Bells Beach World No.1 ranked Surfers Suffer Opening Round Losses

BELLS BEACH, Victoria/Australia (Tuesday, April 3, 2012) – The worlds two no.1 ranked surfers Taj Burrow (W.A.) and Stephanie Gilmore (Aus) suffered opening round losses at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach today to both be relegated into the sudden death round two heats.

The opening 9 heats of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford Ranger and round one of the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford Fiesta were completed today in clean three-to-four foot (1 metre) waves at the primary venue of Bells Beach.

Burrows finished 3rd in his three man heat today

Burrow finished third in his three-man non-elimination heat, which was won by local wildcard Nic Muscroft (Jan Juc, Vic.). The 29-year-old Wingman Trails winner snatched victory with a heat high 8.67 final ride. A quietly confident Muscroft utilized his local knowledge to advance directly into round three and relegate Burrow and runner-up Kolohe Andino (USA) into round two.

In the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach event ratings leader Gilmore and American tour rookie Lakey Peterson (USA) tied on a heat total of 14.17, but it was the 17 year-old Californian who secured the round three berth following a count-back. The Santa Barbara surfer held the higher scoring third wave in her tally to take the win.

Peterson beat Gilmore on countback after tying the heat.

Though disappointed, three-time event champion Gilmore remained unfazed and said she was looking forward to surfing round 2 with the epic surf conditions predicted to continue.

The four-time world champion added that Peterson pushed her all the way in the 30-minute match-up.

For Peterson the win was a clear confidence boost.

Van Dijk shows why she was the wild card winning easily through to the next round

Victorian wildcard Nikki Van Dijk (Phillip Island) also impressed to finish third on a heat total of 12.90. The 18 year-old will need to step up when she next re-meets Gimore in the sudden death round two heats.

World no.5 and freakishly talented goofy footer Owen Wright (Lennox Head, Aus) used Mark ‘Occy’ Occhilupo’s outstanding performance at the recent Margaret River Prime event as his inspiration when surfing his opening heat of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach today.

Owen Wright managed a win over Gudauskas and Durbidg

Twenty-two year-old Wright locked in the days highest heat score of 17.93 (out of a possible 20) to defeat Pat Gudauskas (USA) and Bede Durbidge (Aus). Wright advanced directly into round three with his two opponents relegated into the sudden death round two.

Forty-six year-old ‘Occy’, who finished equal 3rd in W.A., was also the last goofy footer to win the ASP World Tour event at Bells Beach in 1998 – 13 years ago. Wright is out to change that statistic this week.

Defending champion Joel Parkinson of Coolangatta, QLD, Australia (pictured) proved one of the day’s standouts posting a near perfect 9.27 (out of ten) to win his round 1 heat at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach on Tuesday April 3, 2012.Parkinson defeated Kai Otton (AUS) and Adam Melling (AUS) and will surf again in round three.

The Gold Coasts Joel Parkinson (AUS), 30, 2011 ASP World Runner-Up and defending Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach winner, continued to show the world why he is regarded as one of the finest surfers ever to step foot in the Bells Bowl, coming back from an inconsistent heat to post the highest single-wave score of the day, a 9.27 out of a possible 10. Parkinson easily accounted for his two opponents Kai Otton (Aus) and Adam Melling (Aus) who were both left in need of a two wave scoring combination.

Jordy Smith impressed with a great move at the end of the heat

South African surfer Jordy Smith (ZAF) was another top seed to impress. Smith, 24, heir apparent to the Bells Bowl stylemaster mantel and current ASP World No. 3, survived a wave-starved opening round heat, claiming victory with some excellent surfing in the dying moments of the heat. The Durban surfer relegated Kieren Perrow (Aus) and Fred Patacchia (Haw) into the sudden death round two.

World no.2 Adriano de Souza (BRZ) was forced to run the dreaded Bells Stairs halfway through his heat after breaking his board and his crew failing to catch his signal on the shore. Despite the time-out, de Souza dominated his heat to leave both Raoni Monterio (BRZ) and Taylor Knox (USA) in need of a two wave scoring combination.

World no.13 Jeremy Flores (FRA) locked in a late 7.17 score to take the heat lead and eventual win from Julian Wilson (Aus) and tour rookie Yadin Nicol (Aus). Flores said luck was a factor in the afternoon wind affected afternoon conditions and he was happy that it went his way.

Kelly shows again why he's the best in the world.

Eleven time world champion and four-time Bells Beach winner Kelly Slater (USA) once again proved he is never to be underestimated. The 40-year-old was trailing in third place before locking in a heat high 9.50 ride to take the win and advance directly into round 3. Slater acknowledged the legacy of surfing great Michael ‘MP’ Peterson who passed away last week at his home of Tweed Heads.

Sally shows us why she was crowned Bells Beach master last year

Defending Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach champion Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 21, took top honors today, posting an incredible 18.84 out of a possible 20 in her convincing Round 1 win over Hawaii’s Coco Ho. Fitzgibbons locked in two excellent nine point rides to snatch victory from Ho.

Sophomore surfer Tyler Wright (Lennox Head, Aus) surfed unhindered despite a broken toe to advance into round three with a win. Surfing for the first time in three weeks due to the injury Wright said it wasn’t her best performance but she was happy with the result.

World champion Carissa Moore (Haw) looked confident and dangerous in her opening heat to leave her two French opponents Pauline Ado and Justine Dupont requiring a two wave scoring combination on the siren. Moore said the conditions were ideal today.

The 19 year-old added that there was additional pressure entering as the world champion.

A one-minute silence was observed by surfers prior to competition to mark the passing of surfing great Michael ‘MP’ Peterson who suffered a heart attack at his home at Tweed Heads, NSW last week.

World no.2 Laura Enever (Narrabeen, NSW) continued her red-hot form – that saw her finish runner-up to Steph Gilmore (Aus) at the season-opener on the Gold Coast – to comfortably win the events opening heat over New Zealand’s Paige Hareb and tour veteran Rebecca Woods (Copacabana, Aus).

The 21 year-old locked in a nine-point ride midway through the 30-minute match-up to finish with a total heat tally of 15:00 (out of a possible 20) and leave both of her opponents requiring solid scores on the siren.

Enever advanced directly into to round three whereas Hareb and Woods were relegated into the sudden death round two heats.

Conditions will be re-accessed at 7am tomorrow morning for a possible 7.15 am start at Bells Beach.

Rip Curl Bells Beach Pro Results

RIP CURL WOMEN’S PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 1 RESULTS:

1ST > RD3. 2nd & 3rd > Rd3.

• Heat 1: Laura Enever (AUS) 15:00, Paige Hareb (NZL) 12.83, Rebecca Woods (AUS) 9.67
• Heat 2: Tyler Wright (AUS) 12.77, Malia Manuel (HAW) 11.57, Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 9.60
• Heat 3: Lakey Peterson (USA) 14.17, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 14.17, Nikki Van Dyke (AUS) 12.90
• Heat 4: Carissa Moore (AUS) 16.50, Pauline Ado (FRA) 10.43, Justine Dupont (FRA) 9.50
• Heat 5: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 18.84, Coco Ho (HAW) 15.50, Sage Erickson (USA) 11.90
• Heat 6: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 15.93, Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 14.17, Sarah Mason (NZL) 12.57

RIP CURL WOMEN’S PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:

• Heat 1: Coco Ho (HAW) vs. Rebecca Woods (AUS)
• Heat 2: Malia Manuel (HAW) vs. Jacqueline Silva (BRA)
• Heat 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs. Nikki Van Dijk (AUS)
• Heat 4: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) vs. Justine Dupont (FRA)
• Heat 5: Paige Hareb (BRA) vs. Sage Erickson (USA)
• Heat 6: Pauline Ado (FRA) vs. Sarah Mason (NZL)

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 1 RESULTS:

• Heat 1: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.60, Kieren Perrow (AUS) 12.10, Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 11.17
• Heat 2: Owen Wright (AUS) 17.93, Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 14.97 Bede Durbidge (AUS) 13.50
• Heat 3: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Raoni Monteiro (BRA), Taylor Knox (USA)
• Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 17.27, ), Kai Otton (AUS) 12.23, Adam Melling (AUS) 8.74
• Heat 5: Nic Muscroft (AUS) 16.07, Kolohe Andino (USA) 14.06, Taj Burrow (AUS) 11.10
• Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA)13.70, Brett Simpson (USA) 10.33, Davey Cathels (AUS) 9.77.
• Heat 7: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.10, Julian Wilson (AUS) 10.23, Yadin Nicol (AUS) 6.66
• Heat 8: Mick Fanning (AUS) 14.76, Gabriel Medina (BRA) 12.20, Jadson Andre (BRA) 9.80
• Heat 9: Travis Logie (ZAF) 10.93 Adrian Buchan (AUS) 10.90, Josh Kerr (AUS) 8.50
• Heat 10: Michel Bourez (PYF), Damien Hobgood (USA), C.J. Hobgood (USA)
• Heat 11: Alejo Muniz (BRA), John John Florence (HAW), Tiago Pires (PRT)
• Heat 12: Heitor Alves (BRA), Miguel Pupo (BRA), Matt Wilkinson (AUS)

REMAININING RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:

• Heat 10: Michel Bourez (PYF), Damien Hobgood (USA), C.J. Hobgood (USA)
• Heat 11: Alejo Muniz (BRA), John John Florence (HAW), Tiago Pires (PRT)
• Heat 12: Heitor Alves (BRA), Miguel Pupo (BRA), Matt Wilkinson (AUS)

Bells Beach Day 1 Gallery of images