Aussie surfers in mixed bag

AMANDA LULHAM 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 Aus- tralia 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 fared a little better, with Owen Wright winning in his first surf of the event and former Rip Curl Pro winner Matt Wilkinson also advancing into the third round.

While Wright cruised into round three, world No.1ranked 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 seconds left on the clock.

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