Swell Bells

Action-packed start to Rip Curl Pro:

WORLD No. 1 Julian Wilson and world champion Tyler Wright kicked off their bids for maiden titles at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach with success on a day of mixed fortunes for Australian surfers.

Former Rip Curl Pro winners Stephanie Gilmore and Sally Fitzgibbons, along with world No. 2 Keely Andrew, were sent into the elimination second round in major upsets yesterday.

Wright was the only Australian woman to claim a win when the world tour event was activated at the back-up venue of Winkipop after two lay days.

Our men faired better, with Owen Wright winning in his first surf of the event and former Rip Curl Pro winner Matt Wilkinson also advancing to the third round.

While Wright cruised into round three, world No. 1 ranked men’s surfer Wilson had a fight on his hands, only accruing enough points to take the victory in the final minute of his heat.

Wilson, who won the Quiksilver Pro earlier this month with a painful shoulder injury, moved into the lead of his heat with just 20 second left on the clock.

But staying dry was Mick Fanning, who is likely to surf his first heat on Saturday after deteriorating conditions saw the first day of competition end prematurely.

Fanning is farewelling the world tour at Bells — the break where he won his first world tour title in 2001 as a teenage wildcard.

Pictures: ALEX COPPEL, JASON SAMMON ROUND OF UPSETS: Stephanie Gilmore (above) must surf in an elimination final, Julian Wilson (main) just scraped through his heat, Tyler Wright (bottom right) was in slashing form, while Brazilian Gabriel Medina (right) just held on to beat two...