BELLS BEACH, Torquay, Victoria, Australia (Wednesday, September 17, 2025) –Competition is underway at the Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic, Stop No. 2 of the World Surf League (WSL) 2025 Longboard Tour (LT), with the men’s and women’s Opening Rounds running in semi-clean surf in the two-to-four foot range. There were some epic performances from the tour’s young guns, whilst some of the more experienced competitors showed why they’re the ones to beat as the stage was set for the first eliminations to go down at Bells Beach tomorrow when competition resumes.
Tully White Leads The Way on Day 1 of Competition
Australia’s Tully White (AUS) was the standout performer of the women’s Opening Round, posting the highest heat total with a 15.50 two-wave combination (out of a possible 20). White’s impressive total included the highest single wave score with an excellent 8.17 (out of a possible 10), which she earned for a series of smooth transitional turns, long nose rides and plenty of seamless footwork. White’s impressive performance was enough to send the reigning two-time World Champion, Rachael Tilly (USA) and Trials winner Cash Hoover (USA) to the Elimination Round, while she heads directly to the Round of 16.
“It’s always super fun to surf with Rachael (Tilly), we always seem to meet up in early rounds,” White said. “It’s beautiful conditions out there, so it was a lot of fun and just special to have a lot of friends and family here as well. Posting that score straight off the bat was a good confidence booster because Bells can be a bit tricky, so that felt good. I’ve got a really good support team around me, so it felt really good for everything to come together.”
White’s fellow Northern Beaches resident Declan Wyton (AUS) also stood out on Day 1, posting the second-highest heat total of the men’s Opening Round with a 13.30 two-wave combination. Wyton’s poise on the nose was impressive in the afternoon bump as he now shifts his focus to the Round of 16 and hopefully beyond onto Finals Day.
Reigning and Former World Champions Make Their Mark at Bells Beach
Four-time reigning WSL World Longboard Champion Taylor Jensen (USA) dominated his Opening Round heat, posting the highest single wave of the day as well as the heat highest total with a 16.17 two-wave total. Jensen showed how big his repertoire of maneuvers is, mixing traditional footwork with powerful rail surfing. Jensen moves into the Round of 16 as he looks to claim back-to-back wins here at Bells Beach.
“Bells Bowl suits my surfing, so I just went out there and had fun,” Jensen said. “I’m feeling fit at the moment and my boards are feeling really good, so I’m happy to be here and just having fun. I’m really keeping an eye on this forecast at the end of the week and into the weekend, and just want to make sure I’m there to experience that sort of Bells Bowl.”
Similar to Jensen, Soleil Errico (USA) comes into Bells as the reigning event winner and is in the hunt for her third straight win at this iconic location. The three-time World Longboard Champion claimed an Opening Round heat win with the second-highest heat total of the day, with a 13.90 two-wave total.
“I was so excited to get out there and get some waves,” Errico said. “The waves have looked so fun all morning, so I had to really work on my wave selection and getting rid of my first heat jitters. I love the wave at Rincon, it’s really similar to my local break at home. You really have to pick the medium waves, so wave selection is super important.”
Honolua Blomfield (HAW) has claimed her first heat win as a mother, having given birth to her first child barely six months ago. The three-time World Longboard Champion showed glimpses of brilliance but admitted she has room to improve as she finds her feet back at the elite level. Blomfield was able to post a solid 7.50 single-wave score on her way to the win, which will see her gain her best result since becoming a mother.
“It felt pretty good, but I was really nervous, Blomfield said. “I just had a baby, so I was feeling a little shakier than usual, but I managed to get a couple and get the ball rolling. It’s pretty fun out there, so you can’t ask for too much more. I was happy to get that bigger score on a nice wave, but would have liked a few more of them. I want to give myself a bit of credit, though, coming back from childbirth earlier this year. It’s just nice to be back in the groove of things. Any time it’s over two feet, I’m happy, but I’d love to surf it with some size. Honestly, though, it’s such a beautiful wave and we’re so lucky to be here surfing at Bells.”
International Field Flares on Opening Day of Competition
Taka Inoue (JPN) claimed a buzzer-beater win over his opponents, Kaniela Stewart (HAW) and Tony Silvagni (USA). Inoue struggled to find a rhythm while Stewart and Silvagni looked to be running away with the heat, until, with only a few minutes left, the young Japanese competitor found a long wall on the Bells Bowl and got busy all the way to the shore, to post a 6.47 and take the lead to progress into the Round of 16. Inoue hopes his sister can do the same so that all three Inoue siblings can continue on at the Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic.
“I’m so happy to make it through that heat,” Inoue said. “I wasn’t sure what the situation was, but I knew that I was going to get a good score for my last ride. My sister made it in through the trials yesterday, and my other sister is on the tour, so it would be cool for all three of us to go far in this event. That would be really fun for us.”
French veteran Edouard Delpero (FRA) showed his experience in the challenging afternoon conditions to post the third-highest two-wave total of the men’s Opening Round to take down Ben Skinner (GBR) and Kevin Skvarna (USA). Delpero’s style and flow were on point with a great display of power to post a 12.90 and book a spot in the Round of 16.
“It’s nice to surf Bells Beach with only a few of us out,” Delpero said. “It is a little bit bumpy at the moment and hard to find the good ones, so I’m happy with my performance. I’m really happy to be in the third round, especially with the forecast we have coming. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens on the weekend. I’m trying to enjoy my time here in Australia and focus on my next heat.”
Other standouts on Day 1 included current rankings leaders Kai Ellice-Flint (AUS) and Avalon Gall (USA), who both progressed into the Round of 16, as well as Filipino hopeful Rogelio Jr Esquievel (PHL). Aussie Max Weston(AUS) also posted a solid heat total that included a 7.50 for his super long nose rides through the Bells Bowl.
Watch highlights from Day 1 of the Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic at WorldSurfLeague.com.
Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic Opening Women’s Round Matchups:
HEAT 1: Alice Lemoigne (FRA) vs. Hiroka Yoshikawa (JPN) vs. Emily Lethbridge (AUS)
HEAT 2: Avalon Gall (USA) vs. Mason Schremmer (USA) vs. Beatrice Conroy (AUS)
HEAT 3: Rachael Tilly (USA) vs. Tully White (AUS) vs. Cash Hoover (USA)
HEAT 4: Soleil Errico (USA) vs. Kaede Inoue (JPN) vs. Sakura Inoue (JPN)
HEAT 5: Kelis Kaleopaa (HAW) vs. Ginger Caimi (ITA) vs. Ophelie Ah-Kouen (FRA)
HEAT 6: Natsumi Taoka (JPN) vs. Chloe Calmon (BRA) vs. Kirra Molnar (AUS)
HEAT 7: Sophia Culhane (HAW) vs. Natalia Wunderlich (HAW) vs. Luana Soares (BRA)
HEAT 8: Malia Ilagan (USA) vs. Honolua Blomfield (HAW) vs. Sive Jarrard (ASM)
Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic Opening Men’s Round Matchups:
HEAT 1: Kai Ellice-Flint (AUS) vs. Oliver Packham (RSA) vs. Ignacio Pignataro (URY)
HEAT 2: Rogelio Jr Esquievel (PHL) vs. António Dantas (POR) vs. Ben Considine (AUS)
HEAT 3: John Michael Van Hohenstein (HAW) vs. Jefson Silva (BRA) vs. Clinton Guest (AUS)
HEAT 4: Taylor Jensen (USA) vs. Nelson III Ahina (HAW) vs. Gavin Idone (USA)
HEAT 5: Kai Sallas (HAW) vs. Max Weston (AUS) vs. Jomarie Ebueza (PHL)
HEAT 6: Kaniela Stewart (HAW) vs. Taka Inoue (JPN) vs. Tony Silvagni (USA)
HEAT 7: Ben Skinner (GBR) vs. Kevin Skvarna (USA) vs. Edouard Delpero (FRA)
HEAT 8: Declan Wyton (AUS) vs. Cole Robbins (USA) vs. Sam Christianson (RSA)
Watch LIVE
The 2025 Bioglan Bells Beach Longboard Classic is Stop No. 2 of the 2025 Longboard Tour. The competition window runs through Sunday, September 21, 2025 and will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app. Check out more ways to watch from the WSL’s broadcast partners.
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