Hopefuls Bow Out Early at Bells Beach

Women’s Round Two commenced this afternoon and brought with it the event’s top seeds, with current World No. 2 Caroline Marks (USA) hitting the water in Heat 1 in a matchup with CT returner Alyssa Spencer (USA). Spencer took control of the all goofy-foot heat early, posting two mid-range scores thanks to superior wave selection. Marks struggled to find a groove, but eventually found a couple of set waves of her own to put herself back in the conversation. It wasn’t enough in the end as the San Diego local found a one-two punch to close out the heat, belting a series of snaps with fully committed closeout turns on back-to-back waves to score a 6.67 and 7.33, respectively and win the heat with an impressive heat total of 14.00 points. Spencer will contest her first CT Quarterfinals as a full-time competitor when competition resumes, taking on Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) in the opening heat. 

“I went out there with a solid plan and kept my mindset really calm and was able to execute what I wanted to,” Spencer said. “Seeing that heat coming up, I was really excited, honestly, to surf against Caroline [Marks]. She’s an amazing competitor and someone that I’ve been inspired by for a long time. I was really looking forward to that heat and I was happy that I was able to find a couple of good waves and really show myself that I can compete alongside of those girls that are in the top five. I feel like that helped me with my confidence. It was a really special heat to be able to share with her because we’ve been competing together for so long and to be able to have a heat with her on the big stage now is just really special.”

Another CT returner who looked comfortable upon their return today was Samuel Pupo (BRA), who took a commanding win over defending Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach winner Jack Robinson (AUS). Pupo looked fast and sharp as he picked the best waves of the heat to surf his way to a 13.77 two-wave total. Robinson looked to be building momentum until he made a costly mistake, earning an interference against Pupo and losing his second score, which put a win completely out of reach.

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
HEAT 8: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 12.23 DEF. Morgan Cibilic (AUS) 11.17
HEAT 9: Yago Dora (BRA) 13.34 DEF. Mateus Herdy (BRA) 10.66
HEAT 10: Marco Mignot (FRA) 11.83 DEF. Crosby Colapinto (USA) 10.53
HEAT 11: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 11.67 DEF. Kauli Vaast (FRA) 11.60
HEAT 12: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 14.00 DEF. Eli Hanneman (HAW) 10.10
HEAT 13: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 12.83 DEF. Xavier Huxtable (AUS) 12.73
HEAT 14: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 12.10 DEF. Alan Cleland (MEX) 3.67
HEAT 15: Rio Waida (INA) 13.96 DEF. Connor O’Leary (JPN) 11.97
HEAT 16: Samuel Pupo (BRA) 13.77 DEF. Jack Robinson (AUS) 5.67

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Men’s Round Three Matchups
HEAT 1: Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. George Pittar (AUS)
HEAT 2: Jordy Smith (RSA) vs. Barron Mamiya (HAW)
HEAT 3: Jake Marshall (USA) vs. Griffin Colapinto (USA)
HEAT 4: Alejo Muniz (BRA) vs. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN)
HEAT 5: Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Marco Mignot (FRA)
HEAT 6: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) vs. Filipe Toledo (BRA)
HEAT 7: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Gabriel Medina (BRA)
HEAT 8: Rio Waida (INA) vs. Samuel Pupo (BRA)

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Women’s Round Two Results
HEAT 1: Alyssa Spencer (USA) 14.00 DEF. Caroline Marks (USA) 11.20
HEAT 2: Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) 10.93 DEF. Anat Lelior (ISR) 6.76
HEAT 3: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 15.66 DEF. Francisca Veselko (POR) 6.00
HEAT 4: Luana Silva (BRA) 15.26 DEF. Tyler Wright (AUS) 13.76
HEAT 5: Molly Picklum (AUS) 16.50 DEF. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 7.34

Remaining Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Women’s Round Two Matchups
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.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.