Opening Round Kicks Off Competition at 2024 Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic

BELLS BEACH, Victoria, Australia (Thursday, July 18, 2024) – Competition has kicked off at the Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic stop No. 1 of the 2024 World Surf League (WSL) Longboard Tour (LT) with the men’s and women’s Opening Rounds being completed on Day 1. The world’s best longboard surfers put on a show as Bells Beach delivered semi-clean waves in the two-to-three-foot range that improved throughout the day as the completion of 16 heats saw the stage set for the Elimination Round. 

Strong Performances From Fresh Competitors and Veterans Alike

After a slow start to his heat, Central Coast representative Kai Ellice-Flint (AUS) was the standout of the men’s Opening Round, posting a 15.03 two-wave total (out of a possible 20), which included a 7.70 (out of a possible 10), the highest single ride of the event so far. Ellice-Flint’s style in transition from rail to nose-rides was effortless and a great match for the waves at Rincon on Day 1, and he was able to do it all in the last few minutes of the matchup. His win sees him progress into the Round of 16 whilst his opponents António Dantas (POR) and Declan Wyton (AUS) will head to the Elimination Round when competition resumes tomorrow. 

“We didn’t have a wave for the first fifteen minutes of that heat, so I tried to stay really busy towards the end, and I managed to lock into a few nice inside runners,” Ellice-Flint said. “I feel like Rincon is perfect for transitional surfing. There is a pocket there, and when you exit the pocket, you can re-engage and then point and shoot. I’m riding a board that I hand-shaped and designed myself, and it is something I’ve been working on for a couple of years and just stumbled upon just recently, which was cool. I’m enjoying it.” 

Other tour youngsters finding heat wins on Day 1 included Tully White (AUS) and Zoe Grospiron (FRA), as well as Mason Schremmer (USA) and Sam Christianson (RSA), who both snuck through into the Round of 16 with last-minute changes in their opening heats. 

North Carolina’s Tony Silvagni (USA) showed his experience in the Opening Round of competition at the Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic, playing the patient game to eventually earn a two-wave total of 13.60, the second-highest of the event so far. Silvagni’s power and poise were enough to overcome countryman Kevin Skvarna (USA) and Ignacio Pignataro (URY), as Silvagni will now shift his focus to the Round of 16.   

“It feels good to be here. It’s an honour to be able to surf at Bells Beach and have some really fun waves,” Silvagni said. “I knew that patience would be the game in that heat. You only have 30 minutes, and you have to find the few waves that will connect all the way through and double up, so it was all about waiting for the best waves. I’m on a great board from Bill Stewart and just happy to be here surfing and competing.” 

Other veterans who earned spots in the Round of 16 included three-time WSL World Longboard Champions Soleil Errico (USA) and Taylor Jensen (USA), along with Clinton Guest (AUS), Edouard Delpero (FRA) and Japan’s Natsumi Taoka (JPN).

Kaleopaa Leads Hawaiian Charge On Day 1 at Bells 

It was a strong day of performances for the Hawaiian contingent of competitors with the likes of Kaniela Stewart (HAW), reigning World Champion Kai Sallas (HAW), three-time World Champion Honolua Blomfield (HAW) and Kelis Kaleopaa (HAW) all progressing into the Round of 16 on Day 1. As conditions improved in the afternoon, Kaleopaa took full advantage, earning a 12.50 two-wave total, which was the highest of the women’s event so far.

“It was actually really fun out there,” Kaleopaa said. “The wind turned around and the sun came out, it was really nice. It’s been pretty hectic the last couple of days, so we’re all really happy to have these conditions. I had a tricky time here last year, it was my first time here so I definitely want to improve this time around. I felt good then, so I’m looking forward to the next few days.”

Victoria Trials Winner Goes Big in Women’s Opening Round 

Victoria Trials winner Kaede Inoue (JPN) took an impressive win in Heat 3 of the women’s Opening Round. Inoue performed long nose-rides and showed commitment to the end section to post a solid two-wave total of  14.17. Inoue’s brother and sister, Taka and Sakura, are also competing at Bells this week and were unable to move into the Round of 16 so will battle it out in the Elimination Round tomorrow. 

“My brother was in the heat before me, and he didn’t get many good waves, so I was really nervous,” Inoue said. “Fortunately, it seemed to turn on during my heat, and I managed to get some good waves, so I’m really happy to win that heat. I knew that it would be really important to finish my waves, and so I wanted to ride out of maneuvers on the shore break, which was very difficult, but it seemed to work for me.”

The next call will be tomorrow, Friday, July 19, at 7:15 a.m. AEST for a possible 7:35 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 Men’s Opening Round Results: 
HEAT 1: Taylor Jensen (USA) 12.87 DEF. Max Weston (AUS) 11.90, Chase Lieder (USA) 8.66
HEAT 2: Clinton Guest (AUS) 10.70 DEF. Ben Skinner (GBR) 10.50, Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) 6.86
HEAT 3: Kaniela Stewart (HAW) 13.33 DEF. Ben Considine (AUS) 9.33, Martin Coret (FRA) 6.34
HEAT 4: Kai Sallas (HAW) 13.23 DEF. Gavin Idone (USA) 11.10, Kai Hamase (JPN) 8.66
HEAT 5: Tony Silvagni (USA) 13.60 DEF. Kevin Skvarna (USA) 10.00, Ignacio Pignataro (URY) 8.94
HEAT 6: Kai Ellice-Flint (AUS) 15.03 DEF. António Dantas (POR) 6.00, Declan Wyton (AUS) 3.83
HEAT 7: Edouard Delpero (FRA) 10.56 DEF. Alexandre Escobar (BRA) 6.94, John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) 5.93
HEAT 8: Sam Christianson (RSA) 9.73 DEF. Rogelio Jr Esquievel (PHL) 9.16, Taka Inoue (JPN) 7.07

Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic Women’s Opening Round Results: 
HEAT 1: Honolua Blomfield (HAW) 11.73 DEF. Beatrice Conroy (AUS) 8.60, Keani Canullo (HAW) 4.67
HEAT 2: Kaede Inoue (JPN) 14.17 DEF. Sophia Culhane (HAW) 10.20, Kirra Molnar (AUS) 8.60
HEAT 3: Kelis Kaleopaa (HAW) 12.97 DEF. Sive Jarrard (ASM) 8.44, Sakura Inoue (JPN) 7.80
HEAT 4: Soleil Errico (USA) 10.56 DEF. Chloe Coleman (USA) 9.20, Molly Powell (AUS) 4.97
HEAT 5: Mason Schremmer (USA) 7.70 DEF. Maria Fernanda Reyes (PER) 6.54, Roisin Carolan (AUS) 4.37
HEAT 6: Natsumi Taoka (JPN) 10.63 DEF. Natalia Wunderlich (HAW) 10.00, Alice Lemoigne (FRA) 9.00
HEAT 7: Tully White (AUS) 10.20 DEF. Rachael Tilly (USA) 9.36, Emma Perrier (AUS) 7.67
HEAT 8: Zoe Grospiron (FRA) 10.43 DEF. Avalon Gall (USA) 9.40, Emily Currie (GBR) 6.70

Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic Men’s Elimination Round Matchups: 
HEAT 1: Ben Skinner (GBR) vs. Gavin Idone (USA)
HEAT 2: John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) vs. António Dantas (POR)
HEAT 3: Declan Wyton (AUS) vs. Ben Considine (AUS)
HEAT 4: Kevin Skvarna (USA) vs. Alexandre Escobar (BRA)
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 Elimination Round Matchups: 
HEAT 1: Sophia Culhane (HAW) vs. Molly Powell (AUS)
HEAT 2: Maria Fernanda Reyes (PER) vs. Natalia Wunderlich (HAW)
HEAT 3: Alice Lemoigne (FRA) vs. Sakura Inoue (JPN)
HEAT 4: Keani Canullo (HAW) vs. Emma Perrier (AUS)
HEAT 5: Rachael Tilly (USA) vs. Beatrice Conroy (AUS)
HEAT 6: Kirra Molnar (AUS) vs. Emily Currie (GBR)
HEAT 7: Avalon Gall (USA) vs. Roisin Carolan (AUS)
HEAT 8: Sive Jarrard (ASM) vs. Chloe Coleman (USA)

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com

Watch LIVE: Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic
The Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic is the first stop on the 2024 Longboard Tour. The competition window opens on Thursday, July 18, and closes on Sunday, July 21, 2024. Check out the full 2024 WSL Longboard Tour schedule. All competitions 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 2024 Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic is proudly sponsored by Bioglan, Visit Victoria, Bonsoy, GWM, and Surf Coast Shire.