Surfing’s new wave to test vets
A DECADE-long battle for supremacy in the waves at Bells Beach is about to heat up again.
Since 2010 only an Australian or an American surfer has rung the women’s winner’s trophy bell at Victoria’s world tour event.
Every one of the champions from these past events is back competing at this year’s Rip Curl Pro — but the biggest threats come from a couple of young guns.
American 17-year-old Caroline Marks is favourite after claiming honours in the opening round of the world tour on the Gold Coast this month.
But Australian seven-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore, who is also the defending champion at Bells, says the locals have their own dark horse in Phillip Island surfer Nikki Van Dijk.
“I think Phillip Island would explode if she did it,” Gilmore said.
“She has been surfing Bells longer than all of us and she is comfortable down here.
“That’s when people are most dangerous.
“I think in the past she has felt the pressure of being the local here but she’s old enough to deal with it now.”
Gilmore is the most successful surfer at Bells with four wins — 2007, ’08, ’10 and ’18 — followed by Hawaii’s Carissa Moore with three, then Australian Sally Fitzgibbons and American Courtney Conlogue with two titles each.
The last non-Australian or American to win at Bells was Brazil’s Silvana Lima in 2009.
Officials yesterday called off the men’s and women’s events at Bells due to poor quality surf.
While conditions will be monitored this morning it is unlikely the competition will be called on due to a forecast of small waves.
There is hope some heats may be surfed tomorrow but the next best swell looks likely mid to late next week.
The women have yet to surf their first heats while most of the men have surfed once.
The results at Bells reflects the domination of Australian and Americans surfers on the world tour.
The two nations are also expected to lead the battle for surfing’s first Olympic Games medals in Tokyo next year.